Morning Briefing: Whitmer signs universal background checks, safe storage gun bills into law

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Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023

In today's newsletter, Whitmer signs universal background checks and safe storage gun bills into law, Michigan farms vigilantly protect flocks from deadly avian flu, and Fishtown's Village Cheese Shanty is open for the season.

From horror con to Art Walk Open Mic, here's a roundup of weekend events across Michigan.

Michigan's near-record warm weather continues this until Sunday, making it a perfect time to enjoy some sun this weekend. If the weather change has inspired you to get out of the house, check out a lineup of events across the state.

The thrills of Halloween don't have to wait until October 31. The second annual Motor City Legacy horror con is designed to be a scary good time for the whole family. Celebrities from "Stranger Things," "Scream" and other horror shows and movies can be spotted at the Sheraton in Romulus this weekend. Fans of “Star Trek,” “Star Wars” and “Dragon Ball Z” will want to be at 2023 Grand Rapids Comic Con.

Here are 5 fun things to do around Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids andFlint. Oh, did I mention Fishtown's Village Cheese Shanty reopens today? There's more on that below.

Curated by Cara Hackett

Lexington State Harbor is one of 80-plus state-sponsored harbors around Michigan that offer transient boat slips, a little-known vacation option. (Photo: Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

Whitmer signs universal background checks, safe storage gun bills into law

Michigan gun control: On Thursday, April 13, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on a series of gun reform bills requiring universal background checks on all Michigan firearm sales while mandating those guns and corresponding ammunition be safely stored when minors are present. The bills were signed two months to the day since a mass shooting on Michigan State University left three students dead and another five wounded.

To encourage the purchase of gun safety devices, Whitmer also signed off on contains two bills that amend Michigan’s sales and use tax to exempt trigger and barrel locks, safes, lock boxes and other items designated to improve home firearm safety.

That wasn't all: Hours after the gun reform bills were signed, lawmakers voted along party lines to pass a package of bills to keep temporarily keep firearms out of the hands of at-risk individuals. House Bills 4145, 4146, 4147 and 4148 would collectively create the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Act – more commonly known as red flag laws.

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A deadly bird flu raised egg prices. Michigan farms vigilantly protect flocks.

Deadliest bird flu in history: The highly pathogenic avian flu (H5N1) – not detected in the United States since 2016 – started spreading across the globe in January 2022. Since then, more than 58 million birds have died because of outbreaks at poultry farms across 47 states. Michigan farmers are now entering a second year of hypervigilance to keep their flocks safe.

Powering up: With an increase in severe storms and power outages throughout Michigan, a new plan to reduce carbon emissions and utility costs for residents was introduced in the Michigan Senate this week.

Proposition 2: The first bill of Michigan’s voting rights expansion took a step forward on Wednesday. The Senate elections committee voted to advance a bill that would give overseas and military voters more time to return absentee ballots.

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Michigan’s weekend weather: Rain slowing down, bringing near-record warmth Saturday

Working for the weekend: Since the Sunday's storm system has slowed, Saturday could have a few record high temperatures. Don't be surprised if your thermostat reaches around 80 degrees. The warmest temperatures would be in the far eastern part of Lower Michigan from the Alpena area to Saginaw/Bay City/Midland, Flint, Ann Arbor and the Detroit area.

Smoky sunsets: Love our beautiful hazy sunsets this week? It’s wildfire smoke from the Great Plains. The National Weather Service in Gaylord shared this picture they took from their forecast office showing a little bit of haze near the horizon.

Fishing report: Anglers on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River did well fishing during the annual walleye run this past week, according to the weekly fishing report from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

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Dungeon of Doom mailbag: Could the Detroit Lions really land Will Anderson?

In this week's episode: Kyle and Ben open the mailbag to take questions on everything from the Lions’ chances to land edge rusher Will Anderson to their quarterback situation, the likelihood of taking a tight end, and more.

Gaining popularity: Ann Arbor Skyline girls basketball coach Janae Sims' growing TikTok presence landed her a ‘surreal’ WNBA draft experience. Sims’ stardom began when she started sharing videos of her relationship with her niece and nephew, in addition to videos about coaching basketball. She now has more than 400,000 followers, which caught the attention of the WNBA.

Picking up steam: Four Detroit relievers combined to pitch four scoreless innings as the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Thursday night at Rogers Centre. The Tigers (3-9) snapped a six-game losing streak and head home after losing two of three to the Jays (8-5) this week.

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Spring in Fishtown: Village Cheese Shanty announces opening date

The sammies are back: Fishtown’s beloved Village Cheese Shanty flings open its wooden door to kick off the season today. Nestled among other historic shanties on the edge of Leland, Village Cheese Shanty offers sky-high sandwiches that can be tucked into a pretzel bun, wrap or baguette. They also carry a big selection of gourmet cheeses, snacks and bottles of good wine from local vineyards.

For the outdoor enthusiasts: A new 93-acre nature preserve is now open ‘for explorers’ in Carp Lake, about six miles south of Mackinaw City. The John Siegel Nature Preserve is described as very unique, with existing two-track trails meandering through woods, wetlands and a garden area with nut trees and roses.

Hush hush: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is naming the 80-plus state-sponsored harbors that surround Michigan one of the state's "best-kept vacation secrets."

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We'll see you back here on Monday.

We made it to the end of another week! Get out and enjoy the sunshine if you can.

Stay up to date with the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. If you value the work of our journalists, consider becoming a MLive subscriber.
Have fun and be safe this weekend.

— Cara Hackett

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