| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 |
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In today's newsletter, new $20M zoo within the Detroit Zoo slated for 2026, Chevron turning manure into energy at dairy farms throughout Michigan and over 1 million voters have cast absentee ballots in battleground Michigan. |
"Yes Michigan": MLive's new podcast is here🎙️ |
Michigan has been crafting catchy slogans like "Playground of a Nation," and "Carefree Days in Michigan," since the 1900s in a push to make the state a top tourism spot. But there's one song from a 1980s campaign that was peak Michigan: “Say Yes to Michigan”. In the first episode of MLive’s new podcast, producer Patrick Shea dives into the origins of the short-lived, beloved tune. It’s the first in a series of “audio postcards” from the Great Lakes State, celebrating the people, places and stories that make Michigan like nowhere else. You can hear “Yes Michigan” wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen, rate and subscribe here on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify or tune in on YouTube podcasts. Be sure to review and share the podcast so that others can also check out the series. Happy listening! |
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Detroit rapper Eminem introduces Barack Obama at a campaign event in support of Kamala Harris at Huntington Place in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 22 2024. (Photo by Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com) |
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New $20M zoo within the Detroit Zoo to feature alpacas, stingrays, bamboo sharks |
Animal kingdom: The Detroit Zoo has just revealed details of one of the biggest and most ambitious projects in its history. A zoo within the Detroit Zoo, of sorts, is slated to open sometime in 2026 with Discovery Trails. The 7-acre immersive trail will feature expansive habitats for species that will be new to the Zoo like alpacas, burrowing owls, bush dogs and bamboo sharks, along with updated spaces for Zoo favorites like giant anteaters, miniature donkeys and prairie dogs. Getting back pay: The U.S. Department of Labor says it has recovered $105,000 in back wages and damages after the owner of the now-closed Saucy Crab restaurant withheld tips from 28 employees. As part of that order, owner Jixi Qiu was required to pay “an additional $10,000 in penalties for his “willful” violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Also in business: The U.S. Commerce Department‘s plan to award up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor is a huge boost to the company, economic development officials say. It also helps lay a foundation for more quality jobs and new technology investments in the area. |
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Chevron turning manure into energy at dairy farms throughout Michigan |
Not going to waste: Chevron, the second largest oil company in the country, is expanding its production of renewable natural gas at dairy farms throughout western Michigan. A joint venture between Chevron and Brightmark RNG, a waste solutions company, has invested in five anaerobic digesters to convert animal waste into renewable fuels at dairy farms in Greenville, Hartford, Morenci, Orleans and Coopersville. Taking a closer look: Bay City joined other local municipalities Monday to ask for a study from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources regarding the ramifications of potential changes to wake zones on portions of the Saginaw River. A $4.75 million investment will keep the doors open at an Upper Peninsula lumber facility and retain 85 jobs in the region. Northern Hardwoods Lumber announced plans last week to upgrade its sawmill in Houghton County by installing a new biomass boiler and back-pressure steam turbine. |
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Over 1 million voters have cast absentee ballots in battleground Michigan |
Votes are rolling in: More than 1 million Michigan voters have cast their ballots with only two weeks left until the November general election. In total, nearly 16 percent of the state’s active registered voters – or roughly 1.1 million people – have completed and returned an absentee ballot as of Tuesday, Oct. 22. In Motor City: Attendees at a downtown Detroit rally featuring former President Barack Obama received a surprise Tuesday, Oct. 22, when Detroit pop culture icon Eminem joined the push to elect Kamala Harris as president. Eminem introduced the former president during the campaign event at Huntington Place in Detroit. Back in Michigan: Former President Donald Trump is returning to Michigan this weekend with two visits on his itinerary as Election Day nears. Trump’s first stop is Friday night, Oct. 25, in Traverse City. He will then travel to southeast Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 26, to speak at a rally in Novi. |
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Lions WR Jameson Williams reportedly facing two-game suspension |
Jameson Williams is facing another suspension early in his career, this time a two-game ban for a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, ESPN reports. Williams reportedly told the outlet he is disappointed with the ruling, but has “no choice but to take it on the chin” and that he’s in “good spirits just ready to get back” with his teammates. Game day: Michigan State and Michigan may be both unranked in the AP poll entering their annual rivalry matchup for the first time since 1998. But if our Big Ten power rankings are any indication, the Spartans and Wolverines should be playing a close game on Saturday night in Ann Arbor. High school sports: Girls golf star Avery Manning became Dexter’s first-ever individual golf champion Saturday at Grand Valley State’s The Meadows during the Division 2 state finals. |
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Michigan man who threatened Democrats, police, LGBTQ people on YouTube gets prison time |
In custody: Last year, FBI agents began investigating when someone commented on YouTube their intent to kill President Joe Biden, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, police, and LGBTQ+ people. The probe led them to a Sebewaing man, Randall R. Berka II, who sent the agents a vicious threat to kill them if they neared. A four-hour standoff ended with him arrested. Though he had five guns in his possession, including two assault rifles, he did not fire at anyone during the altercation. More than a year later, Berka is heading to federal prison for his conduct. Meanwhile, his mother, who bought him the guns, is serving a probation sentence. U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington on Oct. 17 sentenced Berka to 32 months, or 2.6 years, in prison. Caught: An Eastern Michigan University professor has been arrested in a child predator sting involving law enforcement and former “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen, police and university officials said. |
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We'll be back tomorrow for another round of Morning Briefing. Until then, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. See you then! — Cara Hackett |
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