In today's newsletter, proposed budget cuts would would kill Great Lakes data buoy network, Michigan gymnastics wins national championship at home arena, and another drive-in movie theater is shuttering. |
After spending the weekend munching on chocolate bunny ears and feasting at our traditional Easter dinner, I'm ready to add a few more health-conscious foods to this week's meal prep lineup. For the foodies looking to enjoy dessert without overindulging, a guilt-free ice cream created by two childhood friends from Michigan is now available at 2,200 Kroger family stores. Protein Pints, the high-protein, low-sugar ice cream, comes in five flavors: cookie dough, peanut butter chip, mint chip, chocolate and strawberry. Speaking of health conscious treats, try Poseidon’s Potion at Blue Whale Cafe in Ann Arbor. The green smoothie features spirulina, coconut water, avocado, spinach, ginger, lemon and more. |
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(EDITORS NOTE: Multiple exposures were combined to produce this image.) Star trails are seen during the Lyrids meteor shower over Michaelskapelle in Niederhollabrunn, Austria. The clear skies created by the New Moon coincide with the Lyrid meteor shower, an annual display caused by the Earth passing through a cloud of debris from a comet called C/186 Thatcher. (Photo by Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)Getty Images |
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These Ford vehicles made in Michigan are no longer being sent to China thanks to tariffs |
The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has again impacted the auto industry. According to USA Today, Ford Motor Co. has stopped shipping certain vehicles to China thanks to massive tariffs implemented by China on vehicles imported from the U.S. Two sources familiar with the situation told the Detroit Free Press that F-150 Raptor pickups, Mustang sports cars and Bronco SUVs built in Michigan will not be sent to China. Speaking about tariffs: Chinese fast-fashion e-commerce retailers Shein and Temu say they’re increasing prices this week as a result of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports. The price changes will go into effect on April 25. As more voters are casting their ballots early or by mail, Grand Rapids is looking to eliminate some of its Election Day voting precincts. The Grand Rapids Election Commission is proposing that the city eliminate 15 of its precincts, bringing the number of citywide precincts from 74 down to 59. |
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Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week, best chance for seeing ‘fireballs’ |
Looking at the sky: Spring’s early sky show, the Lyrid meteor shower, is known for its bright and fast-moving meteors. This sky show is set to peak this week. The official peak date is Tuesday, April 22. This means Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights will likely offer the best meteor numbers. If you see a bright flash during the Lyrids, you’ve witnessed what sky watchers call a “fireball.” Getting windy: The average wind speed at some Michigan cities was really fast for March—some cities had not been this windy in over two decades. We had five full-blown storm systems in March. The devastating ice storm also came during a cranked-up, wind-driven storm system. Here's a look at Mark Torregrossa's report of Michigan's average wind speed in March. Over the weekend: Thunderstorms swept across Michigan early Friday evening, but the rain that fell wasn’t exactly refreshing. It was more like little mud splatters. So what was the culprit behind this mess? It was likely dust from the southwestern United States that was carried across the country and over the Great Lakes with Friday's storm system, Tanda Gmiter reports. |
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Severe cuts at NOAA would kill Great Lakes data buoy network |
Budget proposal: Severe cuts proposed at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would shutter a Great Lakes data network which aids fishermen and helps forecast threats to beaches and drinking water intakes. The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is facing potential shutdown of its real-time data network of buoys and meteorological towers under a fiscal 2026 Trump administration budget proposal that cuts roughly $1.6 billion from NOAA, reports Garret Ellison. In Cheboygan County: The state is investigating an oil spill that was discovered last week in the Pigeon River State Forest. An estimated 50 barrels of crude oil/brine were released in the spill that came from a leaking flowline, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The spill, located in a wetland area, has not migrated into any creeks, streams, ditches, or rivers, and there are no immediate threats to water wells or the public, an update from EGLE stated. Other environmental news: Dredging will begin this week at the entrance of Holland Harbor. The U.S. Corps of Engineers Detroit District will start dredging the entrance to Holland Harbor as early as Thursday, April 24 to remove shoaling across the federal channel, a press release stated. |
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Michigan gymnastics wins national championship at home arena |
Michigan Gymnastics Champions: Michigan men's gymnastics team, led by Olympians Fred Richard and Paul Juda, captured their seventh NCAA championship Saturday night at Crisler Center. Richard won the all-around title while Juda's final vault secured the victory over Stanford and top-ranked Oklahoma. Andrew Kahn reports it's the program's first title since 2014 after finishing as runners-up the past two years. Michigan spring game: Michigan's football team wrapped up spring practice with the Blue team shutting out Maize 17-0. Coach Sherrone Moore praised the team's physicality, while running back Jordan Marshall called freshman QB Bryce Underwood "a generational athlete." Ryan Zuke reports that tight end Jalen Hoffman emerged as a surprise standout with seven catches for 148 yards, and the defensive line appears to be a strength with "10 guys that can play." MSU basketball transfer: Redshirt freshman guard Gehrig Normand is leaving Michigan State for Santa Clara University after entering the transfer portal earlier this month. The former four-star recruit from Texas saw limited playing time this season, logging just 26 minutes across 13 games following a preseason knee injury. Coach Tom Izzo noted Normand "worked his tail off" despite initially appearing homesick, reports Matt Wenzel. |
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Michigan loses another drive-in as theater announces permanent closure |
Closing credits: A Michigan token harkening back to the days before internet and streaming services will soon be relegated to memory lane, reports Kayla Tucker. Memory Lane Drive-In Theater, in Monroe, announced Friday it is permanently closing. Poor attendance, the availability of streaming services and lack of concessions support were cited as the primary reasons for closing, business leaders wrote in a Facebook post. Save the date: The summer’s largest Gus Macker tournament is returning to Ludington’s Lake Michigan beachfront. The popular 3-on-3 basketball tournament is scheduled for Father’s Day weekend, June 14 and 15, at Stearns Park Beach. Best of the best: For the third consecutive year, Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit has been ranked No. 1 on USA Today's 10Best list for Best Public Squares. Edward Pevos reports the urban oasis attracts 4.5 million visitors annually with its beach in summer, ice skating rink in winter, and over 1,200 free events each year. The park, which recently hosted the NFL Draft, beat out Jackson Square in New Orleans and other notable public spaces nationwide. |
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Happy Monday, Michiganders! |
Thank you for starting your day with the Morning Briefing. I'm glad you're here. As always, you can find the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. Make today a great day! - Cara Hackett |
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