Business & Economy
Manistique East Breakwater Light is on the National Register of Historic Places.

U.P.’s tight-knit Schoolcraft County a tourist hot spot with unique issues

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SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY PROFILE: When you ask residents of the UP’s Schoolcraft County to talk about their home, they usually first mention the scenic environment and how close they are to Lake Michigan. But the rural qualities they value present difficulties for the community that other, larger counties, something that affects the area’s concerns, solutions and political landscape. By Jack Armstrong, Wajeeha Kamal, Maya Moore and Sheatlyn Paulis. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

NFL draft to bring national spotlight to Detroit

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As the 2024 NFL draft approaches, football fans aren’t the only ones anticipating the big event on April 25. For the first time in history, the NFL draft will be held in Detroit, bringing an estimated 300,000 people to the Motor City, according to the Detroit Sports Commission. This major event brings attention to the award-winning Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, where the draft will be held, and hopefully increase Detroit’s reputation as a tourist destination.

Business & Economy

Undocumented new mothers need health care coverage for 12 months, advocates say

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POSTPARTUM: There’s a push to extend Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants from two months to 12 months after giving birth. The change in policy for the Maternity Outpatient Medical Services program would cost $6 to $10 million a year, says the Michigan League for Public Policy. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, with offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, and an NYU expert explain. By Theo Scheer. FOR DETROIT, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Grants help integrate newcomers into Michigan communities

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NEWCOMERS: State grants will help nonprofits serve immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers integrate into their communities. The money comes from the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the federal government. Farmworker Legal Services in Grand Rapids will use its grant to expand its education and oversight activities to the Upper Peninsula. Les Clays, also based in Grand Rapids, will provide “second step” support for immigrants coming from Africa to West Michigan. Other grants recipients include support for Burmese immigrants in Calhoun County and, Islamic Americans in Detroit, partnerships between Catholic churches and local immigrants in Northern Michigan, and Latin American immigrants in Allegan, Kent, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties. By Alex Walters. FOR MARQUETTE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, SAULT STE. MARIE, IRON MOUNTAIN, WKTV, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment
Rep. Matthew Bierlein R-Vassar.

Proposal would restrict deepfake images depicting sexual content

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DEEPFAKES: A Vassar lawmaker wants to crack down on deepfakes, which are photos or videos with digitally altered faces or bodies to appear to be someone else, usually used maliciously or to spread false information. The legislation raises First Amendment free speech questions. Cosponsors include representatives from Metro Detroit. An expert at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School discusses. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Pedestrians walk along a street in downtown East Lansing. The area boasts many restaurants and is intersected by bus lines serving Michigan State University and Lansing’s capital area.

Many Ingham County Democrats lukewarm on Biden

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INGHAM COUNTY PROFILE: Ingham County leans heavily Democratic and supported Biden over Trump 65% to 33% in 2020. But it’s also a mix of rural, urban and college communities, cutting through a unique cross-section of voters in a state expected to play a pivotal role in this year’s elections. By Viet Anh Phan, Donte Smith, Jada Vasser and Campbell Berg. FOR ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Attorney Susan Reed is the director of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.

Lack of access to driver’s licenses for some immigrants hurts Michigan’s economy, advocates say

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IMMIGRANT LICENSES: Legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and state ID cards has been stalled in committees for a year. Sponsors include lawmakers from Hamtramck and Taylor. Advocates like the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which has offices in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Detroit, say that would be a major benefit to Michigan’s economy. The Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police opposes the proposal on the grounds of public safety. By Owen McCarthy. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture
The Huron River at Kent Lake in Oakland County. The river is under a state Do Not Eat Advisory for all fish species.

Scientists alarmed by high levels of toxic forever chemicals in fish 

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TOXICS IN FISH: Every fish studied in the Rouge River and Huron River watersheds contained at least one of a family of toxic and persistent health-threatening chemicals, say researchers at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor and Indiana University. We also talk to experts at MSU and the EPA. By Ruth Thornton. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, MONROE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment
Detroit’s Masonic Temple on Temple Street is now a concert and events venue

Repurposed Masonic temples reveal Michigan history

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MASONIC TEMPLES: Lansing officials are considering a proposal to convert the historic but vacant Masonic Building into a new city hall. Other former buildings used by the Masons have already been repurposed, such as those in Detroit (concert hall), Big Rapids (bar) and Traverse City (boutique hotel). By Theo Scheer. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, WKTV, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, DETROIT, GREENVILLE, CORP! AND ALL POINTS.