Janelle D. James

This year is a presidential election year. Here are some important dates to know before your vote.

The state may not look a day over 185, but today is the anniversary of Michigan joining the union in 1837. Brush up on some lesser known Michigan facts.

Gov. Whitmer will give her sixth state of the state address where she is expected to unveil new plans for economic development and highlight the accomplishments of her in the Democratic party over the last year.

Deer harvests have significantly declined in Michigan, and officials attribute the downward trend to the lack of licensed hunters. The Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to join a focus group to address the challenges of a changing deer population.

Gov. Whitmer will give a State of the State address to outline plans for Michigan and highlight accomplishments of the last year.

Officials in Dearborn have expanded a sewer trap program to control the city’s rat population. Ypsilanti and Flint find other proactive approaches.

Now that Michigan’s winter is in full effect and snow storms and other severe weather events become more common, superintendents have to consider a number of things before canceling school.

Preliminary 2023 numbers show a continued decline in the number of deer hunters killed compared to past years.

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office filed a notice of intervention brief on Tuesday following DTE Gas Company seeking a $266 million rate increase.

This week Michigan got its first real winter storm of the season, causing snow days at some school districts for the first time this school year. A winter storm expected to hit Friday has superintendents watching the forecast.

Over $5 million was awarded to three school districts, Detroit, Lansing and Pontiac to purchase clean-school buses that have little to no carbon emissions.

The Red Cross has seen a 40 percent decline in blood donations over the last 20 years. They’re calling it an emergency and hope to entice donors with a chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl.

Campsite reservations are 35 - 80 percent booked through July across Michigan’s state parks.

A winter storm is headed toward the Midwest causing heavy winds and snow Monday night and into Tuesday morning. Most of lower Michigan can expect to see between 2 and 7 inches of snow while northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula could get 10 inches of snow.

Going the wrong way? In an effort to decrease wrong-way collisions, a new detection system will redirect drivers who accidentally use the wrong freeway ramp.

Less than one percent of the Great Lakes is currently covered by ice, a steep drop from historic levels. Climate change experts have been warning of its impacts for years, and this year we have El Niño as well.

Following the popular return of blue 1965 ‘Water-Winter Wonderland’ license plates, the secretary of state announced that green 1963 plates will be available in January.

Michigan ski resorts are becoming more reliant on snowmaking machines due lack of snow caused by warmer temperatures. Some resorts have adjusted their hours or only have some slopes open.

Douglas Marshall, a Warren resident, set up a ‘reason’ station in Warren’s city hall in 2014 in opposition to a prayer station. The city initially opposed Marshall’s plan to educate people about atheism, claiming atheism wasn’t a real religion. Now, nearly a decade later, the station is still operating and is open for the first time since the pandemic.

Michigan gas prices are the lowest they have been all year. Drivers are paying an average of $2.96 per gallon for regular gas.