23+ hour, 19+ min ago (1406+ words) KENT COUNTY, MI - "Is that legal?" The question buzzed around Beryl Bartkus when she began telling the Lowell community about her campaign for city council. Her husband of 37 years, Eric Bartkus, already had a council seat. If voters elected Beryl Bartkus on Nov. 4, the pair would serve together for at least two years. While not illegal, the situation is relatively rare in Michigan. At first when she heard the question repeatedly, Bartkus said she came home feeling tired, even joking about coming up with funny answers like, "no, it's not legal. It's a felony." But it also got her thinking. Why was she running? Bartkus said her answer quickly became about acknowledging that her husband is on city council, "and I think he's doing a really good job, but we are two totally different people." "Yes, we're married. Yes, I…...

22+ hour, 51+ min ago (835+ words) Michigan wildlife officials are expanding their work with tribal nations to help restore more wild rice to the state's lakes and streams. Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) experts and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) spent the last decade working together to sow thousands of pounds of manoomin " the Anishinaabe word for wild rice. It's an important cultural food long foraged by Native communities and is also known to provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl. Today the effort has grown into new partnerships with more tribal nations to help restore the keystone aquatic plant to more places in Michigan's natural environment. "It's an ongoing effort and every year our partnerships and collaborations grow," said Erin Johnston, KBIC wildlife and habitat manager. The DNR took the lead in 2025 on spreading about 2,200 pounds of wild rice seed in the western U.P. In…...

17+ hour, 16+ min ago (272+ words) A powerful storm system is set to impact Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday, with the timeline for heavy snow starting in one area by Tuesday. Ahead of the storm, the first Winter Storm Watches have been issued for part of Michigan. While all of Michigan could see some snow with this incoming system, parts of Michigan are expected to get socked. This includes the Upper Peninsula. The National Weather Services says 12 inches or more of heavy and blowing snow is possible between Tuesday night and Thursday morning. This area is now under a Winter Storm Watch. It includes the western U.P. counties of Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Houghton, Baraga and Gogebic. Winds gusting to 45 mph in this area are going to be the big issue when paired with the heavy snowfall. "Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the NWS said in the…...

18+ hour, 52+ min ago (767+ words) LAS VEGAS " The Wolverines are in town for the next few days, where they'll spend most of their time inside a hotel and casino at the south end of the Las Vegas strip. Unlike other tourists, they're guaranteed to make big money. Michigan is participating in the second annual Players Era Championship, an 18-team event designed to be the premier early-season showcase on the men's college basketball calendar while providing millions of dollars in NIL money to players. Michigan opens against San Diego State on Monday (10 p.m. ET, 7:30 local, TruTV) and will face Auburn on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in a rematch from last year's Sweet 16. The opponent for a third game, likely Wednesday but potentially Thursday, will be based on the results of the first two days. The action on the court should be entertaining. The mechanisms in play behind the…...

14+ hour, 53+ min ago (369+ words) The holiday traditions and memories that stick with us are the one that have a good story behind them. Why is that ornament so special? Where did you find this recipe? And, how did you choose your Christmas tree? Add some adventure to that last answer and regale your holiday guests with the tales of searching through the forest for just the right tree. The U.S. Forest Service allows you to cut your own Christmas tree with purchase of a $5 permit. Permits are available now through Dec. 31. Michigan is home to three national forests totaling more than 3 million acres across both peninsulas. Make a pitstop: Michigan general store tucked into a national forest has a surprisingly big bourbon collection Each tree is a story and a conservation effort. The permit program helps thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees, according to…...

9+ hour, 3+ min ago (762+ words) At 3:20 a.m. EST on Tuesday, the National Weather Service released a winter storm watch valid from Wednesday 4 p.m. EST until Friday noon EST for Grand Traverse, Wexford, Missaukee and Roscommon counties. Winter storm watch for Northern Michigan from Wednesday to Friday " may reach 10 inches of snow At 3:20 a.m. EST on Tuesday, the National Weather Service released a winter storm watch valid from Wednesday 4 p.m. EST until Friday noon EST for Grand Traverse, Wexford, Missaukee and Roscommon counties. The weather service adds, "Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches possible with locally higher amounts possible. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph." "Combination of accumulating snow and significant drops in visibility will make hazardous holiday travel likely across parts of northern Michigan. Gusty winds and high snowfall rates will lead to whiteout conditions at times," explains the weather service. "Review holiday travel plans…...

11+ hour, 56+ min ago (203+ words) A blowout win against a ranked team in a national showcase helped Michigan State men's basketball shoot up the national rankings. Michigan State is 5-0 for the first time in five years and will put its unbeaten record to the test in a Thanksgiving tournament this week. The Spartans open the Fort Myers Tip-Off against East Carolina (2-3) on Tuesday (1 p.m., FS2) before facing No. 16 North Carolina (5-0) on Thursday (4:30 p.m., FOX). It will be the second straight year Michigan State plays the Tar Heels in a November tournament, following a 94-91 overtime win in the Maui Invitational to take third place. Following the trip to Florida, Michigan State will open Big Ten play by hosting Iowa on Dec. 2 before a visit from No. 4 Duke on Dec. 6. Michigan State is one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the latest AP Top 25, with the others being No....

22+ hour, 27+ min ago (668+ words) ANN ARBOR " Michigan senior tight end Marlin Klein grew up in Germany and attended high school in Georgia, but even he knows how Matt Patricia is widely viewed in Michigan. Patricia had a rocky three-year stint as the Detroit Lions" head coach, posting a 13-29-1 record before getting fired after Week 12 of the 2020 season. But despite his shortcomings as a head coach, the 51-year-old three-time Super Bowl champion has a lengthy track record of overseeing elite defenses. He returned to the college level this offseason for the first time since 2003 and has Ohio State"s defense producing at levels rarely seen in the NCAA. The top-ranked Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) haven"t experienced any type of national championship hangover, winning 10 straight games by at least 18 points since their 14-7 season-opening victory over then-No. 1 Texas. The defense, despite losing eight NFL draft picks from…...