There is apparently a Hot Pocket controversy happening online, and if you're a true Hot Pocket veteran, you may already know where this is going.

A TikTok video has gone viral from a guy who says the economy must really be struggling because he bought a box of Hot Pockets and discovered something was missing.

Not the pepperoni.

Not the cheese.

The pocket.

He was talking about the little silver crisping sleeve that Hot Pockets used to come in. You put the Hot Pocket inside the sleeve, tossed it in the microwave and hoped you wouldn't bite into molten cheese 30 seconds later.

The problem with this viral outrage?

The sleeve has been gone for years.

Hot Pockets started phasing out the sleeves in 2023, and in 2024 the company even launched a marketing campaign announcing that the sleeves were officially retired.

The company said it had changed the crust recipe so the sleeve was no longer necessary.

They also claimed the new recipe included 30% more pepperoni.

And there's another reason for getting rid of the sleeves: Hot Pockets said eliminating the metallic sleeves, also called “susceptors,” saves somewhere between 3,500 and 5,000 tons of paper waste every year.

So, technically, we're talking about less trash and more pepperoni.

But that hasn't stopped people online from acting like someone just announced the cancellation of the Detroit Lions.

And Michigan Hot Pocket fans have one question:

Where have you people been?

If you're just now discovering that the sleeve is gone, you're not a Hot Pocket expert.

You're a Hot Pocket casual.

A Michigan Hot Pocket veteran remembers the old days.

You'd pull that silver sleeve out of the box, carefully slide the frozen pocket inside, microwave it, and then spend the next five minutes wondering whether the cheese inside was still 4,000 degrees.

And let's clear up one important thing:

The pocket is NOT the silver sleeve.

The pocket is the actual crust holding the delicious, dangerously hot filling.

The sleeve was just the little microwave accessory.

As of now, Hot Pockets hasn't commented on the latest online controversy.

But if you're in Michigan and you've been eating Hot Pockets for years, you already know the truth:

The pocket is still there.

It's the little silver sleeping bag that disappeared.

And honestly, we're doing just fine without it.

After the wild weather we've been seeing around the country this week, the timing couldn't be better for a new list from the Farmers' Almanac.

They've ranked the 10 worst-weather states in America, based on things like tornadoes, hurricanes and hail.

And before you ask, yes, that's hail.

Although after some of the weather we've seen lately, “hell” might also seem appropriate.

The No. 1 spot goes to Texas, which averages about 155 tornadoes a year and has experienced 190 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters since 1980.

Texas apparently looked at every possible weather disaster and said, “We'll take one of each.”

Here's the rest of the list:

2. Florida
More than 120 documented hurricane landfalls since 1851. Florida basically has hurricane season as a recurring calendar event.

3. Louisiana
Ten billion-dollar flood events since 1980, plus plenty of major hurricanes.

4. Kansas
Right in the heart of Tornado Alley, averaging about 96 tornadoes a year. There's no place like home... especially if home has a basement.

5. Oklahoma
About 68 tornadoes a year and one of the highest numbers of violent tornadoes in the country.

6. Colorado
The nation's hail capital, averaging around 94 hail events a year. Apparently, even the sky occasionally throws rocks at Colorado.

7. Missouri
A perfect recipe for severe weather, with Gulf moisture, tornadoes and major river flooding all coming together.

8. Georgia
Georgia has recorded 134 billion-dollar disasters since 1980, with more than $150 billion in cumulative damage.

9. Illinois
Right in the Midwest severe-weather corridor, with 128 billion-dollar disasters since 1980.

10. North Carolina
Tropical systems can stall and dump huge amounts of rain across the state, especially around the Appalachian foothills.

And What About Michigan?

Here's the good news: Michigan didn't make the Top 10.

And that's probably because Michigan has a different approach to weather.

We don't necessarily need a hurricane to ruin our day.

We have lake-effect snow, freezing rain, potholes, construction season, and that magical Michigan spring day when it's 72 degrees at lunch and you're scraping ice off your windshield by dinner.

We also have the famous Michigan weather forecast:

“Mostly sunny, with a chance of pretty much anything.”

But give us a beautiful fall day with colorful trees, a cider mill, a warm donut and a little sunshine, and suddenly we're willing to forgive Mother Nature for everything she did to us last winter.

So congratulations, Michigan.

We didn't make the list of America's 10 worst-weather states.

We'll just keep doing what we do best:

complaining about the weather while simultaneously checking the forecast every 20 minutes.

Mid-Michigan News Update: AI Rules, Canadian Tariffs, Soo Locks and U-M

Trump Says AI Leaders Agree to Voluntary Standards

President Donald Trump says top artificial intelligence executives have agreed to voluntary standards designed to increase oversight of the rapidly growing industry.

The agreement would put AI companies in charge of policing much of their own technology, as pressure continues to grow for stronger safeguards and regulations.

U.S. Bans Nearly $1 Billion in Canadian Imports

The trade fight between the United States and Canada is escalating.

The U.S. has banned nearly $1 billion worth of Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles.

President Trump previously imposed 50% tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, prompting Canada to respond with tariffs of its own.

Trump's latest move targets a list of Canadian products as part of the ongoing dispute.

New Soo Locks Project Hits 50% Mark

There's a major milestone in one of Michigan's biggest infrastructure projects.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says Phase 3 of the new lock project at the Soo Locks is now 50% complete.

The overall project is expected to cost about $3.2 billion and will create a second lock capable of handling the same large ships as the existing Poe Lock.

The Poe Lock, which opened in 1969, currently handles ships carrying about 88% of all U.S. iron ore transported by water.

The new lock is designed to provide additional capacity and another route for the massive freighters moving through the Soo.

U-M Drops Pass-Fail Grading Pilot

The University of Michigan is dropping a pilot program that would have replaced traditional letter grades with a pass-fail system for first-semester students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

The program was scheduled to begin next fall.

The university president requested that the plan be paused, citing extensive media coverage, distorted narratives and misconceptions surrounding the proposal.

For now, it looks like students will be sticking with the traditional A, B, C, D and F system.

Sports

The NBA preseason gets underway Monday night, with the Detroit Pistons hosting the Phoenix Suns.

It's the first chance to get a look at the Pistons before the regular season gets underway.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Today: Cloudy with a 60% chance of showers. High near 71.

Tonight: Cloudy with showers developing after 1 a.m. Low around 61.

Thursday: Cloudy with showers. High near 71.

Friday: Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers early, then becoming mostly sunny. High near 67.

Ladies, if you've looked around lately and thought, “Is everybody's hair getting bigger?” ... you're not imagining it.

According to Glamour magazine, some of the biggest hairstyles from the 1980s are making a comeback in 2026.

And we're not talking about a little extra volume.

We're talking BIG HAIR.

The kind of hair that could have its own ZIP code.

The '80s are bringing back everything from giant ponytails to huge curls, blowouts and flipped-out ends. Basically, if your hairstyle looks like it needs its own weather forecast, you're right on trend.

Here are some of the classic looks making a comeback:

The Madonna Ponytail

High, dramatic and ready to take over the dance floor. Madonna made the look famous, and now it's back.

The Cindy Crawford Blowout

Big, bouncy and perfectly parted to the side. It's the kind of hair that says, “I woke up like this,” after approximately two hours with a hair dryer.

Julia Roberts Messy Curls

Big curls with a little chaos thrown in. Perfect for Michigan because humidity can basically finish the styling for you.

The Pineapple Updo

Made famous by Sarah Jessica Parker. It's basically putting your hair on top of your head and letting it know it's the tallest thing in the room.

Dolly Parton Permed Curls

The bigger the better. Dolly never believed in the concept of “too much hair,” and honestly, neither did the '80s.

Diana Ross Natural Curls

Big, beautiful natural curls are getting their moment again.

Princess Diana's Flipped-Out Ends

The classic feathered, flipped-out look is also coming back.

And there's something very Michigan about this whole trend.

Because if you're driving down I-75 in January with your freshly styled '80s hair, you already know what's going to happen.

One blast of that Michigan winter wind and your salon appointment becomes a historical reenactment.

But hey, at least you'll look fabulous while scraping the ice off the windshield.

So, ladies, if you've been thinking about bringing back the big hair, 2026 says go for it.

Just remember: In Michigan, always check the weather before you leave the house.

Because there's big hair... and there's big hair fighting a 30-mile-per-hour wind coming off the Saginaw Bay.

Tuesday News Update: E. Coli Recall, Saginaw Data Center Rules & Red Wings Hockey Returns

National News

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a foreign actor was involved in a suspected terror plot targeting a UK airbase used by the U.S. military.

The suspects are all British nationals, according to police, and have been released on bail. President Donald Trump was asked about the investigation at the White House and said the suspects could be connected to Iran. Trump said he knows the answer, but would rather not reveal it at this time.

E. Coli Outbreak Includes Michigan

Public health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections linked to certain raw milk cheeses sold in nine states, including Michigan.

The recalled products are All Grazers raw milk cheeses made by Sierra Nevada Cheese Company.

If you have any of the recalled cheese, health officials say don't eat it. Throw it away or return it to the place where you purchased it.

Basically, if your cheese is giving you a reason to Google the company name, it's probably time to let that cheese go.

Saginaw Sets Rules for Future Data Centers

The Saginaw City Council has approved a new ordinance establishing regulations for any future data center development in the city.

The new rules come as Saginaw's current data center moratorium is scheduled to expire at the end of 2026.

Under the ordinance, data centers would only be permitted as special land uses in light industrial and general industrial districts.

The new ordinance is expected to be added to Saginaw's code of ordinances on October 9th.

So, if Saginaw becomes home to a giant building full of computers someday, the city now has a rulebook ready for it.

State Street Construction

Drivers in Saginaw need to watch for a temporary closure today.

MDOT has closed the intersection of M-58 at State Street and Warwick Street as work begins on grading and curbs. Traffic will temporarily be unable to cross State Street at that intersection.

The closure is part of a larger project to rebuild about 1.1 miles of State Street, stretching from Avalon Avenue to M-84.

Give yourself some extra time and keep an eye out for the orange barrels. They have apparently decided to spend another season in Michigan.

Sports

In Monday Night Football, the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-7.

And hockey season is almost back in Detroit.

The Detroit Red Wings open their season Friday night against the New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m.

Mid-Michigan Weather

We're starting the day with widespread fog before mostly sunny skies take over.

Today: Mostly sunny with a high near 78.

Tonight: Increasing clouds with a low around 58.

Wednesday: Cloudy with a 50% chance of showers before 2 p.m., with a high near 73.

Thursday: An 80% chance of showers, with a high near 73.

Monday night means one thing: time to decide whether you're watching football, singing along, or letting a bunch of celebrities get roasted on a quiz show.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL – 8 PM
The Chicago Bears host the Philadelphia Eagles on ABC and ESPN.

And if you're watching from Michigan, don't worry. You can root for whoever you want. Just don't expect your Lions fan neighbor to be emotionally invested in either team. ????

 THE VOICE – 9 PM
Part 4 of the Blind Auditions on NBC. More singers, more chairs spinning, and more people from small towns suddenly becoming America's new favorite singer.

ALL AMERICAN – 8 PM
The series finale airs tonight on The CW. If you've been watching from the beginning, tonight's the night to find out how it all ends.

 NAME THAT TUNE – 8 PM
Thomas Lennon from Reno 911! goes up against D'Arcy Carden from The Good Place on Fox.

Michigan bonus: This is basically the TV version of trying to name the song playing at a wedding while somebody's uncle is yelling, "I KNOW THIS ONE!"

 CELEBRITY WEAKEST LINK – 9 PM
Yvette Nicole Brown, Kate Flannery, Billy Gardell, Loni Love, Kevin McHale, Melissa Peterman, Paul Scheer and Scott Wolf face off on NBC.

So grab the snacks, fire up the TV and settle in.

And remember: If you're watching Monday Night Football in Michigan, there's always tomorrow to complain about the Lions. 

You know Halloween is getting close when the snacks start looking like something you’d find at a haunted Meijer at 2 a.m.

Vampire Noodles are here! 

Cup Noodles has released a limited-edition hot garlic flavor that actually turns blood red when you add hot water. The color comes from natural beet coloring.

And yes, they're available exclusively at Walmart while supplies last.

But Michigan, it gets weirder...

You can actually enter a contest to win a Vampire Noodles-themed casket. And if winning isn't your thing, apparently you can just BUY ONE for around $4,000.

Because nothing says, "Happy Halloween!" like a casket full of Cup Noodles.

And then there's BLACK RANCH. 

Hidden Valley's new Spooky Ranch is black, comes in a glow-in-the-dark bottle, and gets its color from fruit juice and cocoa.

It's still ranch. It just looks like it was scooped out of a cauldron in the Upper Peninsula.

Both are available at Walmart while supplies last.

So, Michigan... which are you trying first?

 Vampire Noodles
 Spooky Ranch
 Neither. I'm sticking with Vernors and a Coney.

Five Arrested Near U.S.-Used Air Base; Consumers Energy Holds Genesee, Bay County Open Houses

Five Men Arrested Near Air Base

UK police say five men arrested early Sunday near an air base used by the United States during its war against Iran are being held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.

London’s Metropolitan Police say they received a call around 12:45 a.m. regarding three suspicious vehicles that appeared to be traveling toward the base.

Iran has previously indicated that a base used to launch attacks against its territory would be considered a legitimate target.

Consumers Energy Plans Community Open Houses

Consumers Energy is inviting residents to attend one of two community open houses to learn more about two proposed natural gas plants planned for Genesee and Bay counties.

The first open house is Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bedford Township Hall on East Vienna Road in Clio.

A second open house is scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hampton Township Hall on West Centre Road in Essexville.

Residents will be able to view information and displays, speak with project experts, ask questions and provide feedback.

Frankenmuth Dog Bowl Sets Donation Record

The Frankenmuth Dog Bowl has broken its donation record, giving more than $57,000 to police canine units, dog rescue organizations and community initiatives.

The world's largest Olympic-style festival for dogs distributed $19,500 to support active police canine units, $23,000 to various dog rescue organizations and $5,000 to the Friends of Frankenmuth Police.

The remaining funds went to various service groups and pet-related charities.

Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2.

In the NFL, Jahmyr Gibbs caught a go-ahead 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:25 remaining, his third touchdown of the game, as the Detroit Lions held on to beat the New York Jets 31-24.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Areas of fog are possible before 10 a.m., followed by sunshine with a high near 75.

Tonight will be mostly clear with widespread fog developing and a low around 47.

Tuesday starts with widespread morning fog before becoming sunny, with a high near 77.

Wednesday will be partly sunny with a high near 77.

We’ve all heard the fairytale narrative: somewhere out there, among eight billion people on Earth, there is one magical soulmate custom-built for you. It’s like finding the exact, hyper-specific automotive trim you want sitting on a lot in Flint without having to custom-order it.

caller-line debates aside, a new survey from Talker Research reveals a pretty eye-opening shift in how we look at romance: 20% of people in happy relationships admit they don’t believe their partner is their "one true love."

And honestly? That might actually be a good thing.

Unless you’re trekking across Middle-earth where the One Ring is literally the only way to destroy Sauron, locking yourself into the idea of "The One" can make modern dating feel like driving northbound on I-75 on a Friday before Labor Day—stressful, gridlocked, and full of unrealistic expectations.

The Myth of "The One" vs. Real-Life Connection

Here’s how the stats break down:

• Singles are losing faith in the fairytale: Only 41% of single people currently believe they’ll ever find "The One."

• Trial and error is real: The average person thinks they’ve found "The One" twice before realizing they were dead wrong (and 33% of us have been wrong even more than that).

• Generational Divide: Gen X is holding down the fort for classic soulmate traditionalism, while Gen Z is far more open-minded, leaning into the idea that love isn't a single target you hit or miss.

• Multiple Soulmates: 17% of respondents believe you can have multiple soulmates throughout a lifetime.

When you think about it, expecting one single human being to satisfy every emotional, intellectual, and hobby-related need in your life is asking a lot. It’s like expecting one store to be a Meijer, a cider mill, and a Detroit sports bar all rolled into one. Is it great if you can find it? Sure. But is a fantastic local spot that does two out of three remarkably well still totally awesome? Absolutely.

The Dating Scene Blues

If you’re single and sitting out there wondering why it’s so tough, you aren't imagining things. According to the data, the average single person hasn’t been on a good date in nearly 1.5 years.

Between "ghosting" culture, social media setting wild expectations, and people looking completely different in person than they do on their profiles, dating feels like a full-time job. But maybe part of the burnout comes from looking for absolute, flawless perfection on date number one instead of just seeing if you vibe over a casual dinner.

Does It Matter If They Aren't "The One"?

If you’re in a loving, supportive relationship where you laugh together, split the chores, and willingly brave the winter weather to scrap the ice off each other's windshields, does it really matter if they don't fit some mystical cosmic definition of a "soulmate"?

Real compatibility isn't about finding a mythical unicorn; it's about finding someone who rides shotgun, picks the music, and stays by your side through every season.

So, what about you? Do you believe in one true soulmate, or are you in the "multiple soulmates" camp?

As a nod to her iconic anthem "9 to 5", today is all about celebrating the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton! Cities across the United States are marking the day with special events and tributes honoring her music, philanthropy, and lasting legacy.

Here is how a few cities across the country are honoring her:

• New Orleans: Hosting a Celebration of Life parade through the streets.

• Nashville: Illuminating the city in pink lights and displaying Dolly posters, while Garth Brooks' Friends in Low Places bar donates proceeds to her Imagination Library.

• San Francisco: Throwing a daytime celebration filled with live music performance tributes.

• Listen to 98 KCQ, we will play a Dolly song each hour to Celebrate 9/25 Day in Honor of Dolly

Daily Briefing: High-Stakes Diplomacy, Data Privacy Legislation, and Weekend Sports Roundup

Diplomacy & Global Affairs

President Trump Hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House

President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday. The high-stakes summit focused on critical global issues, including the ethical bounds of artificial intelligence, bilateral trade relations, the situation in Taiwan, and the ongoing war in Iran.

The state visit continues today with President Trump, President Xi, and their spouses gathering for a tea session. On the final day of President Xi's U.S. visit, the leaders will visit the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

State & Local Politics

State Lawmakers Push Legislation on License Plate Reader Safeguards

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is backing new legislation aimed at establishing clear guardrails for automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.

• House Bill 6346: This bill imposes strict limits on sharing captured license plate data. Notably, it requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a court order before transmitting any recorded information to out-of-state entities.

• Access & Privacy Standards: A separate companion bill restricts who can access the database, explicitly prohibiting searches for personal business or using system records for commercial background checks.

Education & Workforce Development

General Motors Commits $1.5M to Michigan STEM Education

General Motors has announced a $1.5 million investment to expand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education for elementary school students across Michigan.

• Hands-on "3P" Learning: The funding supports Place, Problem, and Project-based education both inside and outside the classroom.

• Building a Future Workforce: The M-TEC SmartZone is partnering with the MiSTEM Network and the State of Michigan to link classroom concepts with real-world industry applications.

Weekend Sports Lineup

Hockey & Baseball

• Saginaw Spirit: Host the Niagara IceDogs tonight at the Dow Event Center.

• Detroit Tigers: Take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park.

College Football

• Michigan Wolverines: Host Iowa at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday (3:30 PM kickoff).

• Michigan State Spartans: Host Nebraska in East Lansing on Saturday (5:00 PM kickoff).

• Central Michigan Chippewas: Travel to Florida to face the University of Miami.

NFL

• Detroit Lions: Host the New York Jets on Sunday (1:00 PM kickoff).

Mid-Michigan Weekend Forecast

• Friday: Partly sunny with a high of 67°F.

• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy early, gradually clearing with a low of 44°F.

• Saturday: Full sunshine with a high of 70°F.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny with a high of 71°F.

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Do you have fond memories of school cafeteria pizza on Fridays, or do you still shudder at the thought of mystery meat, square sheet-pan pizza, and soggy tuna noodle casserole?

While school meal quality has improved across the country over the last couple of decades, how well students eat often depends on where they live. A new study by ProCare Therapy evaluated school lunch programs across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., ranking them based on health standards, local food sourcing, student participation rates, access to free or reduced-price meals, and additional offerings like breakfast.

The good news for Pure Michigan families? Michigan cracked the national top 10, landing in 9th place overall!

The 10 Best States for School Lunches

Vermont claims the #1 spot in the nation. Thanks to robust state-level support for universal free meals and strong farm-to-school initiatives, Vermont sets the gold standard for cafeteria dining.

1. Vermont (National Leader)

2. New Mexico

3. New York

4. West Virginia

5. Washington, D.C.

6. Massachusetts

7. Maine

8. Kentucky

9. Michigan

10. California

Why Michigan Scores High: Free Meals & Fresh Produce

Michigan’s high ranking comes down to two major moves the state made in recent years:

• Universal Free Meals: Through the Michigan School Meals program, all public pre-K through 12th-grade students in Michigan receive free breakfast and lunch every school day, regardless of family income.

• Farm-to-School Funding: Programs like Michigan's "10 Cents a Meal" initiative provide state match grants to help local school districts buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and dry beans directly from Michigan farmers and growers.

So whether students are grabbing a quick breakfast in the morning or enjoying a hot lunch featuring local produce—or yes, those iconic cheese-filled Bosco Sticks—Michigan kids are faring better than most.

The 10 Worst States for School Lunches

On the flip side, New Hampshire landed dead last at #51 due to lower participation rates and stricter limitations on meal assistance access. Meaning there may be students trying to sneak across state lines to Vermont just for a decent lunch.

1. New Hampshire (51st)

2. Wyoming

3. Idaho

4. Alaska

5. Utah

6. Montana

7. South Dakota

8. New Jersey

9. Illinois

10. Maryland

(For those curious about the absolute middle of the pack: Pennsylvania earned the title of the most average school lunch program in the country, landing right at #26.)

Have you ever sat down to book a flight out of DTW or MBS, looked at a connection option, and immediately thought, "Absolutely not, I'm not transferring there"?

If you’ve ever paid an extra $50 just to avoid sprint-racing through a specific concourse or getting stuck in layover purgatory, you are far from alone. We’ve all got our personal airport hit list, and as it turns out, science and data back up our paranoia.

The aviation site AeroCorner recently set out to rank the worst airports in America. By pairing official on-time departure data from the Bureau of Transportation with customer satisfaction feedback from J.D. Power, they put together a list of the country’s most head-ache-inducing hubs.

Check out the top 10 worst airports in America below—and see how many times you've been burned by number one.

The 10 Worst Airports in America

1. Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

2. Newark Liberty (EWR)

3. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL)

4. Philadelphia International (PHL)

5. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)

6. Chicago Midway (MDW)

7. Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)

8. Nashville International (BNA)

9. Baltimore/Washington (BWI)

10. Cleveland Hopkins (CLE)

The View from the Great Lakes State

If you live and fly in Michigan, this list probably triggers a little bit of travel PTSD.

For starters, Chicago O’Hare taking the #1 spot surprises absolutely no one who has ever flown out of Michigan. Connecting through O'Hare in the winter is basically a game of Russian roulette with the weather gods. If a single snowflake lands on Lake Michigan, your 45-minute layover suddenly morphs into a six-hour delay in Terminal 1 while you eat an overpriced sandwich.

And let’s not ignore Midway sitting right at #6. Between O'Hare and Midway, Chicago essentially has a monopoly on ruined travel plans for Midwesterners.

Then there’s Cleveland Hopkins at #10, sitting just across Lake Erie to remind us that driving might have been the better option all along.

We might complain about construction on I-75 or the line at the TSA checkpoint on a Sunday night, but taking a look at this list makes you appreciate Detroit Metro (DTW) just a little bit more. At least when you're sprint-walking at DTW, you get to ride the red tram or walk through the colorful tunnel.

So, if your next flight goes smoothly without a surprise detour through O'Hare or Newark, consider yourself lucky. What’s the one airport on this list you will pay extra to completely avoid?

Judge Orders White House Press Access Restored, STARS Faces Higher Fuel Costs

It’s been a busy day in the news, from Washington to right here in Mid-Michigan.

Judge Orders White House Press Access Restored

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the administration to return and restore the journalists' White House hard-pass credentials.

Kelly said the outlets were likely to succeed in their legal challenge and found that the press credentials had been revoked without constitutionally adequate due process. The administration had argued that national security concerns were involved. (Investing.com)

The case stems from the administration's decision last week to bar the three news organizations from the White House.

Diesel Costs Hit Saginaw Transit

Closer to home, rising diesel prices are putting a bigger dent in the budget at the Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services, or STARS.

The agency says its fuel costs have increased 37 percent over the past year. As a result, STARS plans to increase its fuel budget for the upcoming fiscal year by 19 percent, or about $100,000.

STARS says that extra money has to come from somewhere, limiting what the agency can spend on other needs.

The good news for riders: fares and routes are not being impacted by the fuel-related budget changes. STARS also says ridership has increased in recent years. (https://www.wnem.com)

So if you've been thinking about taking the bus instead of driving because diesel is getting expensive, you're definitely not the only one doing the math.

Start Thinking About Christmas Shipping

Yes, we're saying this in September.

The U.S. Postal Service has released its recommended holiday mailing deadlines for packages that need to arrive by Christmas.

For the lower 48 states, USPS recommends:

• December 17: Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail

• December 18: Priority Mail

• December 19: Priority Mail Express

USPS says these are recommended dates for expected delivery by December 25, and actual delivery times can vary. (About USPS)

In other words, if your family member in Florida is still waiting for that Christmas present on December 24, don't say the Postal Service didn't warn you.

Tigers Fall to Washington

On the sports side, the Detroit Tigers fell to the Washington Nationals 4-2.

The Tigers return home tomorrow night to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

And the Saginaw Spirit are also back on home ice tomorrow night, taking on the Niagara IceDogs at the Dow Event Center.

That game gets underway at 7:05 p.m.

Your Mid-Michigan Forecast

We're looking at sunshine with a high around 72 today.

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 46.

Friday brings partly sunny skies with a high near 68.

And the weekend is looking pretty nice, with mostly sunny skies and highs around 71 both Saturday and Sunday.

Ella Langley just did something pretty darn big.

Her hit “Choosin’ Texas” has officially made Billboard history, spending its 23rd week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. That makes it the longest-running No. 1 song in the history of the chart.

And yes, she just passed Mariah Carey.

“Choosin’ Texas” broke the record previously held by Mariah’s holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which spent 22 weeks at No. 1.

So, technically, Ella Langley has now kept a song at No. 1 longer than Mariah has kept Christmas from going away.

Sorry, Mariah. Michigan will still be playing your Christmas song approximately 47 times a day once Thanksgiving gets here.

From Alabama to Texas... and somehow Michigan

The funny part about a song called “Choosin’ Texas” making this kind of history is that plenty of Michigan listeners can probably relate to the basic idea.

Sometimes you just have to choose your place.

Texas has cowboy boots.

Michigan has work boots.

Texas has Whataburger.

Michigan has Coney dogs.

Texas has big trucks.

Michigan has trucks that have survived three Michigan winters and somehow still have a bumper sticker from 2014.

And while Ella is “Choosin’ Texas,” we're still choosing Michigan.

Even when it's 38 degrees in October, there's a 20 mph wind and somebody is already talking about snow.

Ella says it's changing everything

Langley shared a video thanking fans after the record-breaking news, saying she was struggling to find the words to explain what was happening.

She said the success is changing her life, the lives of the song's writers and the lives of her family. She also said the moment didn't feel real.

And it's a pretty remarkable run.

“Choosin’ Texas” was released in October 2025, reached the Billboard Hot 100 in November, cracked the Top 10 in January and eventually reached No. 1 in February.

The song was written by Langley with Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor.

The Michigan question

Now that Ella has officially made history, we've got an important question for Michigan:

If you had to choose between Texas and Michigan, which one are you taking?

Texas has warmer winters.

Michigan has lakes, fall colors, coney dogs, Mackinac Island, football Saturdays and the unique experience of scraping ice off your windshield while questioning every decision that led you to that parking lot.

We'll stick with Michigan.

But we'll happily keep playing “Choosin’ Texas.”

Ever have that conversation with your significant other?

“What do you want to eat?”

“I don't care. What do you want?”

“I don't know. What sounds good?”

“Anything.”

“Okay, how about pizza?”

“I don't want pizza.”

At that point, some Michigan couples are apparently ready to file for food divorce.

Food divorce means couples stop trying to coordinate every meal. Instead, each person eats whatever they want, whenever they want, without the nightly negotiations over what's for dinner.

Honestly, Michigan couples have plenty of experience with this.

One person wants coneys. The other wants Olive Burger. One wants a Coney Island, while the other is already halfway to Meijer buying chicken and complaining that nobody ever helps decide what's for dinner.

And don't even get us started on “Where do you want to go?”

That question has ended more Friday nights than a snowstorm.

A relationship therapist says the idea behind food divorce is to remove meals from the list of daily negotiations that can create stress and resentment.

And younger generations seem to be moving away from the traditional family dinner schedule. A recent study found that about 1 in 4 Americans eat every meal alone.

But there's a catch.

Couples who regularly eat together tend to report higher relationship satisfaction. So if you're going to divorce dinner, experts say you probably need to replace that shared meal with some other way of connecting.

Maybe that's sitting together on the couch.

Maybe it's going for a walk.

Or maybe, in Michigan, it's sitting around the kitchen table complaining about the weather while somebody checks the snowblower forecast.

Because sometimes the problem isn't dinner.

It's the 17-minute argument about where to get dinner.

So, would you try a food divorce?

Or is eating together one of those things you're not willing to give up?

And most importantly...

If you and your significant other can't agree on dinner, who gets custody of the leftover ranch?

Wednesday News: Xi Visits Washington, Big Medical School Project Breaks Ground in Saginaw

Xi Jinping Arrives in Washington

Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington today for a state visit with President Donald Trump, with Trump planning to personally greet Xi and his wife when they arrive at Joint Base Andrews.

The visit runs through Friday and includes an arrival ceremony at the White House, a military review and a state dinner.

Trump and Xi are expected to discuss several major issues, including trade, tariffs, artificial intelligence and other U.S.-China relations issues.

It's Xi's first visit to Washington in more than a decade, making the trip one of the biggest diplomatic events of the week.

Harris Visits Michigan Senate Candidate

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was in Detroit Tuesday, appearing with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a roundtable focused on Black maternal health.

Harris endorsed El-Sayed during the visit. El-Sayed is running against Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the November Senate election.

Rogers responded to the visit on social media, criticizing the appearance and Harris' involvement in the Michigan race.

New Medical Education Building Coming to Saginaw

There was a big groundbreaking in Saginaw Tuesday.

Central Michigan University, Covenant HealthCare and MyMichigan Health broke ground on the new MyMichigan Health CMU Medical Education Building near the MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw.

The facility will become the new home of CMU's College of Medicine and is expected to bring all four years of medical education together in Saginaw beginning with the fall 2028 semester.

The building is designed to support up to 130 medical students per class, pending clinical capacity.

That's a pretty big deal for the Great Lakes Bay Region, and eventually there could be a whole lot of future doctors learning their craft right here in Saginaw.

Michigan's Christmas Tree Has Been Chosen

It may still feel like fall, but Michigan is already thinking about Christmas.

A 60-foot spruce from Iron Mountain has been selected as Michigan's official 2026 Christmas tree.

The tree was donated by the Larry Riccio family and will arrive at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on November 7.

It's the second tree from Iron Mountain and the 26th tree from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to be selected as the state's official Christmas tree since the tradition began in 1987.

So somewhere in the U.P., one family is looking at a giant empty spot in the yard thinking, "Well...there goes the shade."

Red Wings Win, Tigers Fall

The Detroit Red Wings picked up their first preseason win, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-4 Tuesday night.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård scored twice, while Anton Johansson had four assists. Detroit scored four times in the third period to pull away.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers lost to the Washington Nationals 3-1.

CJ Abrams hit two home runs for Washington and drove in all three Nationals runs.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 69.

Tonight, clear skies with a low around 48.

Thursday brings more sunshine with a high near 70.

Friday looks sunny with a high around 68.

Today is National Dress Up Your Pet Day, the day when we're apparently supposed to make our dogs and cats look as fashionable as possible.

It was launched in 2009 by a pet lifestyle expert to support the pet fashion industry.

Translation: somebody wanted you to buy another dog sweater at Petco.

But here's the funny part. A new poll of 2,000 cat and dog owners asked what we actually WORRY about when it comes to our pets.

And apparently, looking fabulous isn't even in the top nine.

The biggest concern? How happy they are, with 53% saying they worry about that a lot.

Then it's their overall health at 52%, what they eat at 46%, whether they're anxious or stressed at 41%, and whether they're getting enough exercise at 38%.

They're also worried about their pets being lonely, bored, and whether they'd be happier with another pet around.

Meanwhile, here in Michigan, we're just trying to figure out if the dog needs a jacket because it's 48 degrees in the morning and 72 by dinner.

You put a little sweater on your dog and he looks at you like, "Seriously? I'm a Michigan dog. I've been outside in January."

And don't even get started on putting a Halloween costume on a cat.

That cat isn't wearing the costume.

You're wearing the costume.

Because the cat is going to spend the next three hours plotting your downfall from underneath the couch.

So go ahead and dress up your pet today.

Put them in a little sweater. A bow tie. A tiny Michigan hoodie.

Just remember, your pet probably doesn't care about fashion.

They care about food, attention, going outside, and figuring out why you keep leaving the house without them.

Happy National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

Let's be honest. We've all been there.

You've got a fresh order of fries. They're hot. They're crispy. You're ready to go.

Then comes the big question:

Where do I put the ketchup?

You can squeeze it onto the fries, which guarantees that the bottom half will become a soggy mess.

You can use a ketchup packet, which somehow manages to shoot ketchup onto your shirt, your car and the person sitting next to you.

Or you can balance a little plastic cup of ketchup on your lap while driving down I-75 and hope Michigan's potholes don't turn lunch into a crime scene.

Well, Heinz thinks they've found a better way.

Meet the Heinz Dipper

Heinz has introduced something called the Heinz Dipper, a French fry box with a built-in ketchup pocket.

The box looks pretty normal at first, but there's a little compartment attached to the side that pulls out and creates a spot for your ketchup.

No packets.

No separate dipping cup.

No trying to hold your fries, burger, drink and ketchup all at the same time.

Just dip and eat.

Honestly, Michigan might be ready for this.

Imagine pulling up to a burger joint in Saginaw, Bay City or Flint and saying:

“I'll take the fries, and make sure the box has the ketchup garage.”

But Don't Expect One at McDonald's

There's a catch.

The Heinz Dipper isn't showing up everywhere. It's currently being rolled out at select restaurants and sports venues in 11 countries, and it's being described largely as a limited promotional stunt.

And no, you won't find it at McDonald's.

In North America, one of the biggest locations getting the special boxes is Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, home of the Maple Leafs.

So if you're willing to drive to Canada for a ketchup-equipped fry box, apparently that's an option.

Although if you're already in Canada, you've got another problem:

You have to explain to the border agent why you drove across the international border for a better French fry container.

“Sir, it was about the dipping sauce.”

“Understandable. Have a nice day.”

For now, the Heinz Dipper is available only while supplies last.

But if this thing catches on, don't be surprised if the next version comes with a built-in ranch compartment.

And that's when Michigan officially becomes unstoppable.

World Leaders Meet at U.N. as Michigan Gas Prices Hit New 2026 High

World leaders are gathering in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, with wars and international conflicts expected to be major topics of discussion.

The U.N.'s 81st General Assembly general debate runs from September 22 through September 28. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the leaders speaking Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are scheduled to address the assembly later in the week.

Meanwhile, Michigan drivers are getting another reminder that filling up isn't getting any cheaper.

Michigan Gas Prices Jump

AAA says the average price for regular gasoline in Michigan reached about $4.91 per gallon as of Monday, up roughly 60 cents from a week earlier and about $1.75 higher than a year ago.

That's a pretty serious increase.

At these prices, the old Michigan tradition of “let's just take a little drive and look at the fall colors” suddenly requires a budget meeting.

Michigan Students and School Attendance

There's some encouraging news when it comes to Michigan school attendance, although chronic absenteeism remains a significant issue.

The Michigan Department of Education says the statewide attendance rate improved slightly during the 2025-26 school year to 91.5%. The state's chronic absenteeism rate also declined to 27.2%, marking the fourth consecutive year of improvement.

Michigan defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of the school year. Nearly 388,000 students were chronically absent during the 2024-25 school year.

The state has identified several factors that can make regular attendance difficult, including transportation problems, housing instability, bullying and other challenges facing students and families.

Voting Rights Town Hall Held in Saginaw County

Saginaw County residents gathered Monday for a voting rights town hall organized by Michigan State Representative Amos O'Neill.

The event included state officials and local election administrators answering questions about topics including election security, voting deadlines and ways to submit ballots.

Michigan's next statewide general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Voters using absentee ballots should check with their local clerk for the applicable deadlines and requirements.

Comerica Park Is Getting a New Name

Here's a Detroit sports change that might take a little getting used to.

Comerica Park will become Fifth Third Park starting next season.

The Detroit Tigers and Fifth Third Bank announced the name change Monday. The change follows Fifth Third's merger with Comerica Bank, which has held the ballpark's naming rights since the Tigers moved there in 2000.

The signage around the stadium will be changed during the offseason, with the Tigers scheduled to open the 2027 season at home against the White Sox.

So yes, Tigers fans, you're going to have to retrain your brain.

“We're going to Comerica” becomes “We're going to Fifth Third.”

Give it a few years. Eventually it'll sound normal.

And the Tigers had a pretty good Monday night.

Detroit beat Washington 9-2 to open its final homestand of the regular season.

Ben Malgeri had a big night, hitting a home run and a double while also making a spectacular diving catch. River Ryan made his Tigers debut on the mound.

And fittingly, Malgeri wears number 53.

Apparently Fifth Third Park is already recruiting.

Monday Night Football

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 28-6 on Monday Night Football.

 Mid-Michigan Weather

And here's what we're looking at across Mid-Michigan:

Today: Sunny and windy, with a high around 65.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Wednesday: Increasing clouds, high near 69.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high around 70.

Who you gonna call? Apparently, the brewery. 

Ghostbusters fans are getting a new reason to celebrate this Halloween season. A New Jersey brewery is preparing to release a limited-time IPA called Ecto Ghouler.

Ship Bottom Brewery is set to release the beer on October 3, with the Ghostbusters-inspired brew available at its locations in Beach Haven, New Jersey, and Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

And there's a pretty good reason for the October 3 launch.

The brewery is also hosting its annual Ecto Ghouler 5K in Beach Haven that morning. The race starts at 10 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony and post-race party at the brewery. Runners 21 and older get a beer at the after-party, and the best costume wins a four-pack.

So, technically, you could start the morning by running five kilometers dressed like a Ghostbuster and finish it with a beer named after a ghost.

That's either a great Saturday or evidence that Halloween has gotten completely out of hand.

The Ecto Ghouler IPA is a limited release, meaning you'll have a relatively short window to track it down.

And if they ever bring this beer to Michigan, we're going to need a very specific Mid-Michigan version:

Ecto Ghouler: Now With More Pothole.

The perfect beer for sitting in a lawn chair, watching somebody attempt to parallel park at Kroger, and wondering whether that strange green thing floating in your glass is supposed to be there.

For now, though, you'll have to head to New Jersey or Pennsylvania to hunt down the real thing.

Just remember: if somebody offers you a beer called Ecto Ghouler, don't cross the streams.

Just when you thought the canned-meat industry had finally run out of ideas, SPAM has come up with another one.

Hot Honey-flavored SPAM is hitting grocery store shelves, and unlike some of the questionable things you find lurking in the back of your grandma's pantry, this one is apparently here to stay. It's a permanent flavor.

The makers of SPAM describe it as a sweet-and-spicy twist on the classic canned meat.

And if you're thinking, "Wait... SPAM wasn't spicy enough already?" apparently there are people out there demanding more.

They're even pushing SPAM into the breakfast game.

There are recipes for a Hot Honey SPAM breakfast sandwich and Hot Honey SPAM waffles with apple-jalapeño slaw.

Because nothing says Michigan Saturday morning quite like waking up, looking outside at 48 degrees and cloudy skies, and thinking:

"You know what would really hit the spot? A waffle with canned pork and jalapeño slaw."

And before you judge, SPAM has gotten surprisingly adventurous.

There are roughly 15 varieties, including Korean BBQ, Gochujang, Japanese BBQ, Bacon, Maple, Hickory Smoke, Teriyaki and Jalapeño.

Maple SPAM is particularly interesting in Michigan.

We're the state that puts maple syrup on pancakes, so I suppose we were eventually going to arrive at the intersection of breakfast and canned meat.

Although if you're going to eat Hot Honey SPAM, I'm thinking the proper Michigan serving method is simple:

Put it on a plate.

Stand outside.

Eat it while arguing about whether it's going to snow next weekend.

Then tell everybody you got the recipe from your cousin in Bay City.

And remember, SPAM says the Hot Honey variety is permanent.

So apparently this is our life now.

Mid-Michigan News: ICE Shooting, Senate Campaigns, Gas Prices and Weekend Sports

Venezuelan Man Shot by ICE Officer in Austin

A Venezuelan man was shot and wounded by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Sunday while he was making a DoorDash delivery in Austin, Texas.

The man was identified by his attorney as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. He was shot in the upper torso during a brief foot pursuit and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition before being released into federal custody.

His attorney says Perez had entered the United States legally and had a valid work permit. The Department of Homeland Security says he entered the country illegally and was subject to removal. Federal officials say the shooting is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the FBI. (Reuters)

The shooting comes amid increased immigration enforcement activity in Austin and elsewhere around the country.

Senate Candidates Campaign Across Michigan

Michigan's U.S. Senate race is getting plenty of attention in Mid-Michigan.

Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed held a town hall in Saginaw Saturday as part of his campaign's statewide tour. El-Sayed took questions from residents about issues including the cost of living, health care, housing, education and privacy. (https://www.wnem.com)

Republican nominee Mike Rogers was in Detroit over the weekend focusing on literacy and reading achievement. Rogers called Michigan's education challenges "the civil rights issue of our lifetime" while appearing outside Cody High School. (CBS News)

The election for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat is scheduled for November 3.

Michigan Gas Prices Near $5 a Gallon

Drivers across Michigan are feeling the pain at the pump.

AAA reported Michigan's average price for regular gasoline approaching $5 a gallon last week, as prices continued climbing across the state. (CBS News)

Michigan's motor fuel tax is 52.4 cents per gallon in 2026. Under the current system, 98% of the motor fuel tax revenue goes to the Michigan Transportation Fund, which supports state highways, county roads, cities, villages and public transportation. (Michigan.gov)

That has renewed discussion about whether Michigan should temporarily suspend or reduce its gas tax to give drivers some relief. Any reduction would also mean less money going toward transportation funding.

Weekend Sports

It was a busy weekend for Michigan sports.

Michigan State fell to third-ranked Notre Dame 27-10 Saturday night. The Spartans trailed by just seven points at halftime before Notre Dame pulled away in the second half. (Michigan State University Athletics)

Central Michigan picked up a 24-10 victory over Wyoming.

Michigan bounced back from an early scare to beat UTEP 52-17. The Wolverines improved to 3-0 with the victory. (Yahoo Sports)

And there was no shortage of local hockey drama.

The Flint Firebirds spoiled the Saginaw Spirit's home opener Saturday night, beating Saginaw 5-4 at the Dow Event Center. Flint's Xavier Tessier scored a hat trick in the victory.

The Spirit will be back at the Dow Event Center Friday night against the Niagara IceDogs. (Ticketmaster)

Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers dropped an 8-1 decision to the Chicago White Sox Sunday. The loss eliminated Detroit from playoff contention. (AP News)

Mid-Michigan Weather

It's going to be a breezy start to the week across Mid-Michigan.

Today: Mostly cloudy and windy, with a high around 62. East-northeast winds will be around 13 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low near 48.

Tuesday: Sunny and breezy, with a high around 63.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high around 65.

You've seen a cop movie where they line up all the suspects for an eye witness?

When you own parrotts, sometimes you have to do the same.  

LISTEN!

Hecks?

Jake's for line-dancing?

Hamilton Street?

HOW do you decide what bar to hang out at?  Here's the answer!  LISTEN!

Listen to this man order a "special" kind of chicken at Popeye's!  His wife made a fake flyer to convince his to order it! 

FOOD NEWS! How many POUNDS of Poutine could you eat in 10 minutes?  Joe Chestnut breaks his own record!  Would you like a beer flavored energy drink? Check out FOOD NEWS!

Welcome to Nerd News, where we cover the most important developments in science so you can sound incredibly intelligent the next time somebody asks what you did all weekend.

This week's headlines include a toilet designed for astronauts, dinosaurs getting hit with an absolutely brutal heat wave, and evidence that your Chihuahua might secretly be a tiny coyote.

So... let's get nerdy.

1. The iThrone: A Toilet for Earth and Space

Former NASA researcher Diana Yousef invented a waterless toilet called the iThrone after realizing something pretty interesting:

People who don't have access to plumbing face some of the same sanitation problems as astronauts.

Think about that the next time you complain because your bathroom is two steps farther away than you'd like.

The iThrone rapidly evaporates about 95% of the water in human waste, making what's left safer to handle in places without traditional sewage systems.

And this isn't just some science experiment sitting in a lab. The toilets are now serving roughly 20,000 households in places including Uganda, Panama and the United States.

Honestly, this is one of those inventions that makes you wonder why we haven't figured this out sooner.

Humanity has invented smartphones that can translate languages in real time.

We can land rockets upright.

We can send a picture of a sandwich to somebody halfway around the world.

And we're still basically saying, "Okay, everybody, line up and wait for the plumbing."

 2. The Dinosaurs Didn't Just Have a Bad Day

We already knew the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was having a pretty rough impact on the neighborhood.

New research suggests it may have been even worse than scientists previously thought.

Researchers say fine dust blasted into the atmosphere after the asteroid impact trapped heat from falling debris, exposing animals on land to roughly 17 times a lethal heat dose.

In other words, if you were a dinosaur standing outside that day, things went from:

"Hey, what's that in the sky?"

to:

"OH, THIS IS BAD."

Plants caught fire.

Temperatures soared.

And suddenly being the dinosaur who liked hanging out underground wasn't such a weird hobby.

Animals that could burrow or take shelter in water apparently had a much better shot at surviving.

So, basically, the prehistoric survival guide was:

Get underground. Get in the water. Don't look up.

Michigan readers may recognize the strategy.

Except instead of an asteroid, we're talking about winter.

 3. Your Chihuahua Might Be Part Coyote

And finally, we have perhaps the most shocking scientific discovery of the week:

Chihuahuas may have coyote DNA.

A new genetic study found that these tiny dogs share portions of their DNA with coyotes.

Researchers at Stanford University discovered the connection while testing software designed to trace the ancestry of animal genomes.

Scientists don't know exactly when coyotes entered the Chihuahua family tree, but the evidence suggests it happened before European contact with the Americas.

And suddenly a lot of things make sense.

That Chihuahua that weighs eight pounds but thinks it can take on a German shepherd?

Coyote.

The one that barks at absolutely nothing?

Coyote.

The one that stares at you like it knows your darkest secrets?

Definitely coyote.

Meanwhile, the Chihuahua is probably sitting there thinking:

"Finally. They're starting to figure it out."

 That's Your Nerd News

So what did we learn this week?

Astronauts need toilets.

Dinosaurs really, really needed sunscreen.

And Chihuahuas might be tiny coyotes with anger-management issues.

Science is amazing.

And honestly, if next week's Nerd News tells us that Michigan squirrels are secretly running an underground intelligence operation, we're not even going to be surprised.

Stay curious, stay nerdy—and if you see a Chihuahua in the woods...

Maybe don't make eye contact.

We need to talk about toys.

The National Toy Hall of Fame has announced the 12 finalists for its 2026 class—and while there are some serious childhood classics on the list, there's one glaring omission.

Illegal fireworks.

Okay, technically those aren't a toy.

But if you grew up in Michigan, you know somebody's cousin, neighbor, or that one guy down the street who would like to make the case.

The 12 finalists

This year's finalists are:

• Bingo

• Bop It!

• Care Bears

• Mahjong

• Monster High dolls

• Mouse Trap

• Pokémon Trading Cards

• Polly Pocket

• The Slide

• Sorry!

• Tickle Me Elmo

• Yahtzee

Three of them will eventually be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, with the winners announced in November.

And yes, the public gets a say.

You can vote through the Museum of Play throughout the next week. Vote in the Players' Choice ballot

But let's talk Michigan childhoods...

Sure, Bop It! was fun.

Pokémon cards? Absolutely.

Mouse Trap? A classic.

But Michigan kids had a slightly different set of priorities.

We had sleds.

Not fancy sleds, either. I'm talking about whatever piece of plastic you could find after the first major snowstorm.

We had bikes that spent the summer flying down neighborhood streets.

We had Slip 'N Slides in the backyard until somebody discovered that the grass underneath was apparently 90% mud.

And let's not forget the ultimate Michigan toy:

The empty pop bottle.

You could make a million things out of that.

Okay, maybe not a million.

But enough to keep a kid busy until Mom yelled, "Dinner!"

And if you grew up in Michigan, you probably had a plastic shovel that was technically supposed to be for the sandbox but eventually became a snow shovel, digging tool, fort-building equipment and general backyard construction device.

That's versatility.

And Tickle Me Elmo is back?!

Poor Elmo.

He was nominated last year but didn't make the cut.

Apparently, being a cultural phenomenon wasn't enough.

Maybe this is Elmo's year.

Although if we're being honest, Michigan parents might have a different memory of Tickle Me Elmo:

"That thing went off at 2 a.m. and scared the life out of me."

Last year's inductees were Battleship, Slime and Trivial Pursuit—so clearly the Hall of Fame is willing to recognize everything from board games to goo.

Which raises an important question:

How long until someone tries to get the Michigan classic "throwing snowballs at your friends" inducted?

We're just saying.

What toy deserves a spot?

That's really the fun part of this whole thing.

Because every generation has that one toy.

Maybe it was a Care Bear.

Maybe it was Polly Pocket.

Maybe it was Pokémon cards you absolutely promised yourself you were going to keep in perfect condition—until you put them in your bike spokes.

Or maybe your favorite "toy" was whatever you could find outside.

For Michigan kids, that could mean a basketball hoop in the driveway, a sled on a snowy hill, a bike on a summer evening or a cardboard box that somehow became a race car.

The finalists may be official, but we're pretty sure Michigan has its own unofficial Toy Hall of Fame.

And we're still holding out hope for illegal fireworks.

You know... for historical purposes.

Top Stories: UN Report, F-16 Crash, Rising Gas Prices and Weekend Sports

Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories making news across Michigan and beyond.

UN Report Raises Questions About U.S. Strikes in Iran

A U.N.-backed fact-finding mission says it found “reasonable grounds” to believe the United States committed war crimes in two strikes in Iran, including an attack on a school in the city of Minab.

The report says the February strikes killed scores of civilians, including children. The second strike involved a sports facility and residential area in Lamerd.

The mission also accused Iranian authorities of committing crimes against humanity during a crackdown on anti-government protests.

The findings are not legally binding, but the report could become part of evidence used in future legal proceedings. U.S. officials have disputed the findings and questioned the human rights body's conclusions.

F-16 Crashes in Northern Michigan

An F-16 fighter jet crashed Thursday during a training exercise in rural Grand Traverse County after the pilot safely ejected.

The pilot was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Officials have not released the pilot's identity or details about any injuries.

The aircraft was from the Texas Air National Guard and was taking part in training based out of Alpena. A temporary evacuation was ordered near the crash site after hazardous material spilled from the wreckage. The evacuation was later lifted.

The cause remains under investigation. Preliminary air-traffic-control audio indicated a possible bird strike, but officials have not reached a final conclusion.

Gas Prices Keep Climbing in Michigan

If you've filled up lately, you've probably noticed the pain at the pump.

AAA's latest figures show Michigan's average regular gasoline price at about $4.89 a gallon, with diesel reaching a new record of about $6.68 a gallon.

Prices have been rising steadily this week, and some stations in Southeast Michigan are already charging more than $7 a gallon for diesel.

In Sports

It was a tough night for Detroit.

The Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers 3-1, while the Buffalo Bills defeated the Detroit Lions 41-31.

Looking ahead to Saturday, the Michigan Wolverines host UTEP at 3:30 p.m.

The Central Michigan Chippewas host Wyoming at 1 p.m.

And Saturday night, the Michigan State Spartans take on Notre Dame, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Your Mid-Michigan Weekend Forecast

For Friday, expect increasing clouds and a breezy afternoon, with a high around 71.

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low near 52.

Saturday brings cloudy skies and showers, with a high around 67.

And Sunday stays cloudy and breezy, with a high near 67.

So if you're heading to a game this weekend, bring the rain gear — and maybe leave the shorts at home.

Football is back, baby! And you know what that means: Carrie Underwood is back in the spotlight for “Sunday Night Football”!

Carrie is kicking off her 14th season as the voice of NBC’s football opener, a gig she took over from Faith Hill back in 2013. And after all these years, she still knows how to make that opening feel like the biggest game of the week

This season, Carrie is cranking up the rock-and-roll attitude with an all-leather look that says, “Yeah, I came to sing — but I also came to win!”

The song is still designed to get your heart pumping and your football-loving self ready for kickoff.

And if you're watching from Detroit? Well, we're thinking blue and silver leather might be the perfect finishing touch.

Because when the Lions are playing on Sunday night, Carrie can bring the anthem — Detroit can bring the roar!

So grab your jersey, fire up the snacks and get ready.

Football is back. Carrie is back. And around here… LET'S GO LIONS! 

If you’ve ever handed a kid a Capri-Sun, you already know the drill: sip, sip, sip… gone. Somehow that little pouch disappears faster than a Michigan summer.

Well, Capri-Sun apparently decided we’ve had enough of the tiny pouches.

They’re testing something called the “Big Pouch.” It stands about 9 inches tall, is 6 inches wide and holds a whopping 20 ounces. That’s more than three times the size of the original.

It even comes with a bigger straw.

And here’s the catch: it comes EMPTY. Yep. You’re basically buying a Capri-Sun water bottle with a coupon for Capri-Sun.

They recommend grabbing a 64-ounce jug so you can refill it multiple times.

For now, the Big Pouch is a limited-time promotion, available through daily drops at Walmart.com Monday through Thursday next week. They’re going for about $6 each, although nobody seems to know exactly how much the included flavor coupon will be worth.

If it takes off, Capri-Sun says it could become a permanent product.

Honestly, this feels like something Michigan parents have been training for their entire lives.

Twenty ounces of Capri-Sun?

That’s not a juice pouch anymore.

That’s a Flint-to-Detroit road trip beverage. ????

Just don't hand one to your kid before a four-hour drive unless you're prepared to hear, “I GOTTA GO!” approximately 11 minutes later.

Trump Threatens EU Tariffs as Canada Pursues Closer Ties With Europe

MID-MICHIGAN — September 17, 2026 — President Donald Trump is warning of possible economic retaliation against the European Union if the bloc moves forward with a proposal to give Canada an “associate member” relationship.

Trump said Wednesday that such a move could be considered a hostile act toward the United States and warned that his administration could respond with heavy tariffs or restrictions on trade with Europe. The comments come as Canada looks to diversify its economic relationships amid continuing trade tensions with the U.S. (AP News)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking to the European Parliament, endorsed deeper Canada-EU cooperation but stopped short of formally embracing the “associate member” label. Carney has called for a closer Canadian-European partnership involving areas including defense, energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and digital trade. (Reuters)

Fed Raises Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by a quarter percentage point, bringing the federal funds target range to 3.75% to 4%.

It was the Fed's first rate increase since 2023. Officials cited persistent inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty, including geopolitical developments. The Fed said inflation remains elevated and that the latest move is intended to help return inflation to its 2% goal. (Federal Reserve)

The decision came despite President Trump’s continued calls for lower interest rates. Higher borrowing costs can affect consumers through credit cards, auto loans, mortgages and other forms of financing, while potentially providing higher returns for some savers.

Fed policymakers also indicated that another rate increase could come before the end of the year, although future decisions will depend on incoming economic data. (Reuters)

Strike Averted at MyMichigan Alma

A planned three-day unfair labor practice strike at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma has been canceled after nurses and the hospital reached a tentative contract agreement.

The Michigan Nurses Association said the agreement was reached Wednesday, preventing the strike that had been scheduled to begin September 21. Nurses will vote on whether to ratify the agreement on September 24.

The contract is not final until that vote. Details of the tentative agreement have not yet been released publicly. (MI Nurses Association)

The nurses had been negotiating with the hospital for more than nine months. Their previous contract expired in February. (MI Nurses Association)

Public Input Sought on Michigan Mobility 2050

The Michigan Department of Transportation is holding its second virtual webinar Thursday on Michigan Mobility 2050, the state's long-range transportation plan.

The webinar is scheduled for 11 a.m. to noon and will include a presentation followed by an opportunity for residents and other participants to submit comments. MDOT says the plan establishes a long-term vision for Michigan's transportation network, including roads, rail, freight and active transportation. (Michigan)

Residents can find information about the webinar through the Michigan Department of Transportation's website.

Sports

The Detroit Tigers' six-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated Detroit 5-1. Toronto avoided a three-game sweep, with Max Scherzer pitching five effective innings and allowing one run. (Reuters)

The Tigers return to action Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET. (MLB.com)

The Detroit Lions are also in action Thursday night, traveling to Buffalo to face the Bills. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET. (NFL)

Mid-Michigan Weather

For Thursday, the forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers and a high near 74 degrees.

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low around 52. Friday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 73, while Saturday brings increasing clouds and a chance of showers with a high around 65.

Stay with your local news sources throughout the day for updates on weather, traffic, sports and breaking news across Mid-Michigan.

Will there be a Modern Family reunion or spinoff?  What WON'T Tom Cruise do in an interview?  SHOWBIZ HEADLINES!  Listen!

Swearing and Attitude seeming to be the leading answers?  What about YOUR kids?

Remember the kid in school that ate chalk?  How about your buddy who got suspended for dropping water balloons out of the teacher's lounge?  Did you ever  think these crazy people are all respected adults now?  LISTEN! 

What's The Number 1 Thing Mid-Michigan Single Women Worry About While Dating?

You'd think it was safety but that's number 2.  What's number 1? Plus are you talking to a BOT on that dating ap?  LISTEN FOR ROMANCE NEWS!

If you could go back and tell yourself ONE THING before you got married, what would you say?

What a great way to celebrate the fall and Dolly's life!  head to Grand Rapids for the Dolly Corn Maze.  She would LOVE that states across the country are honoring her this way!  Many are accepting donations for her IMAGINATION LIBRARY!

Click Here for details!

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/08/31/dolly-parton-memorialized-in-6-acres-of-west-michigan-corn-stalks/91533984007/

Can you imagine having no idea your boyfriend was about to get married?  A woman in the UK makes wedding cakes for a living and was delivering one to a church when she discovered the groom was her boyfriend.  LISTEN.

Questions!

How did she not know?

How long had they been dating?

Was SHE the other woman or was the bride the other woman?

Does the bride know about her?

WHO HIRED HER to make the cake? 

Was THAT a coincidence?

Did she get paid up front for the cake?

What did her boyfriend's Mom say to her?

Did she speak to her boyfriend after the wedding?

Would she like to buy some swamp land we're selling in Florida?

The Latest From Around Michigan Today with John Conrad!

Did you hear about the woman who RAN from a guy that was trying to hug her at Target?  She forgot she was wearing a FREE HUGS T-shirt!  She said it was a very frieghtening moment, until she realizzed.  LISTEN!

Slim Jim decided to break the world record for the longest Slim Jim!  Over a football field long and weighed 70lbs!  FOOD NEWS!  LISTEN!

Zendaya has to have her pooch on set!  He's more comfortable there!  Celebrity headlines here!  LISTEN!

A UC Riverside student discovered a new bug and now it's named after Taylor Swift!  Check out the Celebrity News Minute here!

Three drunk guys got busted for throwing beef sticks at Waffle House at 4:30am. Two Two guys only weating tighty whities. Cops found them sitting on a bench outside of a laundromat.  They gave no reason for throwing the beef sticks!

Try these guys.  Better!

Ever learn something and immediately think:

"Wait... everybody else knew that?"

A Reddit user recently asked people to share the "common knowledge" facts they somehow made it through life without knowing.

And the answers are fantastic.

So, in the spirit of public education, here are a few things you may or may not have known.

1. Penguins are birds.

Yes. Birds.

They don't fly, they swim, they waddle around wearing tuxedos, and somehow we're supposed to believe they're birds.

That's basically a duck with a better publicist.

2. "The Beatles" is a play on the word "beat."

Apparently, some people thought it was just the English spelling of "beetles."

Which means somewhere in Michigan, there's a guy who spent 40 years thinking one of the greatest rock bands in history was named after a bug.

3. Pineapples don't grow on trees.

They grow from plants on the ground.

This one is especially weird because we've all seen pineapples, but apparently nobody ever stopped to ask:

"How exactly does this thing get up there?"

It's not a coconut.

It's a pineapple.

4. Chicken tenders are chicken tenderloins.

This one feels like something we should've figured out around age 12.

But no.

We've been ordering "chicken tenders" for decades like they're a completely different species of poultry.

5. Pickles are cucumbers.

Somebody had to tell people this.

Which means there are adults walking around Michigan right now who are still discovering that a pickle is basically a cucumber that went to a very aggressive spa.

6. Reindeer are real.

They're actual animals.

Santa didn't invent them.

Although if you've ever driven up north in Michigan during deer season, you probably already knew Michigan has plenty of animals capable of suddenly appearing in front of your vehicle.

7. Ponies are NOT baby horses.

This one genuinely surprised people.

A pony is not a baby horse. Ponies are their own type of horse.

A baby horse is called a foal.

So if you've spent your entire life thinking a pony eventually grows up into a horse...

Congratulations.

Today you learned something from a blog post.

And don't feel bad.

Michigan has its own version of "common knowledge" that can trip people up.

For example:

The hand is not an island.

The mitten is not technically our official name.

And yes, the UP is part of Michigan, despite what somebody from Detroit might tell you after two Vernors.

So if you learned something new today, don't worry.

Just act like you've known it forever.

That's what the rest of us are doing.

Think back to the last time your whole family sat down for dinner.

Everybody finally gets to the table... somebody says, "Okay, let's eat"... and Dad is already done.

Not just done. Plate scraped clean. Napkin deployed. He's standing up asking, "Anybody want anything from the kitchen?"

Meanwhile, Mom is still working on the first half of her mashed potatoes.

Apparently, there's actually a name for this: the "eating speed gap."

Researchers are looking at what happens when couples eat at completely different speeds. One person is inhaling dinner like they're trying to beat a traffic light on Woodward, while the other is taking leisurely bites and enjoying the experience.

And Michigan families have a special version of this.

One person is eating dinner.

The other is eating dinner and checking the weather for the weekend.

The fast eater isn't necessarily doing anything wrong. Experts say couples who eat at different speeds may actually balance each other out. One person moves through life with a little more urgency, while the other takes things at a slower pace.

Which sounds nice until you're at a Michigan coney restaurant and your partner says:

"You don't have to eat so fast."

And you respond:

"I'm not eating fast. You're eating SLOW."

Now you've got a relationship debate happening over a plate of chili fries.

The biggest problem comes when the fast eater makes the slow eater feel rushed, gets up from the table before everyone else is finished, or worse...

YOU'RE SHARING A PLATE.

That's when things get serious.

Because if one person eats 80 percent of the nachos before the other person gets three chips, that's no longer an "eating speed gap."

That's a crime scene.

And if you're eating at a Michigan restaurant and your partner says, "I'm just going to have a bite of yours..."

Guard your coney.

Guard it with your life.

Experts say the key is simply talking about it if different eating speeds are becoming a problem.

Just make sure you have that conversation before the fast eater finishes.

Because once that plate hits the dishwasher...

The meeting is adjourned.

Mid-Michigan Morning News: Trump Proposes $5,000 Dividend, State Street Project Nears Completion

Trump Proposes $5,000 Payment if Republicans Win Congress

President Donald Trump is proposing a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate in November's midterm elections.

Trump made the announcement Wednesday night during the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas. He called the proposal a "dividend" and said the money would have to be spent in the United States.

The proposal could cost roughly $1.2 trillion to $1.35 trillion, depending on how eligibility is defined. Trump did not provide details on how the payments would be funded or administered. The plan would also require congressional approval. Questions about its legal and financial implications were raised following the announcement. (Reuters)

Michigan State Police Highlight Cold Cases

Michigan State Police are highlighting cold cases across the state as part of an effort to generate new information from the public.

The MSP has created a dedicated online cold-case webpage where residents can search cases by district and submit information to investigators. The database includes cases from across Michigan, including the agency's Third District, which covers Saginaw, Bay, Midland, Genesee and several surrounding counties. (Michigan)

Anyone with information about a cold case can submit a tip through the MSP website.

Saginaw State Street Project Moves Toward Completion

After months of construction, lane closures and detours, work on Saginaw's State Street project is moving toward its next phase.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is rebuilding about 1.1 miles of eastbound M-58, or State Street, between Avalon Avenue and M-84, or Bay Street.

The $13 million project includes road reconstruction and paving, storm sewer work, sidewalk and driveway improvements, and new traffic signals. (Michigan)

Crews are completing road work and preparing for paving, with construction expected to continue into the fall.

Sports

The Great Lakes Loons take a 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the Midwest League East Division Championship Series tonight in Dayton.

The Loons beat the Dayton Dragons 6-0 in Game 1 and will try to close out the best-of-three series tonight at Day Air Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (MLB.com)

In Major League Baseball, the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2.

And in the NFL opener, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 13-10. Seattle rallied from a 10-point deficit, with its defense intercepting Patriots quarterback Drake Maye three times in the second half. (NFL)

Mid-Michigan Weather

Cloudy skies this morning will give way to sunshine this afternoon, with a high near 77.

Tonight will be clear with a low around 52.

Friday will be sunny with a high near 78, followed by mostly sunny skies Saturday and a high around 83.

There's a new list making the rounds of things that used to be free but now cost money.

And as Michiganders, we're already dealing with potholes, road construction, unpredictable weather and the emotional trauma of watching grocery prices climb.

We don't need this.

Some of this stuff should STILL be free.

1. Phone Chargers

Remember when you bought a new phone and it actually came with the stuff you needed to use it?

Headphones. Charger. Everything.

Now you open the box and there's a phone sitting there looking at you like:

“Good luck.”

It's basically buying a new car and finding out the steering wheel is sold separately.

2. Concert Ticket Fees

This one hurts.

You see a concert ticket advertised for $50.

You think, “That's not bad!”

Then you get to checkout.

$50 ticket.

$14 convenience fee.

$9 processing fee.

$7 facility fee.

$6 delivery fee.

Suddenly you're paying $86 to sit in Section 317 and watch somebody who you can barely see.

And don't even get us started on Michigan concert parking.

3. Checked Bags

Airlines used to let you check a bag without making you feel like you were smuggling gold.

Now you have to pay extra to bring the suitcase you packed with your own clothes.

At this point, I'm waiting for an airline to charge me a “shirt fee.”

4. Picking Your Airplane Seat

You bought the ticket.

You paid the taxes.

You paid the fees.

And now the airline says:

“Would you like a seat?”

Yes.

That's generally why I bought the plane ticket.

And if you don't pay extra to choose one, you could end up in the middle seat between two strangers who are both apparently trying to expand their personal space into your lap.

5. Free Airline Food

Remember when airlines actually fed you?

Now you're lucky if they hand you a tiny bag of pretzels and a beverage.

Meanwhile, you're sitting there thinking about the glory days when airplane meals were free.

Were they good?

Absolutely not.

But they were free bad food.

And that makes a difference.

6. Disney FastPass

Disney used to have a system that helped you skip some of the long lines for free.

Now there are paid options.

Michigan parents already know the feeling of paying admission and then realizing you're going to spend half the day standing in a line.

It's basically Cedar Point without the roller coaster at the end.

7. YouTube Without a Million Commercials

You click on a 10-minute video.

Commercial.

Watch for a while.

Commercial.

You're almost finished.

Another commercial.

At this point, the video is 10 minutes long and the advertising campaign is 45 minutes.

8. Internet Content

Remember when you could just read an article?

Now you click on something interesting and get:

“You've reached your free article limit.”

Apparently, the internet has developed a cover charge.

In Michigan, we're used to paying for parking.

Now we have to pay to read about why Michigan has the best pizza?

Come on.

9. Parking

This might be the most Michigan thing on the list.

You find an empty parking spot.

You park.

Then you look for the sign.

Then you scan a QR code.

Then you download an app.

Then you create an account.

Then you enter your license plate.

Then you enter your credit card.

Then you confirm your email.

By the time you're finished, someone has already parked behind you.

And somewhere in Michigan, there's still a guy saying:

“It used to be a quarter.”

10. Pizza Delivery

Pizza delivery used to mean you ordered pizza and tipped the driver.

Simple.

Now you've got a delivery fee, service fee, small-order fee, online ordering fee, mysterious fee and then the tip.

Pretty soon the pizza itself is going to be the cheapest part of the order.

And honestly, that's where we draw the line.

Because Michigan has survived winter.

We've survived potholes.

We've survived construction season.

We've survived the Lions.

But we're not paying $38 to have a $17 pizza brought 2.3 miles to our house.

So here's today's question:

What's something that used to be free that absolutely should NOT cost money now?

Parking? Bags? Chargers? Ticket fees?

Or maybe something completely different?

Because apparently we're living in a world where breathing is still free...

but we're probably on borrowed time.

Michigan dog owners, get ready.

Because next year, your dog may finally get to participate in one of America's greatest traditions: Girl Scout Cookie season.

And no, we're not talking about handing your dog a Trefoil and hoping for the best.

The Girl Scouts just announced a brand-new actual dog treat called Patch Pals, coming when the next cookie season kicks off in January.

They're soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored treats made specifically for dogs, developed in partnership with BARK.

The Girl Scouts say they're designed to celebrate the bond between people and their pups.

And honestly, Michigan dogs have earned it.

Think about everything our dogs put up with.

They go outside in January and immediately discover that the grass has disappeared beneath three feet of snow.

They step outside in July and discover that the sidewalk is approximately the temperature of a pizza oven.

They spend half the year watching us scrape ice off the car.

They've been dragged through muddy yards, chased by mosquitoes and forced to listen to us complain about road construction.

Give the dog a cookie.

There is, however, one potential problem.

We're going to have to make sure nobody accidentally eats one.

Apparently, Al Roker tried a Patch Pal on the Today show and said it was “not bad.”

That's either a strong endorsement...

...or the beginning of a very strange new Food Network competition.

Fortunately, the Patch Pals box has a dog on it and clearly says DOG COOKIES.

And unlike regular Girl Scout cookies, they'll only be available online for direct shipping.

So you probably won't have to worry about your dog walking into the grocery store and buying six boxes.

Although, if your dog figures out online shopping, you're in trouble.

There's a New Cookie for Humans, Too

The Girl Scouts also announced a new cookie for people called Sparkables.

They're oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and sprinkles, and they're specifically designed to avoid the nine major food allergens.

So while your dog is enjoying a blueberry muffin-flavored treat, you can sit next to them eating chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies.

That's family bonding.

And if you're in Michigan, there's an obvious question:

What should the next Michigan-themed Girl Scout cookie be?

A Vernors Ginger Cookie?

A Better Made Potato Chip Cookie?

Maybe a Coney Dog Cookie?

Okay... maybe not that last one.

But you know your dog is going to be sitting there staring at you while you eat your cookies.

For years we've told them, “Sorry, buddy. You can't have chocolate.”

Now we can finally look them in the eye and say:

“Good news. Girl Scouts made you your own.”

Just don't be surprised if your dog suddenly starts checking the mailbox every afternoon in January.

Mid-Michigan News: Iran Conflict, Michigan Football, Speed Cameras and Saginaw Riverfront Plans

U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates

The conflict between the United States and Iran is continuing to escalate.

The U.S. has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Karg Island after accusing Iran of launching ballistic missiles at a U.S. warship twice in two days.

Iran responded by firing missiles at U.S. forces stationed at a base in Jordan.

U.S. Central Command says no American personnel were harmed in the Iranian attack.

Michigan-Western Michigan Game Result Will Stand

The controversy surrounding Saturday's Michigan-Western Michigan football game is officially over, at least as far as the final result is concerned.

The NCAA says the outcome of the game will stand after the Mid-American Conference filed an appeal arguing that a final second should never have been added to the game clock.

The conference asked the NCAA to recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner.

The NCAA denied the appeal, saying there is no process for overturning the outcome of a completed game.

So, whatever you thought happened Saturday, the record book is keeping it.

Speed Cameras Coming to Michigan Work Zones

Michigan drivers could soon have another reason to slow down in construction zones.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says it plans to have automated speed cameras operating in work zones by the 2027 construction season.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation in 2024 allowing the cameras to be used in Michigan construction zones.

MDOT originally hoped to have the system ready for the 2026 construction season, but the department said that timeline would be a challenge.

Now, 2027 is the target.

For anyone who has ever driven through a Michigan construction zone, the cameras may soon become one more thing to watch for, right alongside barrels, lane shifts and that one guy who somehow manages to merge at the last possible second.

Big Plans for Saginaw's Riverfront

Saginaw city leaders gave residents an update Tuesday on several major projects that could reshape the city's riverfront.

The plans include the Medical Diamond, a new riverfront park and improvements involving Ojibwe Island.

The city has secured $34 million for infrastructure and a new 5.5-acre riverfront park as part of a larger effort combining health care, development and public space.

Groundbreaking for Central Michigan University's building in the Medical Diamond is planned for later this month.

Sports

The Detroit Tigers fell to the Minnesota Twins 3-2.

The Great Lakes Loons, however, had a much better night.

Playing Game One of the Midwest League East Division series at Dow Diamond, the Loons shut out the Dayton Dragons 6-0.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Today: Showers and thunderstorms, high 78.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 60.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 76.

Friday: Sunny, high 78.

For the past 20 years, America went through a beer identity crisis.

We started with light lagers. Then came the craft beer revolution.

Suddenly, regular beer wasn't enough. We needed IPAs, Belgian ales, porters, stouts and beers with descriptions longer than the ingredient list on a frozen pizza.

You couldn't just order a beer anymore.

You had to say something like:

“I'll have the barrel-aged, bourbon-infused, triple-hopped, hazy, imperial stout with notes of dark chocolate, grapefruit and existential regret.”

But apparently, America is tired.

According to a new report, the most popular beer in America is Michelob Ultra.

Yes. Michelob Ultra.

The beer famous for being light, refreshing and apparently committed to making sure you don't accidentally taste too much beer.

Behind it are Bud Light, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Guinness, Coors Light, Busch Light, Miller Lite, Blue Moon and Corona.

Notice something?

There's a lot of “Light” happening here.

Meanwhile, the least popular beer is Milwaukee's Best Ice.

Which raises an important question:

If America doesn't want Milwaukee's Best Ice, what exactly does America want?

Apparently, anything except the beer that tastes like it was brewed during a lunch break.

Harp came in second on the least-popular list, followed by Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, Keystone, Molson, Labatt Blue, Carlsberg, Hamm's and Keystone Light.

And before the craft beer crowd starts throwing hops at the survey, yes, Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams are part of the craft beer world, even though they're now major nationwide brands.

Who Loves Beer the Most?

The report also ranked the states most interested in beer.

And honestly, the list makes sense.

The top 10 are:

Wisconsin, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, South Dakota and Missouri.

Wisconsin at number one feels less like a statistic and more like someone simply remembered to count.

At the other end of the list are the states least interested in beer:

Alaska, Utah, Georgia, Washington, Mississippi, California, Virginia, Maryland, Oregon and Hawaii.

Although if you're sitting on a beach in Hawaii looking at the Pacific Ocean, maybe you don't need a complicated craft beer.

You already have the ocean.

So what do you think?

Has America moved on from craft beer and gone back to the classics?

Or are we just tired of paying $9 for a beer that comes with a 14-word description?

Because sometimes you don't want hints of citrus, oak, chocolate, vanilla and “forest floor.”

Sometimes you just want a cold beer.

Preferably one you can pronounce.

Remember when everybody told us to cut the cord?

Cable was too expensive. Cable had too many channels. Cable had commercials. Cable was yesterday's technology.

So we canceled cable, celebrated our freedom and proudly announced, “I can watch whatever I want!”

Turns out... whatever we want costs $151 a month.

A new report says streaming prices have been climbing at more than three times the rate of inflation since 2022. And suddenly that old cable bill is looking less like the villain and more like a misunderstood friend.

Consider this:

Apple TV launched in 2019 at $4.99 a month. It's now roughly three times that.

Disney+ launched at $6.99 a month without ads. Now you're paying $11.99 for the version WITH ads.

Netflix Premium has jumped 125% since 2013.

And the cheapest tier of Paramount+ is up 80% over the past five years.

Add up all eight major streaming services without ads or bundle commitments and you're looking at about $151 a month.

Four years ago? About $90.

That's a $61-a-month difference.

And here's the kicker: We're still watching commercials.

We cut the cord to escape the cable company, only to recreate the cable package ourselves one $11.99 subscription at a time.

So what's the answer?

Apparently, it's streaming cycling.

The idea is simple. Don't subscribe to everything at once.

Pick one service.

Watch everything you want.

Cancel it.

Move to another service.

Finish your shows there.

Cancel that one.

Move on to the next.

Basically, we're treating streaming subscriptions like gym memberships. Sign up with tremendous optimism, use it for a month, then immediately cancel before they can charge us again.

Streaming cycling is reportedly popular with Gen Z, and honestly, they're onto something.

Because maybe the secret isn't going back to cable.

Maybe it's becoming the world's most aggressive subscription manager.

What's the streaming service you refuse to cancel?

And what's the one you keep paying for even though you haven't watched anything on it in six months?

Because somewhere right now, there's a person paying $15 a month for a streaming service just to watch one show they've already finished.

And that person might be us.

Mid-Michigan News: Canada Tariffs, Saginaw ISD Raises and Mackinac Bridge Walk

Canada’s New Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect

Canada has officially imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, with the new duties taking effect just after midnight.

The tariffs cover about $20 billion worth of American products, with duties ranging from 15% to 50%. The affected products include everything from steel and furniture to clothing and electronics.

The move follows the collapse of negotiations last month, intensifying an already 18-month-old trade war between the two countries.

Saginaw ISD Employees Getting Big Raises

Employees of the Saginaw Intermediate School District are getting a significant pay increase under a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.

The agreement provides salary increases averaging 18% and was ratified by the Saginaw Intermediate Federation of Teachers before being approved by the Saginaw ISD Board of Education.

School officials say the investment will help Saginaw ISD remain competitive with comparable intermediate school districts throughout Michigan and the region.

Thousands Take Part in Mackinac Bridge Walk

The annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk drew approximately 34,000 participants Monday.

According to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, traffic was closed on the bridge at 6:30 Monday morning and reopened at noon.

Attendance in recent years has ranged from about 21,000 to 35,000 people, making this year's turnout one of the larger crowds in recent years.

Tigers Win, Loons Begin Postseason

The Detroit Tigers picked up a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Meanwhile, postseason baseball gets underway tonight for the Great Lakes Loons, who host the Dayton Dragons in Game One of their Division Series.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 tonight.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Today will be partly sunny with a high near 83.

Tonight will turn cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms, with a low around 69.

Wednesday will be cloudy with showers possible around midday, with a high near 80.

Then Thursday looks much nicer, with sunny skies and a high of 77.

Have you ever watched a coworker retire, shaken their hand, and asked the obvious question:

“So, what are you going to do now?”

And they immediately say:

“I'm going to Disney World!”

Apparently, that's not a bad plan.

A new study looked at 182 of the biggest cities in America to determine the best places to retire.

Researchers considered 45 different factors, including affordability, healthcare, quality of life and, most importantly, whether there's enough stuff to do when you suddenly have approximately 14,000 hours of free time.

They looked at things like senior centers, golf courses, museums, theaters, book clubs and bingo halls.

Because retirement is apparently a delicate balance between playing 18 holes and yelling “BINGO!”

And coming in at #1 was Orlando, Florida.

Yes, Orlando.

Apparently, retirees just can't quit Florida.

And while Disney World wasn't specifically the reason Orlando took the top spot, we're guessing having access to a place where adults can spend $17 on a mouse-shaped ice cream probably didn't hurt.

The Top 10 Retirement Cities

1. Orlando, Florida

2. Miami, Florida

3. Tampa, Florida

4. Scottsdale, Arizona

5. Casper, Wyoming

6. Atlanta, Georgia

7. Minneapolis, Minnesota

8. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

9. Charleston, South Carolina

10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Notice anything?

Florida appears three times.

Apparently, the secret to retirement is sunshine, golf and never seeing snow again.

Meanwhile, California absolutely dominated the bottom of the rankings.

The worst place to retire was Stockton, California, followed by San Bernardino, Newark, Fresno, Rancho Cucamonga, Bakersfield, Tacoma, Bridgeport, Detroit, and Fontana.

Yep.

Detroit made the bottom 10.

Michigan retirees everywhere are looking at this list and saying:

“Excuse me?”

Look, Detroit may not have perfect weather year-round, but we have something Florida doesn't:

You don't have to worry about your flip-flops melting into the sidewalk.

And if you're tired of retirement activities, Michigan gives you plenty of opportunities to spend an afternoon watching road construction.

Free entertainment!

According to the study, Brownsville, Texas is the place to consider if affordability is your biggest concern.

If activities are most important, San Francisco comes out on top.

Scottsdale, Arizona ranks highest for quality of life.

And if healthcare is your number-one priority, Sioux Falls, South Dakota takes the top spot.

But honestly, maybe the best place to retire isn't Orlando.

Maybe it's your own house.

Your favorite chair.

Your own refrigerator.

Your own bed.

Your own TV remote.

Nobody telling you where to be at 8:30 in the morning.

Sounds pretty great, right?

Until your spouse looks over at you on Day Three of retirement and says:

“Now that you're home all day...when are you finally going to finish all those projects?”

And suddenly you're on Zillow looking at condos in Orlando.

Because retirement isn't necessarily about where you live.

It's about who knows where you live.

And whether they have a honey-do list.

Believe it or not, Monday is Labor Day.

A day dedicated to American workers, conveniently celebrated by giving American workers the day off.

And considering how much Americans work, we deserve it.

The average American puts in around 1,800 hours a year, which is more than workers in Canada, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

But apparently, that's not enough for WalletHub.

They recently ranked all 50 states based on things like employment rates, hours worked, commute times and how much free time people have.

And Michigan came in dead last.

Yep.

50th out of 50.

Behind Ohio.

Let that sink in.

Ohio.

We're not saying this study is wrong... we're just saying the researchers may want to check their methodology before Michigan residents start sending them strongly worded postcards.

According to the rankings, the 10 hardest-working states are:

South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Nebraska, Texas, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Georgia.

And at the bottom:

Michigan, Oregon, New Jersey, Ohio, Nevada, Rhode Island, California, New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Michigan residents everywhere are currently staring at this list and thinking:

“Wait... we're losing to Ohio at working now?”

But let's defend ourselves here.

Michigan isn't lazy.

Michigan is strategic.

We've spent generations perfecting the art of getting an enormous amount of work done while simultaneously complaining about how much work we're doing.

We build cars.

We make stuff.

We work in factories, hospitals, restaurants, schools, farms, offices, warehouses and every other place where somebody eventually says:

“We need this done yesterday.”

And let's not forget winter.

Michigan residents spend roughly half the year performing unpaid outdoor maintenance simply to keep our driveways, sidewalks and vehicles from being swallowed by ice and snow.

You try scraping two inches of ice off your windshield at 7:15 in the morning and then tell us we're not hard workers.

Plus, Michigan has something the Dakotas don't:

Construction season.

Actually, Michigan has several construction seasons.

There's road construction season.

There's road construction season after winter.

There's road construction season because the road construction season didn't finish.

And there's the mysterious season where orange barrels appear on a road that was perfectly fine yesterday.

That's work.

And then there's the commute.

If you've ever driven I-75, I-69, I-94 or practically any major Michigan highway during rush hour, you know that getting to work is sometimes a full-time job before your actual job even begins.

So maybe Michigan didn't come in last because we're lazy.

Maybe we're just efficient.

Maybe we're saying:

“Why work 60 hours when I can complain about working 40?”

And honestly, that's innovation.

Besides, Labor Day isn't supposed to be about winning a national competition for who can spend the most hours staring at a computer screen.

It's about American workers.

So whether you're working Monday, grilling Monday, watching football Monday, sitting on the boat Monday or pretending you have absolutely no idea where your boss is...

Enjoy the holiday.

And Michigan, don't feel bad about finishing 50th.

We're still No. 1 at several very important things:

Great Lakes.

Coney dogs.

Better Made.

Potholes.

And apparently...

Taking a four-day weekend seriously.

Happy Labor Day, Michigan.

Now get back to work.

Tuesday.

Probably.

Two Workers Rescued Alive From Nepal Tunnel Nine Days After Devastating Floods

Two workers in Nepal have been pulled out alive from a hydropower tunnel, nine days after devastating floods swept across the Himalayan region.

Emergency crews rescued the workers early today. Officials say the voices of other workers could still be heard from inside the tunnel, raising hopes that more people may be found alive.

At least 557 workers are still believed to be missing in the tunnel as rescue crews continue their search.

The flooding has devastated parts of the Himalayan region, leaving thousands of people dead or missing.

DOJ Expands Beef Affordability Investigation

The U.S. Department of Justice has expanded its investigation into beef affordability to include seven of the country's largest grocery retailers.

The investigation now includes Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Costco and Amazon.

The DOJ launched an antitrust investigation in May into the country's four largest meatpackers. The department says those companies control more than 85% of the U.S. beef processing market.

The expanded investigation comes as consumers continue to deal with high grocery prices, including the cost of beef.

Whitmer Appoints Three Mid-Michigan Residents to State Boards

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced appointments to 13 state boards and commissions, including three appointments involving people from Mid-Michigan.

Shannon Hinman of Saginaw was appointed to the Autism Council as the designee of the superintendent of public instruction from within the Michigan Department of Education.

Joel Roberts of Fenton was appointed to the State Plumbing Board.

And Carla Schultz of Mayville was appointed to the Michigan Wheat Promotion Committee to represent District 5 growers.

Tigers Take on Guardians

The Detroit Tigers are in Cleveland this afternoon to take on the Guardians.

Meanwhile, rain forced the Great Lakes Loons and Lake County Captains to postpone Thursday's doubleheader.

The two teams will make up the games today, with both games scheduled to be seven innings.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Mid-Michigan is starting the day with showers and thunderstorms.

Friday: Showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m., with a high around 80.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 63.

Saturday: Partly sunny with a high near 78.

Sunday: Sunny with a high around 78.

Labor Day: Mostly sunny with a high near 80.

Did you hear that Mr. T is mad about his new documentary?  He says it doesn't tell the whole story.  He said the film only shows a 30 second clip with his pastor.  He said he was "more than that."

“The documentary ticked me off, because they didn’t cover a lot of stuff. When I saw it, I was like: ‘What the heck?’ It’s garbage. You build me up, then you try to punk me out."

"If you don’t know me, you’re gonna think I’m some monster.”

Showbiz Podcast Here!

Sandra Bullock saw a UFO in the mid-90's!  She says it was five lights coming together and then rocketing away.  She was in St. Martin Beach.  Now that the US government has declassified UFO documents, she's happy to be proven correctly!

“I've seen them and I'm so happy that the government has finally corroborated my story so I no longer feel like an insane person."

Did you hear the Tiger's signed a 12 year old for 4 million dollars? Dominican Kevin Sosa is DOminican and became the youngest player to get this bag of cash! At 12 he can hit fastballs at 90 mph. The Tigers plan to sign him officially when he's 16.

 

 

 

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We've officially entered the “-BER” months.

September. October. November. December.

Four glorious months filled with falling leaves, pumpkin spice, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving food, Christmas decorations... and your sister-in-law reminding everyone that pumpkin spice season is NOT a personality trait.

But there's a problem.

These four months have 30, 31, 30 and 31 days.

And apparently, that's just too complicated for some of us.

Someone on social media has proposed a solution: Get rid of all the different month lengths and create five equal months of 73 days.

The new calendar would feature:

Jebruary
Mapril
Jaugust
Soctober
Necember

Problem solved!

Except... congratulations, your birthday is now Jaugust 43rd.

And then there's leap year, which presumably means we have to create Jaugust 74th, because apparently we've decided calendars should now operate like a software update nobody asked for.

The post went viral, picking up around 40,000 likes and comments, plus even more attention from people sharing it.

And naturally, the internet had opinions.

One person suggested 13 months of 28 days, which gives us 364 days, with New Year's Day becoming a special bonus day.

Honestly, that sounds pretty good.

Another suggested going with an ancient Egyptian-style system: 12 months of 30 days, followed by five or six special holiday days.

Then someone pointed out the obvious problem with the 73-day months:

“Living through a 73-day Jaugust would finish people.”

They're probably right.

Imagine being told it's still August when you've already experienced three birthdays, two weddings, a heat wave, a broken air conditioner and the emotional collapse of your fantasy football team.

Someone else said:

“My birthday is now Jaugust 43rd.”

And another declared:

“I was born in Soctober.”

Which sounds less like a birthday and more like the name of a band that plays at a coffee shop.

Then came the astrology crowd.

One person complained that we'd have to redo the entire zodiac system.

Someone else said maybe they'd finally get to be a Virgo instead of a Taurus.

That's right. We're potentially redesigning civilization because someone doesn't like their horoscope.

And don't even get us started on paychecks.

People pointed out that monthly pay schedules would have to be completely reworked.

Although one person had the perfect response:

“And rent due once a month still.”

Exactly.

Congratulations! Your month is now 73 days long, but your landlord still wants the same check every month.

Then someone went completely off the rails and suggested eliminating months altogether.

Just count the days:

Day 1. Day 2. Day 3... all the way to Day 365.

No more confusion about whether June has 30 days or whether November has 30.

Although your anniversary would now be:

“Happy 2,847th day together!”

Very romantic.

And then there was perhaps the greatest observation of all:

“Jebruary sounds like a trendy girl name in Utah.”

You know what?

It absolutely does.

“Everyone, meet Jebruary. She's majoring in communications and has a podcast about wellness.”

The best response may have been the person who simply said:

“Reading this made me realize that I'm not using my brain to its full potential.”

And honestly, same.

The internet seems pretty evenly divided between:

“This is a terrible idea.”

and

“This is a terrible idea... I love it.”

So, Mid-Michigan, let's settle this once and for all:

Would you switch to the five-month calendar?

Would you happily live through a 73-day Jaugust, celebrate your birthday in Soctober, and pay rent once every 73 days?

Or should we just leave the calendar alone and accept that September has 30 days because... well, that's just how we've been doing it for thousands of years?

Personally, I'm voting to keep the calendar.

Mostly because I'm not emotionally prepared for 73 straight days of August.

The full cast of “Dancing with the Stars” was announced yesterday on Good Morning America, and Season 35 is shaping up to be another spectacular combination of celebrities, athletes, reality stars, musicians and… people you may need to Google.

The new season premieres September 15th on ABC and Disney+, and here’s who will be putting on the sequins:

Julia Stiles
Yes, the Julia Stiles. 10 Things I Hate About You, Save the Last Dance and now… possibly the cha-cha.

Jenna Dewan
She's already a professional dancer, which has caused some backlash. Apparently, showing up to a dancing competition knowing how to dance is controversial now.

Tatyana Ali
Ashley Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. This is one of the names where most people immediately go, “Oh yeah!”

Taylor Hanson
Yes, THAT Hanson. The “MMMBop” guy. Somewhere right now, someone is realizing that Taylor Hanson is no longer 15.

Ezra Frech
A Paralympic gold medalist, so he already has the athletic credentials. Now he's got to learn whether the cha-cha is harder than the long jump.

Amber Glenn
Olympic gold medalist in figure skating. So technically, she already knows how to spin dramatically while wearing sparkly clothes.

Connor Wood
Podcaster and comedian, also known as “Fibula.” Because apparently Connor wasn't enough.

Sarah Jane Nader
From Love Thy Nader. If you know who that is, congratulations. You are officially more informed about reality television than we are.

Tyler Cameron
From The Bachelorette Season 15. He was also a model and television personality, so he's basically been training for this moment his entire adult life.

Giada DeLaurentiis
Celebrity chef. We assume her first dance will somehow involve pasta.

Harry Shum Jr.
From Glee and Grey's Anatomy. This one makes sense. The man has rhythm in his résumé.

Conner Leavitt
From The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. He's also Whitney Leavitt's husband, which should make family viewing night extremely interesting.

Guillermo Rodriguez
From Jimmy Kimmel Live! Honestly, we're just happy Guillermo is here.

Maura Higgins
From Love Island and Traitors. Reality TV fans probably know exactly who she is. The rest of us are nodding knowingly.

Ciara Miller
From Summer House. Another reality star, because apparently one reality show wasn't enough.

Jackson Olson
From the Savannah Bananas. Yes, the Savannah Bananas. If you haven't seen them, they're basically baseball mixed with entertainment, dancing and enough energy to power a small city.

And that brings us to the big question:

Is it time to rename “Dancing with the Stars”?

Maybe something a little more accurate would be:

“Dancing With Some People That Some of You May Have Heard Of.”

Or perhaps:

“Dancing With the Stars, Former Stars, Reality Stars and That Guy From That Thing.”

Then again, that's a little long for a TV graphic.

Regardless, Season 35 premieres September 15th.

And somewhere between the paso doble, the foxtrot and the inevitable emotional rehearsal packages, we're sure at least one contestant will remind us that dancing is much harder than it looks.

Especially when you're wearing pants that appear to have been designed by a disco ball.

Trump Says Iran Fighting ‘Will Not Last Too Long’ as Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump says the renewed fighting with Iran will not last too long, while warning that the U.S. military is prepared to strike the Islamic Republic at any time.

The comments come as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.

Kuwait’s military says its air defenses are responding to new Iranian missile and drone attacks. Iran says it is targeting U.S. military bases in Kuwait in response to what it describes as American crimes against the Iranian people.

Michigan Voting Proposal Heads to Supreme Court

A Michigan ballot proposal that would require voters to be U.S. citizens is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The group behind the proposal, Americans for Citizen Voting, submitted more than 700,000 signatures in an effort to qualify the measure for the ballot.

However, a state review found that only 612 of 1,000 sampled signatures were valid, putting the proposal's future in question.

If approved, the proposal would require voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, show photo identification and establish regular voter-roll reviews.

Saginaw Hosting Free Elections 101 Meeting

Saginaw residents will have an opportunity to learn more about how local elections work during a free public meeting next Wednesday.

The Saginaw City Clerk will host the "Elections 101" session at First Presbyterian Church on South First Street.

The meeting will walk residents through the election process, including ballot preparation and testing, Election Day procedures and vote counting.

The event is free and open to all residents. For additional information, residents can contact the Saginaw City Manager's Office.

Michigan Hockey Headed to Lambeau Field

Michigan hockey is heading outdoors this winter.

The Michigan Wolverines and Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey teams will meet Saturday, February 20th, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

The game will be part of Michigan's two-game Big Ten road series against Wisconsin.

General admission tickets are scheduled to go on sale Friday, September 11th.

Tigers and Loons Pick Up Wins

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins 11-6.

Meanwhile, the Great Lakes Loons also came away with a victory, defeating the Lake County Captains 13-7.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Mid-Michigan is in for a wet and stormy Thursday.

Thursday: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely. High near 84.

Tonight: Cloudy with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Overnight low around 66.

Friday: Showers possible before 10 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies. High near 80.

Saturday: Sunny with a high around 78.

After a stormy Thursday, the weekend looks much more inviting, with sunshine and cooler temperatures settling into Mid-Michigan.

There are two reasons to wear a Hawaiian shirt: You want to radiate an “Aloha” vibe... or you're hoping to confuse a robot.

A German designer has created a colorful summer shirt that looks like a very futuristic version of a Hawaiian shirt. It's covered in bright, abstract shapes that are designed to confuse AI-powered surveillance cameras.

The concept is being called “Digital Camouflage.”

Instead of the traditional palm trees, flowers and tropical patterns, this shirt features a collection of seemingly random shapes and colors.

And apparently, that's the point.

The designer says AI surveillance systems don't actually understand what a human is. They learn what humans typically look like from massive amounts of training data. The unusual pattern is designed to interfere with that recognition process.

So while you might look like you're heading to a backyard luau, a camera could potentially have a harder time figuring out exactly what it's looking at.

There's just one funny problem.

The shirt itself was designed with help from AI.

And AI is constantly learning.

That means if the technology really does confuse some cameras, there's a good chance the cameras will eventually learn the trick.

So don't expect this to become the fashion world's first invisibility cloak.

For now, though, it does raise an interesting question:

Would you actually wear a shirt designed to confuse AI cameras?

Or would you rather just wear the loudest Hawaiian shirt you can find and tell everyone you're on vacation?

Either way, you might want to leave the sunglasses and giant inflatable flamingo at home. The shirt is already doing enough.

The kids may be back in school, but don't put away the grill just yet.

Labor Day weekend is practically the unofficial closing ceremony for summer, which means there are still burgers to flip, steaks to sear and, apparently, some pretty unusual things to throw over the flames.

A new poll looked at the grilled foods different states are known for. Americans love the classics, but some states have taken backyard grilling in some very interesting directions.

Here are 10 of the more unusual things Americans grill:

1. Alaska: Moose Burgers

Alaskans aren't messing around. Moose burgers make the list, along with grilled salmon and halibut.

2. Florida: Grilled Alligator

Florida has decided that regular burgers aren't enough. Grilled gator is a favorite, although steaks still make an appearance.

3. South Dakota: Grilled Pheasant

South Dakota puts pheasant on the grill. Burgers are also popular, presumably for people who aren't feeling quite that adventurous.

4. Wyoming: Grilled Bison

Wyoming goes big with grilled bison. Regular steaks are also popular, because apparently sometimes you just want a steak.

5. Montana: Elk Steak

Montana residents like elk steak, along with bison steak and brisket.

At this point, we're starting to wonder if Montana has a grill or just a campfire with a very ambitious menu.

6. Maine: Grilled Fiddleheads

This might be the most unusual one on the list.

Fiddleheads are the young, curled shoots of certain ferns. Maine also likes grilled lobster and mixed vegetables.

So you've got lobster on one side of the grill and... fern shoots on the other.

7. New Mexico: Roasted Green Chiles

New Mexico brings the heat with roasted green chiles.

Honestly, this sounds like the kind of thing you put on the grill and immediately realize you've underestimated the amount of water you'll need afterward.

8. Delaware: Grilled Blue Crabs

Delaware residents like grilled blue crabs, along with grilled chicken.

That's a pretty good Labor Day combination: something from the sea and something that used to run around your backyard.

9. Hawaii: Kalbi Ribs and Huli Huli Chicken

Hawaii brings some serious flavor to the grill with Korean-style short ribs known as kalbi and tropical Huli Huli chicken.

Grilled fish and kalua pork are also popular.

10. Colorado: Rocky Mountain Oysters

And finally... Colorado.

Rocky Mountain oysters are bull testicles.

Yes, they grill them.

Suddenly, your standard Labor Day hamburger doesn't seem so boring.

Who Are America's Grill Masters?

According to the poll, people in Louisiana are the most likely to call themselves grill masters, with 31% of Louisiana grillers giving themselves that title.

Georgia and Illinois weren't far behind at 28% each.

When it comes to confidence in their state's grilling cuisine, Texas takes the top spot, followed by Alabama and California.

As for Michigan?

Well, we're going to go ahead and nominate burgers, brats and pretty much anything that can be cooked outside while somebody is standing around holding a cold drink.

Because that's what Labor Day weekend is really about.

So fire up the grill, invite some friends over and enjoy what's left of summer.

Just maybe don't ask your neighbors in Colorado what's for dinner.

You might not like the answer.

U.S.-Iran Hostilities Flare Again as Labor Day Travel Faces Higher Gas Prices

The conflict between the United States and Iran has erupted again, with the U.S. military striking Iranian military targets Tuesday and Tehran responding with missiles and drones at several locations across the region.

U.S. Central Command said it had completed its latest barrage against Iranian military targets, including air-defense sites, radar systems and maritime assets. The strikes come as hostilities continue in an intermittent conflict that has lasted more than six months.

Higher Gas Prices Could Complicate Labor Day Travel

The renewed fighting is also hitting drivers at the pump.

The American Automobile Association says Labor Day is shaping up to be the busiest travel weekend ever, while the conflict with Iran has pushed crude oil prices higher.

Michigan drivers are already feeling the difference. Last Labor Day, the state's average price for regular gasoline was around $3.30 a gallon. This year, the average has climbed above $4.

AAA recommends travelers get an early start to avoid the worst traffic. Drivers heading out Thursday should leave before 1 p.m., while those traveling Friday are advised to leave before 10 a.m.

AAA also recommends keeping an emergency kit in the vehicle, including items such as a portable tire inflator, bottled water and protein bars in case of a breakdown.

State Street Closure Causing Delays

Drivers in Mid-Michigan are dealing with construction-related delays this week.

Both eastbound lanes of State Street between Delaware and Benjamin Streets are closed through Friday, September 4.

The closure is part of a larger improvement project covering about a mile of eastbound State Street. The work includes improvements to roads and sidewalks, along with sewer and water-main upgrades.

Drivers should allow extra time or consider an alternate route.

Bay City Recycling Reaches Record High

There's some good news on the local front.

Bay City's recycling rate has reached an all-time high, according to the city's Department of Public Works.

Bay City households recycled nearly 1,400 tons of material in 2025, a 50-percent increase compared with 2022.

City officials credit the increase to expanded curbside recycling carts and the popularity of the Bay City Recycles drop-off center.

Sports

The Minnesota Twins crushed the Detroit Tigers 15-2.

The Great Lakes Loons also came up short, losing 4-3 to the Lake County Captains.

Mid-Michigan Weather

We're looking at partly sunny skies today with a 50-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 91 degrees.

Tonight will be partly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of showers and a low around 67.

Thursday: Partly sunny with a 30-percent chance of showers and a high of 84.

Friday: Cloudy with a 30-percent chance of showers before 2 p.m., with a high around 82 degrees.

For Mid-Michigan drivers, it's shaping up to be a busy and potentially expensive Labor Day weekend, so a little extra planning could save you time, money and a whole lot of sitting in traffic.

Dolly Parton's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is being repaired after her name was scratched off and stole flowers that were placed nearby to honor Dolly. The star already had cracks in it prior to the incident and is expected to look brand new following the swift repair.

Lets all join the "WE BARE ALL" non-profit organization!

They are all about promoting body positivity, self acceptance and social nudity!  Recently, in Wisconsin, they all jumped out of a plane. 

They said taking off their clothes  "makes them feel powerful rather than vulnerable."

Here's a video of the entire event:

What Baby Names Are Going EXTINCT In Michigan?

1. Courtney
2. Shannon
3. Danielle
4. Lauren
5. Megan
6. Jade
7. Katie
8. Bethany
9. Rebecca
10. Amy

1. Connor
2. Callum
3. Jordan
4. Lewis
5. Jake
6. Matthew
7. Ryan
8. Luke
9. Daniel
10. Samuel

What Name Do You Wish You Had?

Did Kenny Chesney get Tim McGraw fired!  HE MAY HAVE!  

LISTEN!

"There was a place called Houndogs Hot Dogs that was right on the corner of where the circle is now in Nashville, where the statues are. And ‘Flash’ Flanagan was the guy who owned it. So, Kenny Chesney, Tracy Lawrence and I sat with guitars on stools just playing music for people that would come up and buy hot dogs. And we lived off those hot dogs. And I think Kenny got us fired because there were clown heads on the trash cans, and our job at the end of the night when we finished singing, we were supposed to take the clown heads, run a chain through ‘em and lock ‘em up. And I think Kenny didn’t do it one night and they got stolen, and we got fired.”  - Tim McGraw

Did you see Tim fall on stage the other day?

Tuesday’s News: Pentagon Shake-Up, Free Water Filters & A Big Change for Messi

It’s a busy Tuesday across the country and right here in Mid-Michigan. Here’s what you need to know.

 Army Secretary Resigns

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned, becoming the latest high-profile official to leave the Defense Department.

Driscoll reportedly submitted his resignation to President Donald Trump. He had served as a key deputy to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and reports say there had been friction between the two.

 Free Lead-Reducing Water Filters Available in Michigan

Good news for some Michigan families: all Michigan communities are now eligible for the state's Get Ahead of Lead initiative.

Eligible households can receive free lead-reducing drinking-water filters and replacement cartridges.

Households qualify if they have a child under 19 enrolled in Medicaid or a pregnant person enrolled in Medicaid.

Michigan health officials say lead exposure can affect learning, behavior, growth and development in children.

More information is available at Michigan.gov/GetAheadofLead.

 Midland Drivers: Expect Lane Closures

If you're driving through Midland this week, watch for lane closures on Eastman Avenue between West Wackerly Street and West St. Andrews Road.

The city is removing the petunias planted as part of Midland Blooms.

Why? Cooler nighttime temperatures have made the flowers more susceptible to disease.

Yes, even the flowers are apparently having a rough summer.

 Messi Says Goodbye to International Soccer

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international football with Argentina.

The 39-year-old's last appearance for Argentina was the World Cup final loss to Spain.

Messi made six World Cup appearances during his international career.

He's not completely done with soccer, though. Messi remains under contract with MLS club Inter Miami for another two years.

 Tigers Get Crushed

The Detroit Tigers had a night to forget, losing to the Minnesota Twins 11-1.

Meanwhile, the Great Lakes Loons are on the road tonight, taking on the Lake County Captains.

 Mid-Michigan Weather

It's going to be hot today, with mostly sunny skies and a high around 92. There's a slight chance of showers before 9 AM, and the heat index could reach 100.

Tonight: mostly cloudy, low 71.

Wednesday: partly sunny with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, high 89.

Thursday: partly sunny with a 30% chance of morning showers, high 84.

A New York woman spotted what she thought was a BIG FOOT while hiking.  At first, she thought it was a nake man wading into the water.  But, when it turned and looked at her strangley, she knew!  She managed to get a photo before fleeing and showed it to a bonafide Sasquatch investigator.  

When he arrived at the scene, he used the surroundings and the photo to determine the creature was only 4 feet 9 inches tall.  

Does that mean it wasn't a Sasquatch? Nope, the Big Foot investigator concluded it must be a new TEEN Sasquatch, never seen before.  

Others, who have seen the photo, think it's a naked, hairy old man.  

YOU decide for yourself! 

Mid-Michigan Walmarts have a new rotisserie chicken purse!  It's only $5.97! Your choice of traditional and lemon pepper! 

Did you know 1 in 12 Walmart customers buy a rotisserie chicken at least once a year?

It's on sale today!  Hear more FOOD NEWS HERE!