29 days until Halloween.

Which means there's still plenty of time to buy candy, figure out a costume, decorate the house and completely ignore all of those things until October 30th.

If you're looking for something spooky to do every night, several networks and streaming services are going all-in on Halloween.

Freeform has its 31 Nights of Halloween, AMC has FearFest, hosted by the Crypt Keeper, and streaming services have plenty of Halloween collections, including HBO Max's Horror Comes Home and Hulu's Huluween.

So why not make October a giant horror-movie marathon?

We've got 29 movies for 29 days, starting with the classics and working our way into more recent horror.

Your 29-Day Halloween Movie Marathon

October 3: Frankenstein (1931)
Start with one of the classics. Boris Karloff, crazy laboratory, lightning and absolutely no concern about workplace safety.

October 4: Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
Widely considered one of those movies that's so bad it's entertaining. Perfect for a Michigan night when it's raining and you don't feel like leaving the couch.

October 5: Psycho (1960)
Maybe don't watch this one right before taking a shower.

October 6: Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Zombies. Classic horror. And the perfect movie for anyone who has ever complained that Michigan drivers are basically the walking dead during rush hour.

October 7: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Probably not the movie to watch while you're home alone.

October 8: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
A Halloween tradition with plenty of music, costumes and weirdness.

October 9: Halloween (1978)
Michael Myers. Suburban streets. A mask. A knife. And suddenly every quiet Michigan neighborhood looks suspicious.

October 10: The Shining (1980)
A family trip to an isolated hotel goes badly. Very badly.

Also, a great reminder that you should probably be careful when somebody says, "Hey, let's go somewhere remote for the weekend."

October 11: Friday the 13th (1980)
Jason's just getting started.

October 12: The Evil Dead (1981)
Cabin in the woods. Bad decisions. Things that definitely should have stayed buried.

October 13: Poltergeist (1982)
Because apparently even the TV isn't safe anymore.

October 14: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Freddy Krueger shows up in your dreams.

Which means you might want to avoid falling asleep during this one.

October 15: The Lost Boys (1987)
Vampires, California and one very good soundtrack.

October 16: Beetlejuice (1988)
Say his name three times.

Actually, don't.

October 17: Child's Play (1988)
Chucky proves that buying a creepy-looking doll for your kid might not be the best parenting decision.

October 18: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Because apparently regular clowns weren't terrifying enough.

October 19: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Tim Burton brings us a guy with scissors for hands.

Not exactly the person you want helping you carve the Michigan pumpkin.

October 20: It (1990)
Pennywise.

Need I say more?

October 21: The Addams Family (1991)
A nice change of pace. Weird, funny and considerably less stressful than watching somebody get chased through the woods.

October 22: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Halloween movie? A Christmas movie?

In Michigan, we don't care.

It's October and it's cold outside. Put it on.

October 23: Hocus Pocus (1993)
Three witches, one Halloween night and enough nostalgia to make you feel like a kid again.

October 24: Scream (1996)
Ghostface arrives and suddenly everyone has caller ID.

October 25: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Found footage, creepy woods and absolutely no cell phone service.

So basically, a Michigan camping trip with worse customer service.

October 26: It Follows (2014)
A supernatural force that just keeps coming.

Kind of like Michigan road construction.

You think you've finally escaped it, and then there's another orange barrel.

October 27: The Witch (2015)
Dark, creepy and definitely not something to watch while sitting alone in the woods.

October 28: Mandy (2018)
A wild, colorful and very strange horror trip.

By this point in the month, you're basically committed.

October 29: Smile (2022)
If somebody gives you an unsettling smile after watching this, just leave.

October 30: The Substance (2024)
Save one of the newer movies for the night before Halloween.

October 31: Obsession (2026)
Finish the marathon with a brand-new entry and head into Halloween night officially terrified.

The Michigan Halloween Movie Rules

Of course, watching 29 horror movies in Michigan comes with a few additional rules.

If the movie takes place in a creepy cabin in the woods, do not rent one in northern Michigan afterward.

If there's a scene involving a mysterious sound outside, check the weather first. It might just be the wind.

If someone says, "I'll be right back," they're definitely not coming back.

And if you're watching a scary movie while it's raining outside, the power goes out and you hear something scratching at the door...

It's probably your neighbor's dog.

Probably.

Happy October, Michigan.

You've got 29 days to get scared, eat too much candy and pretend you're not checking the locks after every horror movie.

When people talk about the smell of a city, it's usually not a compliment.

Nobody has ever stood on a downtown sidewalk, taken a deep breath and said, "Wow. Put THAT in a candle."

But apparently, somebody decided it was time to scientifically figure out which American cities smell the best.

Researchers looked at things like local candle shops, bakeries, perfumeries, florists and overall cleanliness.

They also considered air quality, garbage disposal satisfaction and the amount of green space.

And somehow, after all that sniffing...

Detroit made the Top 10.

Yep.

Detroit is officially ranked the ninth-best-smelling city in America.

Apparently, Michigan can now add "smells pretty good" to the list of things Detroit is famous for.

The Top 10 best-smelling cities were:

1. Boston

2. Washington, D.C.

3. San Francisco

4. Seattle

5. Philadelphia

6. Portland, Oregon

7. Denver

8. Baltimore

9. Detroit

10. Las Vegas

Chicago came in at number 11, while New York landed at number 13.

Now, as a Michigan resident, I have some questions.

Did they do the Detroit smell test on a perfect 72-degree Saturday morning?

Because that's one thing.

Try this study again during a Michigan summer, when you've got hot pavement, traffic, garbage trucks and somebody grilling something mysterious three blocks away.

And what about winter?

Maybe the snow helps.

You can't smell much when your nose has gone numb.

What About the Rest of Michigan?

Unfortunately, the study only looked at 30 cities, so we don't know where Saginaw, Flint, Bay City or Midland would rank.

But I think we can all agree that Michigan has some very specific smells.

There's the smell of a Michigan cider mill in October.

Fresh donuts. Apple cider. Leaves. Campfire smoke.

That's a Top 10 smell right there.

Then there's the smell of a Michigan highway after a summer rain.

That's harder to describe.

It smells like wet pavement, grass and approximately 17 different things leaking from somebody's pickup truck.

And we can't forget the unmistakable smell of a Michigan lake on a hot August afternoon.

Nature's way of reminding you that "freshwater" doesn't necessarily mean "fresh-smelling."

Meanwhile, the worst-smelling city in the study was Jacksonville, Florida, followed by Oklahoma City, San Antonio, El Paso and Memphis.

Memphis made the list, which raises an important question:

Did barbecue not count?

Because if Memphis barbecue smells are being ignored, I'm not sure we're conducting this study correctly.

So congratulations, Detroit.

You're number nine.

Michigan may have potholes, unpredictable weather and roads that occasionally make you question your life choices...

But apparently, at least according to this study, we don't stink.

And honestly, we'll take the win.

Mid-Michigan News: Gas Prices Drop, SVSU Welcomes Biggest New Class in Years

U.S. Sends Another Aircraft Carrier Toward Iran

The United States has deployed a third aircraft carrier to waters around Iran, according to multiple media reports.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt left San Diego on Sunday, followed a day later by the Marine Expeditionary Force aboard the USS Makin Island, carrying more than 2,000 Marines.

Reports say the move is intended to keep military options available for President Trump as diplomatic efforts continue.

Michigan Gas Prices Finally Head Lower

There may finally be some good news at the gas pump.

For the first time in more than two weeks, Michigan is seeing a noticeable drop in gas prices.

According to AAA, Michigan drivers are now paying about $4.53 a gallon for regular gas, down approximately 27 cents from a week ago.

That's encouraging, although prices remain about 41 cents higher than they were a month ago. Michigan's average is also still slightly above the national average.

So, yes, gas is getting cheaper.

But we're not exactly at "fill up the boat and drive around for fun" prices yet.

SVSU Welcomes Biggest New Student Group Since 2019

Saginaw Valley State University is welcoming its largest group of new students since 2019.

SVSU says 1,970 new students arrived this fall, including about 1,350 first-time college students, along with international students and new graduate students.

The university also says many of its new freshmen have their tuition covered through scholarships and grants.

That's a pretty good way to start college: fewer tuition bills and more time worrying about finding your classroom.

Lions Add $60 Standing-Room Tickets

Detroit Lions fans looking for a cheaper way into Ford Field will have another option later this season.

Beginning October 25th, when the Lions host the Green Bay Packers, the team plans to offer a limited number of $60 standing-room-only tickets on game days for the remainder of the season.

The Lions will offer at least 100 of those tickets per game, with a limit of four tickets per person.

And if you're wondering what you get for $60, apparently the answer is a ticket and the opportunity to spend three hours finding something to lean against.

The Lions face the Carolina Panthers Sunday night.

College Football Saturday

It's a busy Saturday for Michigan college football.

The Michigan Wolverines play Minnesota at noon.

Michigan State takes on Wisconsin at 12:30.

And Central Michigan hosts the Akron Zips at 3:30.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Today will be cloudy through the morning, followed by gradual clearing, with a high of 66.

Tonight will be clear and chilly, with temperatures dropping below 40.

Saturday will be sunny with a high of 64.

And Sunday looks even warmer, with sunshine and a high near 70.

We need to have a serious conversation about pizza.

Pineapple on pizza has been dividing families, friendships and perfectly good comment sections for years.

But now?

Candy corn on pizza.

And not just any pizza.

Frozen pizza.

Tombstone is introducing a limited-edition Halloween creation they're calling "The Pizza Nobody Asked For."

Honestly, that's a pretty accurate name.

The kits come with a frozen Tombstone pepperoni or Five Cheese pizza, packets of candy corn and instructions for combining the two.

Here's how it works:

Bake the pizza.

Take it out.

Sprinkle candy corn all over it.

Put it back in the oven until everything gets nice and melty.

That's it.

You've officially created something that would make both your dentist and your Italian grandmother very nervous.

But There's a Michigan Problem

Imagine bringing this to a Halloween party in Michigan.

Somebody walks in with a box of pizza.

Everyone gets excited.

Then you open it.

"What's on that?"

"Candy corn."

The room goes silent.

Somebody from Detroit immediately asks, "Who hurt you?"

Someone from Flint says, "You drove all the way over here for THAT?"

And somebody in Saginaw is already scraping the candy corn off and asking if there's a Little Caesars nearby.

The kits are only $1.31 each, which seems appropriate because that's approximately how much money I'd be willing to risk on this experiment.

But there's a catch.

You can't just walk into the grocery store and buy one.

The limited-edition kits will be available through online "drops."

The first drop is October 2nd at 2 p.m. Eastern, followed by drops on October 9th and October 23rd, also at 2 p.m. Eastern.

So if you've ever dreamed of combining America's favorite frozen pizza with America's most aggressively Halloween-shaped candy, your moment has arrived.

And if you try it, please remember:

Michigan has plenty of hospitals.

Just saying.

The real question isn't whether candy corn belongs on pizza.

The real question is:

What kind of person looks at a perfectly good frozen pizza and thinks, "You know what this needs? Candy."

Happy Halloween, Michigan.

We've officially gone too far.

It’s October 1st, which means you officially have 30 days to figure out your Halloween costume.

Thirty days sounds like plenty of time. In Michigan, however, we know better.

You’ll blink twice, somebody will put Christmas decorations out at Meijer, and suddenly it’ll be Halloween night and you’ll be standing in the kitchen wearing a flannel shirt wondering if you can just tell everyone you’re a lumberjack.

If you want to stay on top of pop culture, there are plenty of costume ideas making the rounds this year.

Some of the big ideas include:

• Freaky Nikki from "Obsession"

• The bushes from Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show

• Athena and Odysseus from "The Odyssey"

• Taylor Swift and her friends in their coordinated Knicks-game shirts

• The hazmat-suit operatives from "Backrooms"

• Ilya and Shane from "Heated Rivalry"

• Doctors from "The Pitt"

• Dolly Parton

• Olivia Rodrigo from the "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Love" cover

• Harry Styles from the "Dance No More" video

• HUNTR/X from "KPop Demon Hunters"

• Patricia from "Widow’s Bay"

• Charli XCX

• Pitbull

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Ryland Grace from "Project Hail Mary"

• Spider-Man

• Michael Jackson

But here’s where Michigan enters the costume conversation.

You could skip pop culture altogether and go pure Michigan.

Dress up as a Michigan pothole. Just stand in the driveway and refuse to move.

Go as road construction. Throw on an orange vest, grab a traffic cone and spend the entire evening telling people, “Sorry, you can’t get through here.”

Want something really terrifying?

Go as a Michigan driver trying to merge onto I-75 during construction.

Or dress as a cider mill employee and walk around handing everyone donuts while complaining that the line is too long.

You could even go as Michigan weather.

Start the night in shorts. Add a hoodie at 7 p.m. Put on a winter coat at 9. By midnight, nobody knows what season you're supposed to be.

And if you live in Mid-Michigan, there’s always the classic:

"Guy Who Said He Wasn't Dressing Up."

Just wear jeans, a hoodie and a baseball cap.

Congratulations. You’re every guy at the Halloween party.

So you've got 30 days.

Don't wait until October 30th.

Because nothing says Halloween spirit like walking into a party wearing a sheet and telling everyone you're a ghost because Spirit Halloween was sold out of everything else.

Mid-Michigan News: Gas Plant Plans, SVSU Raises and a New Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit

Tennessee Execution Attempt Fails

Tennessee officials were unable to carry out the execution of Christa Gail Pike, who was sentenced to death for a 1995 murder she committed when she was 18.

Officials administered two doses of a lethal drug, but Pike remained alive and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her attorneys said they had not been told about her condition.

Pike had been scheduled to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Consumers Energy Proposes New Natural Gas Plant

Residents in the Big Country area got a look Wednesday at Consumers Energy's plan to build a new natural gas plant at its Karn Energy Center.

The project still needs approval from local government and the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Consumers Energy says the plant could bring construction jobs, permanent positions and additional local tax revenue. The company hopes to have the plant operating by 2031.

SVSU Faculty Getting a Raise

Faculty members at Saginaw Valley State University are getting a pay increase.

The SVSU Board of Control approved a new three-year contract with the university's Faculty Association during a special meeting Monday.

The agreement includes raises for faculty along with additional university contributions toward health insurance.

Midland County Sheriff's Office Creating K-9 Unit

The Midland County Sheriff's Office is establishing a new Canine Unit with help from a grant from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

The grant will pay for a dedicated vehicle and specialized equipment needed to operate the program.

The Sheriff's Office plans to have the new K-9 program up and running later this year.

Sports

In the National League Wild Card Series, the Phillies beat the Braves 4-3, while the Padres defeated the Cubs 4-1.

In the American League, the White Sox beat the Astros 7-3, and the Yankees knocked off the Red Sox 9-2.

Mid-Michigan Weather

Today: Showers, with thunderstorms possible. High 71.

Tonight: Showers, mainly before 11 p.m. Low 51.

Friday: Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradually clearing. High 66.

Saturday: Sunshine and a high of 64.