Tag: Michigan

Michigan audit finds thousands of foster children without oversight; Advocates disagree

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Stacks labeled case files and audit documents on an office desk

An audit of Michigan’s foster care system revealed that more than half of children in its care didn’t receive monitoring by the state to make sure their needs were being met. However, those who work alongside the state say this audit doesn’t tell the full story. Michigan’s Auditor General found that the state wasn’t monitoring more than half of the foster children in its care, but according to foster care advocates, that doesn’t mean there is no oversight. “When kids are in foster care, they have an assigned foster care worker who is required to see them at least monthly in their foster home,” said Guiding Harbor CEO Jennifer Trotter.

The Michigan Children’s Institute (MCI) is the state agency that monitors the organization. “MCI Doesn’t provide any of the direct oversight; the foster care agencies are tasked with that role,” Trotter said. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services disagreed with the State Auditor’s finding, arguing in the report that “…MCI’s responsibilities are fulfilled through MDHHS’s multilayered foster care oversight system.” A foster care advocate explained why, out of the 5,000 children in foster care identified by the State Auditor, only 2,200 of them had a record of monitoring by MCI. “While MCI might not have its paperwork in order, they do have social workers from other foster care agencies. It makes it look like these kids are being neglected where it’s really mismanagement of their paperwork,” said adoptive parent Connie Smith.

“That is concerning because these are kids that are up for adoption. If at the state level the paperwork is missing, that makes it harder for their adoptive workers and their foster care workers to get them to their forever home.” As someone who went through the foster care system herself, Smith says that addressing the declining number of foster families in Michigan should be the state’s top priority.

Source: Michigan audit finds thousands of foster children without oversight; Advocates disagree – CBS Detroit

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 1:18-19

Hunted for Following Jesus

In some communities, Muslims who leave Islam to follow Christ face rejection, threats, violence, and even death because of their faith. For Muslim-background believers, choosing to follow Jesus can…

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Boil water advisory continues for Village of Romeo

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A boil water advisory continues until further notice in the Village of Romeo in Macomb County, Michigan, where a water main break occurred on Saturday. While the water main break was isolated and water pressure restored over the weekend, village officials said a boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.

When a boil water advisory is issued, affected residents should not drink or use tap water to prepare food or brush their teeth without boiling it first. Bring all tap water to a boil for 1 minute, then let it cool before using.  As an alternative, businesses and residents can arrange for bottled water in those situations.  About 3,700 people live in Romeo.

Source: Boil water advisory continues for Village of Romeo – CBS Detroit

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8

Powerful earthquake shakes Panama

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7 has struck Panama, according to the US Geological Survey. Local media are reporting structural damage in some parts of the…

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F-16 fighter jet crashes in residential area in northern Michigan

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Fire trucks respond to a massive dark smoke plume near a rural neighborhood

A U.S. F-16 fighter jet pilot safely ejected before the aircraft crashed in northern Michigan on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The incident occurred in Grand Traverse County when the jet “experienced an incident” during a routine training mission, a spokesperson for the Texas Military Department said. Michael Kroll, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, confirmed the jet was an F-16 from the Texas Air National Guard. The pilot is stable and was transferred to a local hospital, Michigan State Police said. Rescue efforts after an F-16 fighter jet crashed in a rural area near Traverse City, Mich., on Thursday.WPBN

The training mission originated out of the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, the military department said. There have been no reports of civilian injuries in the incident, which occurred in a residential area, Blair Township Supervisor Nicole Blonshine said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. Blonshine said she did not witness the crash but heard it from her office. A witness, Nicole Conrad, said her kids noticed the military jet first. “I hear a big boom, and then I see a colorful parachute and this guy floating down from the sky,” she told NBC News.

Ed Wilson, another witness, said he saw the plane going down, followed by an explosion and black smoke. “The jet just went straight in with a nose up and disappeared,” he said. Social media video verified by NBC News appears to show a column of black smoke rising near a home in the area of the reported crash. A hazardous chemical spill related to the crash led to an evacuation of all business and residential properties within a 1-mile radius, state police said. The order was lifted as of 9:44 p.m.

Air traffic control audio obtained by NBC News describes the declaration of a possible mayday after the plane “may have taken a bird.” It goes on to describe “a lot of black smoke” after it reported “it appears that they may have lost an engine and ejected.” The Texas Military Department spokesperson said the incident is under investigation. An F-16 Fighting Falcon is a “compact, multi-role fighter aircraft” that is “highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack,” according to the Air Force.

Source: F-16 fighter jet crashes in residential area in northern Michigan

For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:28

Plague in Russia?

Russian authorities have sought to allay global worries over the death of a young woman who worked at a Siberian anti-plague laboratory. But moves to isolate her contacts and…

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Why are so many yellowjackets buzzing around Southeast Michigan?

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Five yellowjackets hovering around a nest among fallen autumn leaves

They induce fear. They’re aggressive. And for some people, they pose a serious health risk. Many people’s instinct is to swat and run away from those black-and-yellow bugs that have a really painful sting, but this year it seems there are a lot of yellowjackets everywhere. But why? Dion DeGennaro, president of Sergio’s Pest Control, says the increase in yellowjackets in Southeast Michigan is due to multiple factors, but mainly to trophallaxis.

“The past couple of years, we were up over 30% each year, so in recent memory, it has gotten a lot worse than 10 years ago,” DeGennaro said.  DeGennaro says yellowjackets are having a hard time finding food, which is a sweet liquid created by bee larvae, which is why they are preying on sugary human food. “I’m scared of them,” said Liliana Boggenes, who was eating her cider doughnuts in a parking lot because she was afraid to go near yellowjackets. “They want your food, and they won’t leave,” said Janet Armil, who still remembers when she was stung by a bee when she was 7 years old.

While you can’t always avoid these bugs in public, DeGennaro has some tips to steer clear of the stingers at home, especially when tending your gardens and lawns. “They can nest in the ground, in the gap between bricks or siding, or they can build a physical nest in a bush,” DeGennaro said. The holes in the ground are the size of a quarter. DeGennaro says to avoid running your lawn mower near the holes or hives. Doing so can actually aggravate them. While stores sell sprays and traps, DeGennaro advises you call an expert because one hive can house thousands of yellowjackets.

Source: Why are so many yellowjackets buzzing around Southeast Michigan? – CBS Detroit

Du, Jahwe, bleibst in Ewigkeit, dein Thron hat für immer Bestand!
Klagelieder 5:19

For God so Loved the World

“God loved you enough to send His Son, Jesus loved you enough to give His life, and through faith, you are offered a hope this world can never take…

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2 Timothy 3:12 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted Paul was reminding Timothy that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life. When we choose…

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John 15:18–20

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but…

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Galatians 1:6-10

“When truth becomes negotiable, faith becomes vulnerable so know the Gospel, stand on God’s Word, and seek His approval above the world’s applause.” “I am astonished that you are…

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Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse reminds…

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EF-0 tornado in Lincoln Park is Michigan’s 29th tornado of 2026 – CBS Detroit

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The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-0 tornado touched down in Lincoln Park, Michigan, late Thursday afternoon, as part of a blast of severe weather that prompted tornado warnings across Southeast Michigan. The tornado touched down at 4:12 p.m. and was on the ground for just one minute, reaching a top wind speed of 70 miles per hour.

The weak tornado touched down along Fort Street near Memorial Park, according to the NWS, and tracked into the park and lifted near the city’s senior center.  The tornado was 0.16 miles in length and 50 yards wide.  The Lincoln Park tornado is one of the three tornadoes that touched down in Southeast Michigan in a roughly 24-hour period.  Also on Thursday, an EF-2 tornado struck Detroit’s east side, causing extensive damage to commercial properties and homes. The EF-2 tornado, which reached a top wind speed of 115 mph, is the first to touch down in Detroit since July 2, 1997. A man was injured while protecting his infant daughter when a tree fell on his family’s home in Detroit. 

Active 2026 tornado season in Michigan The EF-0 tornado that struck Lincoln Park is Michigan’s 29th of the year.  On Wednesday night, an EF-0 tornado touched down just northeast of Marysville in St. Clair County. That tornado lasted roughly two minutes, and no injuries were reported. Tree damage was sporadic and found along a narrow path between Gratiot Avenue and Highway 29.  Michigan saw one of its most active tornado seasons on record in 2025, with 33 tornadoes confirmed in the state.  

Tornadoes are rated via an estimated wind gust speed in the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. An EF-0 tornado is estimated at up to 85 mph, an EF-1 tornado is estimated at between 86 mph and 110 mph, and an EF-2 is estimated at between 111 and 135 mph. 

Source: EF-0 tornado in Lincoln Park is Michigan’s 29th tornado of 2026 – CBS Detroit

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:13

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves…

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Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning…

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Bat found in Livingston County tests positive for rabies, health officials say

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Bat flying above forested mountains beneath a sunset sky

A bat found in Livingston County, Michigan, has tested positive for rabies, the local health department said on Thursday. Officials said the finding marks the first rabies case in an animal reported in the county this year. They have yet to disclose where in the region the bat was located.  Rabies is a deadly virus that spreads to people from the saliva of infected animals, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s usually transmitted through a bite from a bat, coyote, fox, raccoon or skunk. Livingston County health officials say bat bites can be very small and people may be exposed to rabies even if they don’t see a bite or scratch.

According to health officials, exposure to rabies can also happen when a person touches a bat’s saliva or brain tissue or wakes up with one in their bedroom. Children, people with developmental disabilities and intoxicated individuals may also be considered exposed if they are in a room with a bat. Anyone in Livingston County who believes they’ve been exposed is asked to capture the bat, report the exposure by filling out a form on the health department’s website and call department staff at 517‑552‑6882 for testing guidance and next steps. Health officials say people can prevent rabies by keeping bats out of homes, vaccinating their pets and washing bites or scratches with soap and water before seeking medical help. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the state is home to nine species of bats.

Source: Bat found in Livingston County tests positive for rabies, health officials say – CBS Detroit

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8

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Detroit’s air quality early Thursday ranked as hazardous, worst in the world – CBS Detroit

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Wildfire smoke drifted across Southeast Michigan Wednesday night and a smoky, hazy sky resulting from fine particulate pollution was clearly visible by daybreak on Thursday.  All of Michigan is under an air quality alert through Friday.  The air was so bad early Thursday in Southeast Michigan that Detroit was listed as having the worst air quality in the world in the IQAir database, well into the “hazardous” range, topping even Toronto, Canada, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

The smoke plume from hundreds of wildfires in Canada and Minnesota began crossing into Northern Michigan during the day on Wednesday. By midnight Wednesday, the MiAir database showed significantly deteriorating air quality in Southeast Michigan.  The CBS News Detroit weather team has declared Thursday and Friday to be NEXT Weather Alert Days, stepping up forecasts and announcements as needed. 

Air quality forecast for Metro Detroit on July 16, 2026. CBS News Detroit How bad is the air?  The MiAir database run by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy showed air quality numbers well over the “very unhealthy” range in multiple locations in Metro Detroit early Thursday.   Other communities in Michigan, including Lansing, Flint and Grand Rapids saw readings at or above the very unhealthy range early Thursday. 

The air quality reading in Detroit at 5 a.m. July 16, 2026. Screen image from the AirNow website. AirNow How can this affect your health? Dr. Herb Aronow, the chair of heart and vascular health at Henry Ford Health, says unhealthy air affects everyone with heart and vascular diseases, even those who haven’t been diagnosed yet. Even healthy people may notice eye irritation or difficulty breathing during prolonged outdoor activity.  How widespread is the smoke?  It’s not just Michigan facing air quality issues. Several states are or will be in the path of the wildfire smoke plume.  Some of the wildfires feeding the smoke plume are in Minnesota, where much of the state is under an air quality alert. 

An air quality alert called for the Chicago area was aggravated by wildfire smoke drifting into the region.  Pennsylvania will be under a code red air quality alert on Thursday, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection says.  And the entire state of Ohio was placed under an air quality alert for Thursday as air quality readings may reach the unhealthy stage, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said.  A map of the wildfire smoke plume across Michigan and other states on July 16, 2026. CBS News Detroit What does this mean for summer events and programs? 

The combination of poor air quality rising on the heels of a heat wave in Metro Detroit resulted in several summer school and community program closures for Thursday.  When will Detroit get a break from the smoke?  A cold front will move through Southeast Michigan Thursday night into Friday, bringing cooler temperatures, lower humidity, and a shift in winds that should gradually push the wildfire smoke out of the region and improve air quality heading into the weekend. 

Source: Detroit’s air quality early Thursday ranked as hazardous, worst in the world – CBS Detroit

Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2 Samuel 7:22

A study of the Mesha Stele

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Abdul El-Sayed’s Father-in-Law, a Top Donor to an El-Sayed Super PAC, Is Among Top Leaders of Muslim Brotherhood Organization Linked to Terror Funding

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Abdul El-Sayed’s father-in-law, a top donor to a super PAC supporting the left-wing Michigan Senate hopeful, is among the top leaders of an Islamic organization identified by the federal government as a public facing group for the Muslim Brotherhood, a Washington Free Beacon review found. As part of his role with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), which the federal government linked to the financing of Hamas, Tayeb Jukaku contributes at least $5,000 to the organization annually. Jukaku has served on the 20-member founding committee of ISNA since at least 2007, according to the organization’s magazine, Islamic Horizons, and has been a member of the group for a “long time, cannot recall [when I joined],” according to Jukaku’s online bio.

Federal prosecutors identified the organization as an unindicted co-conspirator in the landmark 2007 terrorist financing case USA v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which culminated in the conviction of the foundation’s founders for funneling $12 million to Hamas. They also identified the ISNA as one of eight entities “who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood.” The Holy Land Foundation trial began in 2007 as Jukaku served on ISNA’s founding committee, and he and other committee members are required to contribute at least $5,000 annually to the organization in addition to “the ‘Founders Legacy Fund,'” according to the group. Lorenzo Vidino, the director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said ISNA “was historically, no question, an organization created … by the Muslim Brotherhood and fellow travelers from the Indian subcontinent as basically the Islamist organization in America.”

He noted that Tayeb was involved with the group “when they were putting out some really nasty stuff.” “To be on the founding committee, this is the elders of the organization,” Vidino told the Free Beacon. Jukaku also served as president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’s (CAIR) Michigan chapter from 2005 to 2010, according to the group’s IRS disclosures. CAIR was also named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial and included on a list of groups “who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee and/or its organizations,” a similar but separate distinction from the ISNA’s Muslim Brotherhood affiliation. Jukaku remains on CAIR Michigan’s board of directors. Vidino said it was “unsurprising” that Tayeb is also involved with CAIR. “This is kind of the pattern,” he told the Free Beacon. “To some degree, it’s a good old boys network. And so, if you’re on the board committee in ISNA, chances are you also belong to your local CAIR branch.

Chances are you sit on the board of another charity that is part of the network. That’s kind of how it works.” Federal prosecutors first charged the Holy Land Foundation, once the largest Muslim charity in the United States, with money laundering and providing material support to terrorist organizations in 2004. The government said the foundation was “created for the purpose of providing financial and material support” to Hamas and funneled more than $12 million to the terror group through affiliated committees and organizations. Both ISNA and CAIR were named as unindicted co-conspirators, and, though they challenged the label, a federal judge ruled in July 2009—as Jukaku served both on ISNA’s founding committee and as president of CAIR-Michigan—that the Department of Justice had provided “ample evidence” linking them to Hamas. The Holy Land Foundation raised money for Hamas, for example, using a joint bank account with the ISNA, which deposited checks into the account that were “often made payable to ‘the Palestinian Mujahadeen,’ the original name for the Hamas military wing,” according to the ruling.

The ruling also cited a 1991 memo from the Shura Council of the Muslim Brotherhood—an international Sunni Islamist group that has spawned numerous armed jihadist organizations, including Hamas—that described ISNA as a member group. The council stated in the memo that its work in the United States was “a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.” The trial did not push Jukaku to distance himself from ISNA or CAIR. In 2010, he was photographed alongside CAIR executive director Nihad Awad, who said he was “happy to see” Hamas “break the siege” on Oct. 7, 2023, at CAIR Michigan’s annual banquet. Jukaku is also a top donor to a super PAC supporting El-Sayed’s candidacy, the Fighting for Michigan PAC. He has given the PAC $200,000, nearly half of the $478,125.68 it has raised as of March 31. “It’s been obvious since the 1970s that the Muslim Students Associations and ISNA … have very strong ties to the extreme fringes of the Democratic Party,” said Andrew McCarthy, a former federal prosecutor who led the prosecution of the Blind Sheikh in the Southern District of New York. ISNA, founded in 1982, is an outgrowth of the Muslim Students Association, which has chapters on colleges and university campuses across the country.

As his father-in-law pours money into his broader campaign effort, El-Sayed is campaigning on pushing  “money out of politics,” a slogan featured on yard signs supporting his campaign. He has singled out spending from pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which he accused of working to “buy off government” to “make sure that our money is sent abroad to kill other people.” Simultaneously, the Fighting for Michigan PAC—armed with generous contributions from Jukaku—is spending big to help El-Sayed secure the Democratic nomination over his primary opponent, congresswoman Haley Stevens. So is the American Priorities PAC, a newly created anti-Israel group that aims to counter AIPAC spending and has vowed to “do whatever it takes” to help El-Sayed.

Source: Abdul El-Sayed’s Father-in-Law, a Top Donor to an El-Sayed Super PAC, Is Among Top Leaders of Muslim Brotherhood Organization Linked to Terror Funding

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psalm 119:10

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to pull…

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Dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires moves into the Great Lakes and Northeast

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mountainous countryside against cloudy morning sky

Massive plumes of Canadian wildfire smoke are set to pour over the border into the United States, bringing dangerous air quality to more than 100 million people in the Midwest and Northeast. Smoke has already been an issue this summer in parts of the West, Plains and Midwest as stateside fires have burned more than 3.6 million acres, mostly in the western half of the country. But the thicker smoke, forecast to move over New York, Washington, DC and other cities in the East, is from wildfires to the north. Check out the smoke forecast in the CNN Weather app In Canada, more than 3,000 fires have burned nearly 4.5 million acres this summer, with a dozen blazes flaring up in Ontario in recent weeks, filling the skies with smoke that is starting to drift south, like it did in an extreme way in 2023. Canadian wildfire activity this year is nowhere near the hyperactivity of 2023 but the combination of wildfires in Ontario and a heat dome in the central US spells smoky trouble for millions.

Planet-heating fossil fuel pollution is increasing the chance of prolonged smoke seasons as it tips the odds that extreme wildfire seasons like 2023’s — Canada’s worst season on record — won’t remain an outlier for long. Unhealthy smoke heads for Great Lakes and Northeast A first round of smoke is already floating over a large area from Chicago to Boston. This smoke has largely stayed higher up in the atmosphere, which means it hasn’t precipitously lowered air quality or posed a significant health risk. But a weather pattern change in coming days will cause lingering smoke and additional plumes to sink to the surface Wednesday and Thursday bringing unhealthy air quality from the Upper Midwest to New England. Wildfire smoke contains dangerous, tiny pollutants called PM2.5 that can travel deep into the lungs or enter the bloodstream when inhaled. The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.

Much of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are under air quality alerts due to smoke over the next few days, and the National Weather Service has warned that smoke could become an air quality concern in Chicago later this week. People with lung or heart disease, children and older adults are especially at risk for smoke-related illness. The NWS advises people avoid smoke by limiting outdoor activities and keeping windows closed overnight. The only silver lining the smoke brings is that it could dampen some of the heat. Smoke blocks sunlight, which would be welcome news for many parts of the Northeast expected to see high temperatures in the coming days. The smoke is now streaming into the US thanks to a record-breaking heat dome parked over the central part of the country. So far there have been several heat domes — large, slow-moving high pressure systems — this year from the West Coast to the Northeast.

Air flows clockwise around these domes, but until now, none of them have been in quite the right spot to drag Canadian smoke south. The northern edge of this week’s heat dome is perfectly placed over northern Minnesota and southern Ontario, where wildfires rage. This placement means smoke will flow east and south, right into parts of the Midwest and Northeast. With several months left in wildfire season, the door will remain open for more Canadian smoke plumes to migrate south. How does this smoke compare to 2023? This time three years ago, records were being broken as 4,300 fires had already burned 25 million acres across Canada. In June 2023, smoke consumed the New York City skyline as northerly winds pushed a wall of wildfire smoke from Quebec into the Big Apple. The culprits were a dominant high pressure system in the Hudson Bay and a storm system over Atlantic Canada. Together, they funneled smoke into the Midwest and Northeast. Both systems were stagnant, keeping the smoke in place for about four days. 2023’s smoke event was so far-reaching, a study from last year estimates more than 350 million people were exposed to daily wildfire smoke-induced air pollution. Fortunately, wildfire activity in Canada started later compared to that record-setting year, making it unlikely this year’s smoke will be as pervasive.

Smoke seasons are getting worse In the US, the window for outbreaks of unhealthy wildfire smoke is getting bigger, as fire seasons in the West have become longer and more extreme. Climate change was found to be responsible for the majority of the increase of surface wildfire smoke. This smoke has eroded decades of air quality improvements in parts of the US, particularly in the West. Planet-warming pollution caused approximately 15,000 more deaths in the US from wildfire particulate matter from 2006 to 2020 than would have otherwise occurred in a cooler world, a study published last year found.

Source: Dangerous smoke from Canadian wildfires moves into the Great Lakes and Northeast | CNN

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Hope in the dark

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God as Your Ever-Present Help

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Abdul El-Sayed Wears Luxury Watches Worth Thousands While Campaigning Against the Wealthy

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Gold Rolex wristwatch with Roman numerals on wooden desk next to notebook and pen

Left-wing Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed is running as a populist who rails against the wealthy. At the same time, he’s been photographed on the campaign trail wearing an array of luxury watches worth thousands of dollars, a Washington Free Beacon review found. El-Sayed has even bemoaned the “perverse psychological consequences” of Rolex advertisements along the Michigan freeway. “How many people who drive this road can actually afford one of those?” he asked in his 2020 book. As it turns out, El-Sayed, who described himself in an interview with LGBTDetroit in May as a “sucker for automatic watches” and “classic watches,” can afford some pricey wristwear. He even earned a shout-out from a watch podcast the same month for “rocking what looks like the Sinn U-1 SE,” a German diver’s watch that costs roughly $4,000.

“Badass stealthy pick, well done Doc!,” an Instagram post from the Lan Jam podcast declared. The podcast bills itself as “a friendly discussion between two blokes on watches, cars, aviation, movies, and everything in between.” The following month, in June, El-Sayed posted a video wearing what appears to be an Omega Seamaster DeVille, a vintage watch worth about $3,000. El-Sayed appeared to wear a pricier Omega—the Speedmaster Moon Phase Chronograph, worth roughly $10,000—in a June campaign video. And he donned a Mühle Glashütte S.A.R. Rescue-Timer, a German nautical watch worth nearly $2,000, while “getting ice cream in Grand Haven, MI.” He also sported a vintage 1950s Elgin “Doctors Watch” worth nearly $2,000. El-Sayed has billed himself as a crusader for the working-class against the wealthy and has suggested that he struggles to afford groceries and health care. “Why do we have a trillionaire when the rest of us can barely afford groceries or healthcare?” he wrote in an X post earlier this week. In March, he wrote: “How come we work a full time job and still can’t afford a home?

The answer: corporations can buy politicians.” He has also said he has maximalist political views but a minimalist style and has lacerated American “oligarchs,” saying, “We finally need to start taxing billionaire wealth.” El-Sayed participated in an Instagram video with a self-described “stylist for regular people,” Sophie Strauss, in which she attempted to dress him in a manner that matches his radical politics. When Strauss suggested he wear “something green since you support climate justice,” El-Sayed responded, “Of course, but this feels like money green, and I’m trying to get that out of politics.” In the video, El-Sayed is wearing a watch that resembles a Rolex Submariner, a luxury piece that costs roughly $15,000. Watchmakers like Tag Heuer and Tudor sell lookalikes that cost roughly $2,500 and $5,000, respectively. The Free Beacon could not identify the exact watch El-Sayed is wearing, and a campaign spokeswoman said El-Sayed does not own a Rolex—though the campaign confirmed that he owns several other pricey watches. “He regularly wears a SAR Rescue Timer on the campaign trail because he is trying to rescue our politics from corporate corruption,” said El Sayed spokeswoman Roxie Richner.

“Sometimes he wears a vintage doctor’s watch because he is a doctor,” Richner said, though El-Sayed has never practiced medicine. El-Sayed attended medical school at Columbia University but did not complete a residency. He has never been licensed to practice medicine, though he has referred to himself as a “physician” on the campaign trail. El-Sayed railed against luxury watches before running for Senate. In his 2020 autobiography Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey Into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic, he lamented the Rolex billboards that lined Michigan’s highways, saying the ads “have real power” because they serve as “a reminder to almost everyone on that highway that although they cannot afford one, someone driving on that same highway can.” “The cheapest of those watches sells for at least $3,000, even when they’re used,” he wrote. “How many people who drive this road can actually afford one of those?” “Consider the perverse psychological consequences of this signaling,” he continued. “This signaling exacerbates material insecurity. It renders poorer people in more unequal societies more likely to pursue luxury items that they are less able to afford.” El-Sayed’s “impressive” collection earned praise from Josh Rogin, a Washington, D.C., watch collector who runs the Instagram account @WatchTheRamen.

He singled out El-Sayed’s Sinn U-1, calling it an “if you know, you know” piece for those who “still want to wear a $5k watch (and not get mugged).” “He clearly spent years curating it and went way out of his way to collect the pieces he really likes and cares about,” Rogin told the Free Beacon. “Most of them cannot be bought in a retail store.” El-Sayed’s net worth appears to have risen substantially since he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2018. During that campaign, he released tax returns that showed he and his wife, psychiatrist Sarah Jukaku, earned around $237,000 in 2016. Jukaku has since launched a private practice, Mind Work Psychiatry, that does not accept Medicare or any other insurance and requires patients to pay out-of-pocket, the Free Beacon reported. El-Sayed has called for universal health care through a single-payer “Medicare for All” system that would cover every American “from cradle to grave.” El-Sayed also earned nearly $50,000 from paid speeches between January 2024 and April 2025, according to his 2025 financial disclosure, which also lists him as the owner of an “audio and video media” company, Incision Media LLC, worth between $100,000 and $250,000.

In 2024 and 2025, El-Sayed earned $278,939 working as health director for Wayne County. He and Jukaku own at least two rental properties, one in Michigan and one in India, worth up to $500,000 and $250,000, respectively, according to the disclosure. El-Sayed’s in-laws are also well-off. His father-in-law is a kidney doctor who has donated at least $200,000 to a super PAC supporting El-Sayed’s candidacy. Jukaku also serves on the founders’ committee for the Islamic Society of North America and is a former president of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Federal prosecutors named both groups as unindicted co-conspirators in the landmark terrorist financing case USA v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the Free Beacon reported.

Source: Abdul El-Sayed Wears Luxury Watches Worth Thousands While Campaigning Against the Wealthy

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

The Distraction of Fear

Fear has a way of making tomorrow feel more real than today. But you were never meant to live inside a future that hasn’t happened yet, you were called to…

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John Deere owners will get the right to repair their own equipment under a new FTC settlement

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green and yellow tractor on brown field

It looks like John Deere owners can soon feel free to fix their own machines. The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from several states secured a right-to-repair settlement Wednesday with agriculture equipment giant Deere & Co. — commonly known as John Deere — that requires the company to let farmers and independent shops fix their own equipment. The Illinois-based manufacturer has faced complaints for years for withholding the software needed for repairs and forcing customers to use authorized dealers instead of independent ones. This marks the second right-to-repair settlement Deere has reached this year, following a separate $99 million class-action settlement with farmers in April. Though the class-action compensated consumers, the FTC’s settlement instead requires Deere to make its repair services available to equipment owners and independent shops.

The FTC and attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin brought the antitrust lawsuit in January 2025, arguing that Deere had illegally restricted farmers and independent shops that might otherwise service them from repairing farm equipment such as tractors. Deere also makes engines and equipment for forestry, landscaping and construction. Under the order filed in Illinois, Deere will now be required to make diagnostic and repair tools available to equipment owners and independent repair shops, not only its own network of authorized dealers. It also prevents Deere dealers from retaliating against equipment owners or repair shops who choose to fix their own equipment instead of paying for Deere’s services. The order is headed to Judge Iain D. Johnston for his approval. “For too long, Arizona farmers and independent mechanics have been at the mercy of Deere’s monopoly over repair tools, forced to wait — and pay — for authorized dealers just to fix broken tractors and other equipment,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement Wednesday. Deere must pay $1 million collectively to the five states for antitrust enforcement costs and will be subject to strict compliance oversight for the next 10 years.

In the complaint, the FTC argued that Deere provides a service software tool to authorized dealers but does not provide the full version to equipment owners or independent shops. Deere had said the lawsuit was baseless, denied that its distribution of service tools was anticompetitive and argued that it could not monopolize services since it does not directly provide them. Deere maintained its commitment to independent repair in a statement Wednesday, adding that the agreement with the FTC reinforces its innovation of more flexible repair options. “This is good news for our customers and for the future of how Deere equipment is supported,” said Denver Caldwell, vice president of aftermarket and customer support. Right-to-repair has become an increasingly common issue over the years, especially for tech products, with consumers complaining that even simple repairs can only be done by company-authorized dealers.

Source: John Deere owners will get the right to repair their own equipment under a new FTC settlement – CBS Minnesota

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4

Too Busy to Hear God

You can be so busy doing things for God that you never stop long enough to hear from God. Sometimes the biggest distraction in your life isn’t rebellion, it’s simply being…

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Who Has Your Attention?

Your attention is one of the most valuable things you own, and everyone wants a piece of it. The question isn’t whether something is getting your attention—the question is whether Jesus…

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Finding Strength in God

You don’t have to carry this alone, He is your safe place and your help in every moment of need.  Bible Verse:God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to…

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Storms possible on Thursday with warm temperatures remaining in Southeast Michigan

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lightning bolt from dark sky

Temperatures remain warmer on Thursday, bringing another chance at strong to severe storms later in the day. It’s important to note that this risk is much lower than last week, but with some heavy rain and gusty winds, chances are all the same. A marginal risk (1 out of 5) from the Storm Prediction Center covers Southeast Michigan for the latter part of the day. Storms will begin to pop in the afternoon and into the evening hours. While rain will scatter through the area, actual stronger storms should be more isolated. Heavy downpours and gusty winds are the main concern for any cells that strengthen. The most likely area for storms at the moment appears to be mainly south of Interstate 69. Keep a close eye on the radar through the afternoon and early evening hours before our rain chances end.

Source: Storms possible on Thursday with warm temperatures remaining in Southeast Michigan – CBS Detroit

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

Faith Under Pressure

Pip: Drink of Jesus is a site that treats ancient Scripture the way a good contractor treats load-bearing walls — you don’t move them just because the room looks dated. Mara:…

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Shepherds Who Neglect the Flock

The deepest wounds are often inflicted by those entrusted to care for our souls. But when earthly shepherds fail, the Good Shepherd never abandons His sheep. Son of man, prophesy against…

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City officials consider all options to reduce deer population in Beverly Hills, Michigan

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three white tailed deer grazing in dover tennessee

Deterrents, deer hunting or trapping, and even deer birth control are among the options city officials are considering to lower the deer population in Beverly Hills.  “First and foremost problem we have is safety– we’re concerned we’re going to start seeing more car-deer accidents,” said Edward Arnold, the director of public safety for Beverly Hills.  Arnold said deer in the area like to make a feast of people’s gardens and tend to cross the street whenever they feel like it. He said that they can also be aggressive. “We had some reports that the deer would start to stomp with their hooves and then actually trotted after a person one time– someone said that it chased them and their dog back into their house,” Arnold said.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources spoke with local officials and residents earlier this month to outline their options, from trapping or hunting the deer to deterrents like wire to cover plants, to trapping and then sterilizing the deer so they can’t reproduce.  “The option might be education and promoting coexistence, and that might be the answer for their community if the goal is to reduce deer-vehicle collisions because they’ve seen an increase that would then lend itself to some sort of lethal management option,” said Kara Colton, a wildlife biologist with the DNR.  Arnold said that it is possible to have a firearm hunt within village limits. There would be restrictions on the time and place where hunters could discharge their firearms. Another option is an archery hunt.  He said village officials are considering all the options and will probably discuss them well into the summer.  “They’re going to want to have several more meetings; they’ll be public meetings, so residents are encouraged to come there and voice their opinion.

Source: City officials consider all options to reduce deer population in Beverly Hills, Michigan – CBS Detroit

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12

The Weight of Leadership

“A church can survive criticism, but it cannot thrive without integrity. When spiritual leaders forget they answer first to God, the flock always bears the wounds.” “Not many of you…

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Heaven is for Real Movie

“Heaven is for Real” is a faith-based family drama inspired by a Nebraska Pastor Tood Burpo’s best-selling book about his 4 years old son (Colton Burpo) who had visited heaven…

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God’s Here

After losing his wife and son in a tragic accident, a firefighter wrestles with grief and forgiveness. Starring Kevin Sorbo (God’s Not Dead), Sarah Elizabeth Reeves Director: Bill McAdams Jr.…

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Residents push back against proposed data center in Lyon Township, Michigan

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network servers on an enclosure

Lyon Township residents filled the planning commission meeting Monday evening, for another long night of fiery public comment, as many continue to fight a proposed data center.  “I moved to the country because I wanted to live in a peaceful place, and so far, it is becoming not peaceful,” said one of the residents during public comment. In September 2025, the Lyon Township Planning Commission approved a 1.8 million-square-foot, six-building data center on 172 acres off Milford Road near South Lyon, and since then, residents have been fighting to keep that development out of their community. 

“Who wants to live next to a data center? I live within a mile, and nobody wants that. I have a neighbor on 12 Mile (Road), he can’t sell his house, he’s had it for sale since December,” Lyon Twp resident Nancy Hopkins said.   The project, known as Project Flex, is being developed by Verrus. In late May, an attorney representing Verrus submitted a Final Site Plan response letter arguing the project meets all applicable Planning Commission conditions, township codes, and zoning ordinances. In the letter, Verrus warned the township that if approval is further delayed, they will pursue legal action. “There is no integrity here, right. They speak about being a good neighbor here, but good neighbors don’t blackmail their neighbors or their township, and that’s what is happening here,” said Melissa Noble.

State Sen. Jim Runestad, who opposes the data center, was one of the dozens to speak during public comment Monday night. Runestad has proposed a one-year moratorium on data centers in the state.  “This is not in opposition to innovation or economic growth. I support responsible development, but what is happening here in Michigan and in Lyon Twp is not responsible. It is rushed, opaque, and dismissive of the very people this project will most directly affect,” said Runestad.

CBS News Detroit reached out to Verrus and received the following statement: 

“Project Flex has met all applicable township requirements following a comprehensive review process that included extensive studies on water use, noise, traffic, energy, and environmental impacts. Throughout that process, the project team addressed community feedback and incorporated additional measures beyond those required by township standards. Those studies demonstrated that Project Flex is designed to use 99% less water than legacy data centers, maintain sound levels at or below approximately 50 dB(A) at the property boundary during normal operations, comparable to an office building, and satisfy the energy review requirements established through the township’s approval process. While we recognize that not everyone supports the project, we are grateful for the support of residents, community leaders, civic organizations, labor partners, and businesses throughout Lyon Township. Project Flex is expected to generate up to $40 million for Lyon Township, up to $265 million for state and local education, up to $35 million for Oakland County, and up to $8 million for regional institutions, including libraries, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, the Detroit Zoo, and the Detroit Institute of Arts over the first 17 years of the project.”

Source: Residents push back against proposed data center in Lyon Township, Michigan – CBS Detroit

O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
Psalm 16:2

Feeling Alone? God Sees You

Even when you feel invisible in your struggle, God sees every tear, every burden, and every silent prayer. Your exhaustion has not escaped His attention. “The Lord is close to…

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Jesus Revolution

In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher.…

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Letters to God

Tyler Doherty is an extraordinary eight-year-old boy armed with strong faith and courage as he faces his daily battle against cancer. Surrounded by a loving family and community, Tyler’s prayers…

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War Room

Pharmaceutical salesman Tony Jordan and his wife, realtor Elizabeth Jordan, appear outwardly successful; they have a large house, plenty of money, and a beautiful daughter named Danielle. Behind the façade,…

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Climbing Your Mountain

Pip: A mountain village, a wandering stranger, a mother weaving a basket by the river — Drink of Jesus has been building a world where ancient scripture lands like it’s…

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Bear found in Mt. Pleasant relocated by wildlife officials, police said

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bears batching in a river

A young male bear that was spotted up a tree in a mid-Michigan city has been safely relocated to Houghton Lake, local authorities said.  The bear was spotted on Tuesday morning near Francher Avenue and Mosher Street, west of M-127, and was in a tree by the time local authorities arrived on scene. The Mt. Pleasant Police Department and Michigan Department of Natural Resources teamed up on the logistics for the animal rescue.  

The DNR said a thick pole vault mat borrowed from Mt Pleasant High School provided a safe space for the bear to land. “The tranquilized bear landed safely and completely unharmed after an 18-foot drop! DNR biologists gave him a quick medical checkup (he’s in great health!), tagged him, and safely relocated him about 60 miles north to a beautiful swamp in the Houghton Lake area,” the DNR said.

Source: Bear found in Mt. Pleasant relocated by wildlife officials, police said – CBS Detroit

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
1 Peter 2:2

Boundary Waters wilderness burning at U.S

Wildfires flared earlier this week and destroyed thousands of acres in Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota, with many of the fires straddling the U.S.-Canadian border. The Western Fire Chiefs’ map on Thursday afternoon tracked…

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Peace in the Storm

God does not always remove the storm immediately, but He promises peace in the middle of it. His presence calms fearful hearts.  Bible Verse: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”…

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The Brave New Age of Trust-Fund Socialism

Democrats are in the midst of a fun and terrifying transformation. Hating Trump is no longer sufficient to win elections in blue states. Democratic primary voters—specifically the party’s core constituency of college-educated white…

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Finding Hope in Life’s Challenges

When life turns up the heat, your faith isn’t falling apart, it’s being revealed. What feels like pressure is actually God proving that what He placed in you can’t be destroyed.  Bible Verse:In…

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Rising fire danger in northern Michigan prompts DNR to urge caution with outdoor activities

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silhouette of bare trees surrounded fire at daytime

Rising fire danger in northern Michigan prompts DNR to urge caution with outdoor activities By Nick Lentz May 31, 2026 / 5:00 PM EDT / CBS Detroit Add CBS News on Google Elevated fire danger in northern Michigan has prompted the Department of Natural Resources to urge anyone in the area to be careful while engaging in activities outside. Paul Rogers, a fire prevention specialist with the state agency, said in a news release Friday that they weren’t expecting significant rainfall over the next 10 days, which greatly increases the risk for wildfires.  “Low moisture levels in conifer needles and dry pine fuels mean fires can start easily and spread quickly under the right conditions,” Rogers said. The agency is asking people to adhere to the following tips while enjoying the outdoors:

  • Keep a hose or water source nearby when burning.
  • Prevent sparks by ensuring trailer chains do not drag on roadways and avoiding parking hot equipment on dry grass.
  • Keep campfires contained in a fire ring or pit and fully extinguish them before leaving.
    • Douse fires with water, stir ashes and douse again.
  • Never leave fires or hot coals unattended.
  • Never shoot fireworks into wooded areas, dry grass or shrubs.
  • Avoid burning plastics, hazardous materials or household trash.
    • Use only approved burn barrels with screens for natural materials such as paper and leaves.

The DNR will not issue burning permits in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula while fire conditions are elevated, officials said.

“Residents in southern Michigan should check with their local fire department or municipality before conducting any outdoor burning,” the agency said.

Source: Rising fire danger in northern Michigan prompts DNR to urge caution with outdoor activities – CBS Detroit

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
Psalm 103:17-18

Prayer for Boldness; Acts 4:24-31

When opposition rises against God’s people, the natural response is often fear. Yet the early church teaches us that the answer to intimidation is not retreat, but prayer to have supernatural boldness.…

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Bright meteor gets attention Monday night across Great Lakes region

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stars in the sky

If you missed the meteor sighting over Southeast Michigan early on May 27, perhaps you saw the latest one on Monday night.  A fireball, which is a bright meteor, was seen about 10:42 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday in a wider geographic area around Lake Erie than the one that was seen last week. The American Meteor Society said it received 197 reports from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ontario of Monday’s meteor.  The Southeast Michigan reports came from places such as Brighton, Dexter, Detroit, Garden City, Ida, Madison Hights, Marysville, Milan, Smiths Creek and Tucker. 

The meteor view was described as bright blue/green; and the fragments broke up and burned up in the atmosphere.   “That was super cool. I’ve never seen anything like that,” one of the Michigan reports read.  “Several thousand meteors of fireball magnitude occur in the Earth’s atmosphere each day. The vast majority of these, however, occur over the oceans and uninhabited regions, and a good many are masked by daylight,” the American Meteor Society said.  

Source: Bright meteor gets attention Monday night across Great Lakes region – CBS Detroit

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.
Psalm 112:1

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Beloved Detroit Zoo chimpanzee Abby dies at age 42

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thoughtful chimpanzee portrait in black and white

Abby, a chimpanzee who has spent the last 38 years at the Detroit Zoo, has died, zoo officials announced on Thursday. She was 42. Zoo officials say Abby was “compassionately euthanized this week following a decline in her health related to kidney failure.” “Our veterinary and animal care teams worked closely to keep her comfortable throughout her care, and the decision was made with deep love and respect for her quality of life,” officials said.

Source: Beloved Detroit Zoo chimpanzee Abby dies at age 42 – CBS Detroit

The Story of America: John Adams

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It…

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George Washington on Freedom of Speech

George Washington never wrote a single famous statement that exactly says “freedom of speech” in the way many internet memes claim. However, throughout his writings and public addresses,…

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Black bear sightings confirmed in Flat Rock-Rockwood, Carleton areas

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bear in close up

The Michigan DNR says residents in two Southeast Michigan communities have reported black bear sightings in recent days.  According to the DNR, the first sighting happened around 1:13 a.m. on May 10 when a black bear was captured on a cellular trail camera near Carleton in Monroe County. 

Source: Black bear sightings confirmed in Flat Rock-Rockwood, Carleton areas – CBS Detroit

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8

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Dry conditions, high winds, feeding wildfire risk in parts of Michigan

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the straits of mackinac under the mackinac bridge

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says elevated fire danger has been observed across parts of the state.  The conditions are fueled by downed trees and branches left by the March 2025 ice storm. The severe weather at the time damaged around 3 million acres of land. “Even with the heavy rains this spring, recent drier weather in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Michigan means that last year’s grasses and leaves are becoming dry and will readily burn,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  “In the ice storm area from last spring, the downed wood has been on the ground for a year, is starting to dry out, and can contribute to much hotter and more dangerous conditions if a fire gets started. While the temperatures have dropped, we are expecting to see elevated fire danger continue as we get closer to the weekend.” 

Source: Dry conditions, high winds, feeding wildfire risk in parts of Michigan – CBS Detroit

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

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Wildfire in northern Michigan 80% contained, sheriff’s office says

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burning green grass

Authorities say a wildfire in northern Michigan that forced residents to evacuate is about 80% contained as of Monday night. According to the Oscoda County Sheriff’s Office, residents are safe to return home; however, non-residents are asked to avoid the area.  The sheriff’s office evacuated residents on Camp 10 Road, and a shelter was set up at the Tri-Point Church in Mio. “We thank everyone for their cooperation and patience during this incident. Emergency personnel will remain on scene and will continue operations until the fire is fully controlled,” the sheriff’s office said.

Source: Wildfire in northern Michigan 80% contained, sheriff’s office says – CBS Detroit

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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Michigan Dem Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow purges X account following The Post’s report on her social media history

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Woman with red hair wearing a red blazer looking surprised with mouth open and hands raised

Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow, a candidate for US Senate, deleted thousands of tweets, some of which defended “coastal elites” and were critical of “Middle America,” after The Post first reported on them last year.  Morrow, 39, purged her X account of roughly 6,000 posts, including all her tweets posted prior to 2020, CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski reported Wednesday.  The journalist noted the social media cleanse came after The Post’s April 2025 scoop on McMorrow’s tweet history. 

Source: Michigan Dem Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow purges X account following The Post’s report on her social media history

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
Psalm 68:4-5

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Man accused of running meth lab at Michigan State University’s Wells Hall

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close up photo of chemicals in beakers

A man was arrested for allegedly running a meth lab inside Wells Hall at Michigan State University, police say. Court records show that 31-year-old Xin Tong was charged with malicious destruction of a building over $20,000 and operating/maintaining a lab involving methamphetamine. Tong was arraigned on Wednesday and received a $500,000 cash/surety bond. Officials say Wells Hall will be closed through Friday, May 1. The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety says it received a report of property damage inside the building last week and determined the damage was caused by “alleged criminal activity.”

Police say Tong allegedly had multiple substances — including sodium hydroxide pellets, hydrochloric acid, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and butane. Tong was arrested and taken to the Ingham County Jail. It is unclear if Tong is a student or a staff member. The university says the building is undergoing further evaluation “to ensure a smooth return to normal operations.” Officials say there is no threat to the campus.

Source: Man accused of running meth lab at Michigan State University’s Wells Hall – CBS Detroit

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12

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5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

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head of bald eagle

Five bald eagles were found dead in Michigan in a two-week span — sparking concern as environmental officials ruled they did not die from natural causes. All of the federally protected birds were discovered in the same area of the Upper Peninsula’s Garden Peninsula between April 3 and April 17, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Officials later determined that the bald eagles “did not die from natural causes, predators, or vehicle collisions.”

Source: 5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40

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Late-season cold snap headed for Southeast Michigan to close out the week

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hoarfrost and spiderweb on leaves

Just as local gardeners were getting into the swing of spring, Mother Nature is ready to deliver a cold reminder that the growing season isn’t quite ready yet. After a relatively mild start to the week, a late-season cold snap is headed for Southeast Michigan, bringing the threat of frost and overnight sub-freezing temperatures that could put sensitive early-season plants at risk. The most chill is expected to arrive in two waves later this week and into the early weekend. Thursday night and Friday morning are currently looking like the coldest period for the region. Inland areas, including Ann Arbor, Pontiac, and Howell, could see temperatures dip into the low 30s or even upper 20s.

Friday night and Saturday morning, while slightly less intense, clear skies and light winds will create the perfect conditions for widespread frost formation across the metro area. Lows will likely hover in the mid-30s, which is enough to damage “tender” vegetation. This round of cool air will happen as a cold front sliding through the Great Lakes mid-week will usher in a much drier and colder air mass from the north. While daytime highs will be in the 50s on Friday, the real concern is at night. Without cloud cover to act as a blanket, the heat from the day will escape rapidly. For those who have already started their outdoor containers or planted early vegetables, now is the time to have a plan.

Source: Late-season cold snap headed for Southeast Michigan to close out the week – CBS Detroit

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
Proverbs 19:8

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Lyme disease cases in Michigan rise 168% over 5 years, health officials report

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a tick on a person s skin

Lyme disease cases have increased by 168% in the past five years, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Annette Jackson of Hazel Park said she spent years searching for answers about her health. Jackson described repeated hospital visits where doctors could not identify the cause of her symptoms. “I went to the hospital, and the hospital was like, ‘Well, this is not a cold and this is not the flu. We don’t know what you have, but you have something. Your white blood cells are off the charts.’

And they said, ‘There’s nothing we could do for you,’ and they sent me home,” Jackson said. Jackson said she first noticed a bite after playing at the park with her family, but doctors were unable to diagnose her condition at the time. “Life was just debilitating after that, trying to find someone to help me,” she said. After years of symptoms, Jackson said her doctor eventually diagnosed her with Lyme disease. “Honestly, Lyme disease mimics a lot of diseases, a lot of symptoms. So it’s very hard for doctors to pinpoint,” Jackson said. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports that tick populations are increasing. CBS News Detroit learned that warmer spring months allow ticks more time to mature and bite. State data shows that in 2020, there were 471 new cases of Lyme disease. By 2025, that number had risen to 2,167.

Source: Lyme disease cases in Michigan rise 168% over 5 years, health officials report – CBS Detroit

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31

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2-year-old boy missing in Temperance found in vacant apartment, sheriff says

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Breaking news screen showing missing 2-year-old found with photo of toddler

A 2-year-old boy who went missing Tuesday in Temperance, Michigan, was found by himself inside a vacant apartment, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported.  The child was reported missing about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Redwood Apartment Complex in the 7400 block of Redwood Boulevard in Bedford Township. This location is along West Sterns Road, west of Lewis Avenue, near the Ohio-Michigan state line.  Law enforcement and first responders began a door-to-door search of the area, the sheriff’s office said.

The search party included the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Bedford Township Fire Department, Michigan State Police and Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.  Shortly before 11 a.m., deputies found the missing child inside a nearby vacant apartment, the sheriff’s office said.  “The child was healthy, in good spirits and turned over to his parents,” the department said. “Sheriff Goodnough would like to thank all the assisting agencies and the citizens for their quick response and assistance in helping with the recovery of the missing child.” 

Source: 2-year-old boy missing in Temperance found in vacant apartment, sheriff says – CBS Detroit

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

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Ninth tornado confirmed in Michigan from midweek severe weather outbreak

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rain clouds over rural field

The National Weather Service has confirmed a ninth tornado out of the severe weather outbreak that hit Michigan late Tuesday night into early Wednesday.  The newest tornado added to the list happened early Wednesday in Branch County, near Coldwater, according to CBS News Detroit chief meteorologist Ahmad Bajjey. The National Weather Service bureau in Northern Indiana, whose coverage area includes part of Southwest Michigan, made that report Thursday.  The intensity of the Branch County tornado is still under review. 

The list from the NWS bureaus whose territories include Michigan counties is now as follows: 

  • EF-0 in Southeast Allegan County.  
  • EF-1 in Southeast Allegan County.  
  • EF-1 in Montcalm County that ended in Gratiot County.  
  • EF-1 in Saginaw County. 
  • EF-0 in Saginaw County. 
  • EF-0 in Shiawassee County. 
  • TBD in Branch County. 
  • EF-1 in Washtenaw County. 
  • EF-1 in Wayne County. 

The one in Branch County occurred about an hour before the storms reached Metro Detroit, Bajjey said.  This now brings the total number of tornadoes during 2026 in Michigan to 14. There were three tornadoes in Southwest Michigan on March 6 and another in Wayne County on April 4.   

Source: Ninth tornado confirmed in Michigan from midweek severe weather outbreak – CBS Detroit

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17

Gun-toting thug caught on video kidnapping teen girl from Michigan school bus stop

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close up of a yellow school bus with stop sign

Disturbing surveillance video captured the horrifying moment a gun-toting thug snatched a 16-year-old girl from a Michigan street corner and forced her in his car in a brazen kidnapping. Footage obtained by TMZ shows the masked monster walk up to the teen in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck around 7 a.m. Monday and drag her across the street and into his car while the girl tries to get away to no avail – while her friend runs for her life. The frightened friend ran to a bystander for help, with the stranger calling 911, the outlet said.

Source: Gun-toting thug caught on video kidnapping teen girl from Michigan school bus stop

For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Acts 17:28

Michigan Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency for 32 counties following storms

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dramatic thunderstorm with lightning strike

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for 32 counties after overnight Tuesday storms caused significant damage and resulted in tornadoes. The counties under the state of emergency are Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Barry, Benzie, Charlevoix, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Menominee, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Osceola, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Wexford. 

“Significant snowmelt, record rain, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes have damaged homes, roads, and businesses. This emergency declaration will help the state deploy additional resources to help local officials and first responders protect Michiganders and their property,” Whitmer said in a statement. “The state will continue to coordinate with local governments and monitor the situation. I encourage everyone to stay updated and follow guidance from your local emergency manager. We will get through this together.”    This is the second state of emergency that Whitmer has declared in the last week. On April 10, the governor declared a state of emergency in Cheboygan County due to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex. Additionally, Whitmer expanded the State Emergency Operations Center for statewide weather-related matters. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in Michigan. The EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes were located in Allegan, Montcalm and Saginaw counties, which are under the latest state of emergency.

Source: Michigan Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency for 32 counties following storms – CBS Detroit

Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day.
Psalm 71:8