News

Some Michigan hospitals are experiencing a critical shortage of blood. Blood banks say supply is typically low in the summer because high school students, who make up a bulk of donations, are on break. But this year is especially bad. 

Spectrum Health, which has hospitals in west Michigan, says its reserve is down 84%. Statewide blood banks are now issuing an emergency call for people to give blood.

Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier accused of sex crimes against many young women, visited and donated to Interlochen Center for the Arts. He was a student camper at Interlochen in the late ‘60s.  

A spokesperson for ICA says Epstein made contributions to the school and sponsored the building of a visitors cabin on campus.

Epstein stayed at that lodge for a week in August, 2000. But the school says there are no accusations against Epstein from current or former students. 

Prosecutors want to delay the trial of State Rep. Larry Inman (R-Williamsburg) by 30 days in order to prepare for his defense.

The State of Michigan Court of Appeals says Traverse City Circuit Court Judge Thomas Power showed “extreme bias.”

Last year Power sentenced Samantha Lynn Hughes to 13 to 24 months in prison for methamphetamine use. Hughes was pregnant at the time, and the sentence would have kept her in prison for the birth of her child.

“Thinking about [Hughes] versus the unborn child I think I know whose side I’m on,” Power said.

In their decision, the Court of Appeals said that sentence was unfair.

Grand Traverse County health officials say there has been a confirmed case of measles in the county.

A resolution was announced Tuesday in litigation over the alleged discriminatory housing practices of a Northern Michigan summer community. 

The National Park Service is improving access for disabled visitors to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Parks Service recently added a ramp at the Platte River boat launch and an all-terrain wheelchair that goes on trails. They also have beach wheelchairs available.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Park Ranger Merrith Baughman says the parks should be available to everyone.

"Here’s some way that people who would otherwise have trouble getting on the beach can access beautiful parts of the park," she says.

Record rainfall this year has hit northern Michigan crops hard, and now farmers Up North are getting some help from the federal and state governments.

Fruit growers in northern Michigan are battling crop diseases this summer caused by heavy rain and humidity.

You’ve likely been seeing fireworks in the sky celebrating Fourth of July early, but because of a new law you might not see them throughout the weekend depending on where you live.

Michigan lawmakers visited Illinois on Monday to learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to stop Asian Carp from reaching Lake Michigan.

Green Lake Township currently relies on other deputies from across Grand Traverse County, but now the county will assign an officer to the township.

Interlochen Center for the Arts, Green Lake Township and Grand Traverse County will split the bill. Overall, the officer will cost about $130,000, which includes training and equipment costs.

Vice President of Finance and Operations at ICA Pat Kessel says an officer nearby will make campus safer.

Boyne City plans to make it illegal to jump into the river from a stretch of boardwalk and other locations.

Mayor Tom Neidhamer says police noticed large roots and other dangerous material near an area where local kids like to jump 20-30 feet into the water.

"We don't to stop people from having fun," he says. "That's what living in Northern Michigan is all about. But there's a safety issue."

He says swimming and floating on the river will still be allowed.

City commissioners expect to vote on the ordinance at the next meeting on July 9.