Power Nearly Back after Week of Tornadoes

Thursday’s Detroit tornado was an EF-2 with 115 mph winds, the National Weather Service said Friday. It carved a 3.5-mile path from the east side across Belle Isle and into Windsor, Ontario. A weaker EF-0 touched down in Lincoln Park two minutes earlier, and a third twister hit Marysville Wednesday night.

DTE says roughly 450,000 customers lost power at some point since Wednesday. About 92,000 were still out Saturday afternoon, and the utility expects the rest back by tonight.

DTE senior vice president Brian Calka called it the worst weather damage of his career. Near Meldrum and Benson streets, the EF-2 ripped apart homes and industrial buildings but left New Liberty Baptist Church with nothing worse than an outage.

Mayor Mary Sheffield declared a local state of emergency Friday. Volunteers began clearing debris on Belle Isle that afternoon, and DTE is asking residents to hold off on their own cleanup until crews check for downed lines.

Whitmer Call Revives Carp Barrier

The Trump administration has lifted a stop-work order on a billion-dollar barrier to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan, hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer phoned President Trump Wednesday to ask him to intervene.

The Army Corps of Engineers had halted the Brandon Road Interbasin Project near Joliet, Illinois, in July without explanation. Whitmer’s office said she stressed that carp were recently found 80 miles from Lake Michigan, farther up the Illinois River than ever recorded.

It’s the second time this year Whitmer has intervened. In March she pressed Trump to release funding, and the Corps did so a month later before pausing the project again.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sent Trump a letter the same day demanding the halt end, but said his office received no notice of the change. The White House referred questions to the Army Corps, which didn’t respond.

MSU Win Comes with Viral Mishaps

Michigan State’s 30-20 season-opening win over Toledo Friday has found a second audience online, and it has little to do with the final score.

Offensive lineman Robert Wright Jr. became ill mid-play as the ball was snapped on a two-point conversion attempt. The play went off without a hitch, and the Spartans converted.

Earlier, running back Cam Edwards had his pants pulled down during a tackle. He recovered quickly and finished with 27 carries for 98 yards, the workhorse of the Spartans’ offense.

Both moments spread quickly on social media, adding an unusual footnote to Pat Fitzgerald’s first win in East Lansing. The Spartans host Eastern Michigan next Saturday.

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➤ Statewide: Jocelyn Benson holds $5.9 million in cash for the governor’s race to John James’ $1.5 million, though a super PAC backing James had already spent $4.7 million by July. (See Details)

➤ Also Statewide: FEMA is sending Michigan more than $7 million, including $4.9 million for Oakland County storm-water upgrades and $2.7 million to clear debris from a 2025 northern Michigan winter storm. (See Details)

➤ Grand Rapids: WOOD TV8 will host the first U.S. Senate debate between Abdul El-Sayed, D, and Mike Rogers, R, on Oct. 8. A second debate follows Oct. 21 in Detroit. (More)

➤ Flint: The city breaks ground Sept. 10 on a regional police and fire training center at East Stewart and Industrial avenues. Flint’s fire department has grown from 68 to 92 firefighters. (More)

➤ Benton Harbor: State police say an Aug. 21 traffic stop on Pearl Street turned up drugs, counterfeit debit and credit cards, and a card-stamping machine. The 25-year-old driver faces multiple felonies. (More)

➤ Ann Arbor: Teachers ratified a new contract with Ann Arbor Public Schools after a months-long stalemate. The deal runs through 2027; the school board is expected to vote on Wednesday. (More)

➤ No. 16 Michigan stunned Western Michigan with a game-winning Hail Mary after one second was restored to the clock, denying the Broncos what appeared to be a historic upset. (Watch Play)

➤ Detroit King erased a 10-point deficit to beat Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 44-42 in triple overtime after shifting Illinois commit Darryl Flemister back to quarterback. (More)

➤ Michigan men’s basketball finalized a nonconference schedule featuring a national championship rematch with UConn, a matchup with Louisville in Detroit, games against Marquette and Villanova, and the Players Era tournament. (See Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | Tennis

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Top Doctor: “Oats are one of the best ways to fatten us up”

➤ An Ypsilanti man spent five years building Courier Mates, an app where gig delivery drivers log parking, stairs, safety concerns, and tipping habits. (Read Story)

➤ Hundreds of mountain bikers raced the Copper Harbor Trails Fest this weekend in the Keweenaw, and a couple of the youngest competitors have advice for beginners: don’t be scared. (More)

➤ Jim Plant helped rescue the SS Milwaukee Clipper from the scrapyard nearly 30 years ago. Wednesday, he celebrated his 95th birthday aboard the historic Muskegon steamship. (More) 

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ The jobs of tomorrow may involve caring for people or powering machines. (Hear More)

➤ The NFL’s nicest and nastiest fan bases are finally revealed. (Listen Now)

➤  America’s tastiest small town is just a train ride from two major cities. (Podcast Available)

How are you spending Labor Day tomorrow?

1. Heading to the lake
2. Backyard cookout
3. Relaxing at home
4. Working
5. Storm cleanup, unfortunately

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you watching college football this weekend?

1. Not a football fan: 34%
2. Just Michigan or MI State: 32%
3. Every game I can: 23%
4. Only if I’m at a party: 11%

Motown’s first million-selling record, Shop Around, was cut in 1960 by a Detroit group led by Smokey Robinson. What was the group called?

Show me the answer