Michigan’s Early Ballots Surge Ahead of Nov. 3

With a month to go, Michiganders have already returned more than 200,000 absentee ballots, up roughly 30% from the same point in the 2022 midterms, with over 2 million requested statewide.

As ballots flow in, Attorney General Dana Nessel says Michigan is prepared for the Nov. 3 general election and that the state’s voting system remains secure.

Nessel said her office and the Michigan State Police are ready to respond to problems at polling places, while she has raised concerns about the federal government’s role at the polls and about misinformation.

The Department of Homeland Security has said it is not planning operations targeting polling locations, though federal agents could respond to a specific threat or serve a warrant at a polling site.

Eight Michigan Colleges on Financial Watch List

Eight Michigan colleges have spent at least two years on the US Department of Education’s Heightened Cash Monitoring list, a warning sign of potential financial or compliance problems. Experts say landing on it doesn’t mean closure, but listed colleges are likelier to close.

The list names Albion College, Cooley Law School, and six others, from a Detroit seminary to a Mount Pleasant beauty college. Schools on the federal monitoring list face tighter cash-flow oversight and extra reporting.

Several schools offered context for the scrutiny. Cooley says it is back in compliance and was required to park $2 million with the government, while Albion says it never missed a payment despite its income-to-debt ratio falling outside the terms of its agreement with its bond issuer.

Siena Heights University in Adrian closed this year, part of a wave that also claimed Finlandia and Marygrove and forced deep cuts at Concordia’s Ann Arbor campus. Officials blame declining enrollment and Michigan’s shrinking pool of 18-year-olds.

Peters Pushes Federal AI Transparency

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan has introduced a bipartisan bill that would require federal agencies to tell people when artificial intelligence is making decisions about them.

The Transparent Automated Governance Act would direct agencies to flag when someone is dealing with certain automated systems, and to set up a process for a human to review AI-assisted decisions that go against them.

Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said taxpayers deserve to know when AI is involved and to be able to seek human review of those decisions.

Peters introduced the measure in 2023, when it cleared his committee and moved to the full Senate for consideration.

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➤ Lansing: A new program will offer qualifying Michigan State alumni $5,000 toward a home down payment in Ingham, Clinton, or Eaton counties, aiming to attract young professionals back to the region. (See Details)

➤ Grand Rapids: The trial of Casey Harmon, 21, began Tuesday in the 2023 killings of Anayia Rodriguez and Malik Eubanks, who prosecutors say were shot in front of their 2-year-old son. Harmon’s attorney says prosecutors charged the wrong man. (More)

➤ Mid-Michigan: A bow hunter was hospitalized after being struck in the chest by an errant round from someone target shooting nearby, prompting safety concerns just days into Michigan’s bow hunting season. (More)

➤ Kalamazoo: The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after three inmates were left unattended in a jail transport van for 13 minutes, the second such incident since May 2025, when seven inmates were left in a van for nearly two hours. (See Details)

➤ Galesburg: The city is investigating golf ball-size dents and paint damage to its multimillion-dollar water tower, with officials warning repairs could cost taxpayers thousands. (See Details)

➤ The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals docketed an appeal from former Michigan football players, keeping their $50 million name, image, and likeness lawsuit against the NCAA, Big Ten, and Big Ten Network alive. (More)

➤ Dylan Larkin said he’s “trying to be a man and face it” after boos and cheers greeted his season debut for the Detroit Red Wings, adding that rebuilding trust after his trade request “usually takes time.” (More)

➤ Michigan tight end Zack Marshall apologized, saying he “pointed fingers instead of taking accountability,” after a leaked group text showed messages attributed to him criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck, whose unit ranks 105th nationally in scoring. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | WNBA | NHL | Soccer | NBA

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➤ Waymo has begun fully driverless testing in downtown Detroit ahead of a public launch, which would make Detroit its 11th city. (See Details)

➤ Cambium Analytica opened a $5 million, 15,000-square-foot laboratory in Traverse City, with plans to add 50 to 70 jobs and eventually process more than 60,000 tests per month. (More)

➤ Flint Farmers’ Market will enclose part of its outdoor pavilion to add a year-round Spartan Dairy Store and a new restaurant, both expected to open in June 2027. (More)

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➤ Stink bugs are seeking shelter in Michigan homes as shorter fall days send them looking for warmth. Michigan State University experts recommend sealing gaps and removing the bugs without squishing them to avoid the smell. (More)

➤ Fennville’s Goose Festival returns Friday through Sunday with a parade, 5K, live music, food trucks, a car show, and other activities. The 42-year-old Michigan tradition celebrates community and the area’s connection to migrating geese. (See Details)

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➤ One of the most popular glucose monitors failed an accuracy test against the gold standard. (Hear Which One)

➤ A new report breaks down which states Gen Z adults are leaving and where they’re landing instead. (Hear Details)

➤ Spain is mourning the 87-year-old woman whose eviction ignited nationwide protests and pushed the country toward early elections. (Listen Now)

Waymo’s driverless cars are now cruising downtown Detroit. Would you ride in one with nobody at the wheel?

1. Sign me up
2. Only if I had to
3. Hard pass
4. I’ll wait and see

Yesterday’s Results:

Who’s the greatest Michigan music act of all time?

1. Bob Seger: 43%
2. Aretha Franklin: 18%
3. The Temptations: 17%
4. Stevie Wonder: 15%
5. Other: 6%
6. Eminem: 1%

Michigan State University was founded in 1855 as the first college in the country dedicated to teaching which subject?

Show me the answer