Michigan Spill Triggers Federal Pipeline Probe

Federal regulators are investigating the safety of roughly 20,000 miles of Energy Transfer’s hazardous liquid pipelines nationwide following a September crude oil spill in suburban Detroit, according to a report published Friday.

The 600-gallon leak was discovered Sept. 18 after a member of the public spotted oil seeping into a storm drain in Sterling Heights and alerted the fire department. It came from Energy Transfer’s 59-year-old crude line between Marysville, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio.

In a Sept. 21 corrective-action order, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said the leak originated at a failed steel repair sleeve that Energy Transfer reported installing in 2010 and cited a “system-wide risk of additional similar failures.” It gave the company 90 days to inventory all steel repair sleeves across its hazardous liquid pipeline network.

State environmental officials said crews removed oil from storm drains and hauled away contaminated soil. Energy Transfer, which acquired the line in its 2012 purchase of Sunoco, declined to answer questions about the incident and has requested a hearing.

U.P. Wildfires Burn Amid Drought

Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources is battling two wildfires in the drought-stricken Upper Peninsula: the Ridge Fire, which prompted evacuations in Marquette County, and the Craig Lake Fire.

The Ridge Fire had burned about 256 acres by Sunday in rugged terrain 10 miles northwest of Marquette, between County Road 510 and North Basin Drive. Three homes were evacuated, with a shelter set up at Negaunee Township Hall, but the County Road 510 evacuation order was lifted Monday as cooler temperatures and higher humidity slowed the fire.

Farther west, the Craig Lake Fire has grown to about 400 acres and is 25% contained in a remote area north of Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County, where difficult terrain has complicated firefighting efforts.

About 40 firefighters are assigned to the Ridge Fire and 12 to the Craig Lake Fire, with Michigan State Police and water-scooping aircraft from Minnesota assisting at the Ridge Fire. Both fires were reported by Oct. 9, and their causes remain under investigation, although officials suspect lightning sparked the Craig Lake Fire.

MSU Track Legend Jim Bibbs Dies at 97

Jim Bibbs, the trailblazing Michigan State track and field coach who became the first black head coach in school history, died Saturday at 97.

Named the Spartans’ head men’s coach in 1977, Bibbs was also the first black head track and field coach in the Big Ten. Across a Michigan State tenure that ran from 1968 to 1995, his athletes won 52 Big Ten titles and three NCAA championships and set two world records.

A standout sprinter at Eastern Michigan, Bibbs once matched a world record in the 60-yard dash with a time of 6.1 seconds. He later built the Spartans into a sprint power, coaching world-record setters Marshall Dill and Herb Washington.

Bibbs retired in 1995 and later served as Michigan State’s 2022 Homecoming grand marshal. A member of six halls of fame, he also mentored female sprinters, including 1984 Olympic silver medalist Judi Brown Clarke.

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➤ Statewide: Some younger Michigan voters are turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to research candidates ahead of the midterms, a habit that has prompted experts to caution users to verify what the chatbots tell them. (Read Story)

➤ Clinton County: St. Johns and Bingham Township have approved plans to create a joint water authority. The move builds on a 2025 agreement to extend water infrastructure along M-21, with officials saying the partnership will help both communities plan for future growth. (See Details)

➤ Monroe County: Vice President JD Vance will hold a Republican campaign rally Thursday at the LevelUp Training Complex in Monroe ahead of November’s midterm elections. Doors open at 10 a.m., with the rally starting at noon. (More)

➤ Lansing: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered flags at the State Capitol Complex lowered to half-staff Tuesday in honor of former state Sen. John Pappageorge, who died in June at 94. The Troy-area Republican served 14 years in the Legislature and retired as an Army colonel. Flags return to full-staff Wednesday. (See Details)

➤ Oakland County: Madison Heights is disconnecting its three license plate readers and won’t renew its Flock Safety contract, citing concerns over accountability, privacy, and operational integrity. The city-run cameras have been inactive since Sept. 23. (More)

➤ Newaygo County: Multiple agencies responded to a fire at the Newaygo County Sportsman Club on Sunday afternoon. Crews were dispatched around 5:15 p.m., and the scene was cleared by 11 p.m. The cause remains under investigation. (More)

➤ Michigan State hockey, ranked No. 3, finished a weekend sweep of Northern Michigan with a 5-1 win at East Lansing’s Munn Ice Arena, with five different Spartans scoring. (More)

➤ Detroit Lions radio announcer Dan Miller’s wife, Cynthia “Cindy” Miller, died Saturday after battling leptomeningeal disease. Miller missed Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals to be with his family. (More)

➤ Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham is sticking with quarterback Bryce Underwood and play-caller Jason Beck despite two straight Big Ten losses and an offense ranked near the bottom of the conference. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NHL | NBA | Tennis

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➤ Grand Rapids Taco Week runs through Sunday, with restaurants across the area serving $3 tacos to diners who check in through the event’s app. (See List)

➤ Pareto Mobility has begun building what it calls North America’s first fully flat-floor commercial bus at a former manufacturing facility in Plymouth Township, creating jobs for workers including recent graduates. (More)

➤ Wausau Supply Co., a Wisconsin-based building materials supplier, plans to build a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in West Branch, a $41 million-plus expansion expected to add 92 jobs to its existing operation. (More)

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➤ Dozens of girls from across Michigan competed in Woodhaven High School’s girls-only Goonettes robotics invitational, a launching pad for young women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (Read Story)

➤ More than 80 artists showcased unusual handmade creations Sunday at Kalamazoo’s first West Michigan Oddfest, featuring a costume contest and raffle benefiting people experiencing homelessness. (Read Story)

➤ Fall is in full swing across West Michigan, where orchards like Robinette’s are drawing families with cider, donuts, corn mazes, and hayrides, though apple-picking season may be winding down early. (Read Story)

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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. 

➤ Your credit card likely comes with perks worth real money, and most cardholders don’t even know they have them. (See Perks)

➤ Federal regulators have recalled more than 82,000 rechargeable hand warmers that can overheat and catch fire. (Hear Details)

➤ More workers are ditching the 9-to-5 to follow their body clocks, and the “chronoworking” trend is dividing offices. (Listen Now)

What’s your go-to taco order?

1. Carne asada (steak)
2. Chicken
3. Al pastor (pork)
4. Veggie
5. Give me one of each!
6. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Which pest bugs you the most?

1. Mosquitoes: 45%
2. Ticks: 15%
3. Stink bugs: 14%
4. Wasps: 12%
5. Spiders: 10%
6. Other: 4%

Fresh cider and apple cider donuts are a Michigan fall staple. Among all U.S. states, where does Michigan rank for apple production?

Show me the answer