Google Data Center Clears Local Hurdle

The Van Buren Township Planning Commission voted 5-1 Wednesday to approve the final site plan for Google’s data center near Detroit Metro Airport, clearing the last local hurdle for Michigan’s second hyperscale facility.

Dubbed Project Cannoli, the 1-gigawatt campus is expected to start drawing power by late 2027 under a 20-year DTE Energy contract that state regulators approved Oct. 1. The project will receive substantial tax breaks, while Google will pay the township $15.4 million for infrastructure projects and guarantee at least 51 full-time jobs.

Several commissioners praised Google’s pledges to limit noise, but neighbors said construction has shaken their homes and sent dust into their neighborhoods since August. Opponents have also launched a recall effort targeting the entire township board.

Opposition is also mounting statewide, with protesters gathering at the Capitol Wednesday demanding tighter oversight as Lansing lawmakers weigh bills that would tighten regulations or repeal the industry’s tax breaks.

Outbreak’s Toll on Michigan Growers

Michigan State University researchers say this summer’s cyclosporiasis outbreak, which sickened more than 14,000 Michiganders before health officials declared it over in September, dealt a significant financial blow to the state’s produce growers.

As consumers pulled back from fresh produce, demand and prices slid well beyond the iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak, with raspberry sales alone falling nearly 30% in the first two weeks. MSU economist David Ortega said growers in the nation’s second-most agriculturally diverse state took the hit, though some shoppers shifted to farmers markets in a lift for local sellers.

A multistate outbreak was linked to recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and Michigan was the hardest-hit state in an outbreak that reached 15 states.

MSU researchers are now looking at ways to prevent future outbreaks, including earlier detection and improved coordination with health officials.

Wolverines Visit No. 1 Denver

The second-ranked Michigan men’s hockey team opens a top-two showdown at No. 1 Denver tonight, six months after the Pioneers ended the Wolverines’ season in double overtime at the Frozen Four.

Denver will raise its national championship banner before Friday’s game, with the Wolverines it beat in that semifinal looking on. The 4-3 loss in Las Vegas, the longest game in Denver history, ended a 31-8-1 season for top-seeded Michigan.

Michigan sits just 25 points behind Denver in this week’s national poll with 14 first-place votes. The 4-0 Wolverines lead the nation in scoring, averaging seven goals per game, and Jayden Perron’s 13 points is the top in the country.

This series is the programs’ first regular-season meeting since 1981 and Michigan’s first visit to Magness Arena. Both games will stream on NCHC.tv.

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➤ Detroit: Republican John James and Democrat Jocelyn Benson sparred over taxes, gas prices, and education in Thursday’s gubernatorial debate. Both supported restrictions on new data centers. (More)

➤ Ann Arbor: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has sued a University of Michigan tailgate group founder, alleging he sold concert tickets and memorabilia that customers never received. The lawsuit seeks damages, fines, and a ban on future sales. (More)

➤ Statewide: Michigan election officials say there’s room to improve the state’s petition signature-review process, which relies on random sampling and has drawn repeated disputes over whether ballot drives qualify. (More)

➤ Washtenaw County: A former inmate has filed a federal lawsuit alleging Michigan corrections officers recorded her with body cameras while she gave birth in 2025. The department changed its policy weeks later but has not commented on the lawsuit. (See Details)

➤ Grand Blanc Township: A new do-not-knock registry allowing residents to opt out of door-to-door sales pitches drew at least 200 sign-ups in two days, temporarily overwhelming the township’s online registration system. (See Details)

➤ Monroe: A father has sued Monroe Public Schools over a 2025 volleyball game against a team with a transgender athlete. The district said it hasn’t been served, while the Michigan High School Athletic Association disputes the claims. (See Details)

➤ Genesee County: A North Branch couple dubbed a “modern-day Bonnie and Clyde” faces felony charges in connection with four armed robberies across two counties. Investigators say the robberies occurred within about 12 hours. (More)

➤ Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs earned his fourth NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring his 58th career touchdown, surpassing Barry Sanders for the most NFL touchdowns before age 25. (More)

➤ Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler and utility player Zach McKinstry were named Gold Glove finalists for their defensive performances this season. (More)

➤ Dan Foster, a Detroit Lions fan in Fenton, is selling nearly all of the memorabilia he collected over 36 years after the death of the friend who introduced him to the team. (More)

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

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➤ Federal regulators approved Holtec’s plan to remove a damaged fuel assembly from Michigan’s Palisades nuclear plant, clearing a hurdle toward its restart. Critics raised safety concerns about the removal procedure and expedited approval. (See Details)

➤ Detroit ranks 11th among the 100 largest U.S. metros for money left after living costs, a new SmartAsset study found, with a typical single adult having about $21,749 left annually. Grand Rapids ranks 61st. (See Report)

➤ Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 45 states and territories seeking court approval of settlements with generic drugmakers Ascend, Citron, and Mayne over allegations of prescription drug price-fixing. (More)

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➤ Thousands of shipwrecks lie beneath the Great Lakes, including about 850 in Michigan waters. As America marks 250 years, a Michigan news series highlights efforts to preserve these historic wrecks, some accessible by diving or glass-bottom boat tours. (Read Story)

➤ Dutch Winterfest returns to Holland this December for its second year, celebrating the city’s Dutch heritage. Festivities include traditional Dutch ice skating, holiday tours, food and drink tastings, and festive downtown decorations. (More)

➤ Snowplow drivers from across West Michigan put their skills to the test Wednesday at the annual Snowplow Roadeo in Walker. The event combines training and a driving competition, with winners advancing to a national contest in Colorado. (See Photos)

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➤ France has begun deploying military assets to protect Saudi oil facilities as Houthi attacks escalate around a vital Red Sea export route. (Full Story)

➤ Amazon has launched two always-listening AI devices that turn conversations into to-dos, reviving privacy questions around the tech giant. (See Product)

➤ One common instinct makes stubborn knots in necklaces, cords, and holiday lights even worse. (Hear Story)

A Fenton superfan is selling 36 years of Lions memorabilia. What would you do with a collection like that?

1. Keep it forever, it’s priceless
2. Sell for the right price
3. Pass it down to family
4. Too much stuff for me
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you believe in ghosts?

1. Hard skeptic: 42%
2. On the fence: 32%
3. Firm believer: 18%
4. Other: 8%

On Nov. 10, 1975, a Lake Superior gale sank an iron-ore freighter about 17 miles off Whitefish Point, Michigan, taking all 29 crew members with her. Can you name the ship?

Show me the answer