Nessel Sues Blue Cross over Monopoly

Attorney General Dana Nessel sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in federal court Thursday, accusing the state’s largest health insurer of running an illegal monopoly.

The suit says the company controls 65% of Michigan’s health insurance products and 79% of the PPO market, among the least competitive markets in the nation. Nessel alleges that came from deals with other Blue Cross plans to divide up territories.

Nessel said Michigan now has the lowest provider reimbursement rates in the Midwest.

Blue Cross said it was “blindsided” and fundamentally disagrees that Michigan’s insurance market lacks competition. The state is seeking damages and an end to the alleged monopoly.

ACLU Warns Township over Late Ballots

The ACLU of Michigan threatened possible legal action against Cheboygan County’s Tuscarora Township, which didn’t mail absentee ballots until Oct. 5, well past the state’s Sept. 24 deadline.

The group demanded that a deputy clerk correct what it called “unconstitutional” misinformation she posted online about how absentee voting works.

By Friday, Deputy Clerk Dawn Webb had posted a letter on the township’s website acknowledging she misunderstood election law and apologizing for the delays.

State law requires absentee ballots to go out 40 days before the election, which this year was Sept. 24. Clerks elsewhere have blamed printer delays and the tight turnaround after the August primary.

99-Year-Old Lives Out NASCAR Dream

A 99-year-old Canton woman who has watched NASCAR for nearly 70 years took a ride-along at Michigan International Speedway as she nears her 100th birthday.

Shirley Hipple suited up Sept. 18 for an official ride-along and pit tour through the Adventure program at Waltonwood Carriage Park, her senior living community.

She fell for racing in the 1950s, taking her young children to dirt tracks at Groesbeck and Eight Mile in Detroit. Her room is a racing shrine, and she wears a Jimmie Johnson jacket.

She also met drivers up close on pit row. “At Waltonwood, we believe that passions don’t fade with age,” said Sara Bailey, a Waltonwood executive.

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➤ Statewide: Proposed bills would double the maximum fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus to $1,000 and require drivers to stop 50 feet back instead of 20. (More)

➤ Southeast Michigan: Remnants of Hurricane Isaias are expected to bring rain to metro Detroit Sunday morning and early afternoon. (See Forecast)

➤ Marquette County: Crews responded to a wildfire near Craig Lake as the DNR urged U.P. residents to avoid burning this weekend, with gusts up to 40 mph expected Saturday. (Stay Safe)

➤ Harrison Township: Three people died after their boat capsized on Lake St. Clair near MacRay Harbor Wednesday night. A fourth passenger survived by swimming to shore and alerting authorities. (See Details)

➤ Fruitport Township: A police officer and bystanders helped pull a 31-year-old Muskegon Township woman from a burning car. She’s recovering in the hospital. (Read Story)

➤ Grand Rapids: The Michigan Supreme Court heard the case of a former Calvin University professor who says he lost his job for officiating a same-sex wedding. Calvin argues the law doesn’t apply. (See Details)

➤ Four Michigan schools kick off at 3:30 p.m. today: Michigan State hosts Illinois, Western Michigan welcomes Kent State, Eastern Michigan visits Akron, and Central Michigan travels to Ohio. (See Schedule)

➤ Grand Valley State, Division II’s No. 5 team and highest-scoring offense at 55.8 points per game, carries a 10-game series win streak into its trip to No. 19 Michigan Tech. (See Preview)

➤ Cosmic Baseball is bringing its glow-in-the-dark baseball games, with a live DJ and UV-reactive gear, to Grand Rapids’ LMCU Ballpark in 2027 after selling out 74 games this year. (See Tour)

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

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren’t gimmicks or dust collectors, they’re practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you’re organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what’s genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won’t last.

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➤ Three capybara pups are the newest arrivals at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park, which has hinted they could join its off-season animal encounters. (Meet the Pups)

➤ Frankfort’s Fall Festival runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today downtown with a craft fair, parade, pumpkin decorating, beer tent, live music, and a giant pumpkin drop. (Plan Your Day)

➤ Marquette Symphony Orchestra celebrates 30 years with its Everything Beautiful opening concert at 7:30 p.m. today in Kaufman Auditorium on Northern Michigan University’s campus. (Get Tickets)

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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 IRS is mailing notices about $1,000 in free retirement money, but strict cutoffs apply. (Listen Now)

➤ This year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to a South African jurist, drawing swift condemnation from Israel. (Hear Details)

➤ Severe turbulence forced a Colombia-to-New York flight to divert to Miami, sending at least eight people to the hospital. (Podcast Available)

What’s at the top of your bucket list?

1. Travel somewhere new
2. Meet someone famous
3. See a dream game or concert
4. Learn a new skill
5. Already checked it off
6. Other (reply to tell us!)

Yesterday’s Results:

Spooky season is here. Do you like the scary side of Halloween?

1. Just here for the candy: 57%
2. Only mildly spooky: 25%
3. The scarier the better: 12%
4. Scary movies only: 6%

In 1892, Frankfort launched a Lake Michigan shipping feat many people thought was impossible. What did the ships carry?

Show me the answer