Consumers Energy Delays Dam Sale

Consumers Energy has pushed the decision timetable on its plan to sell 13 aging hydroelectric dams back by 60 days, into November.

The utility wants to sell the century-old dams, which line five rivers, to Confluence Hydro for $1 apiece and buy back their power for 30 years, a deal an administrative law judge has recommended rejecting.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has urged regulators to reject the deal, warning it would “impose unacceptable safety and financial risks on Michiganders.”

Consumers says the extra 60 days will let it and Confluence Hydro work with parties in the case to address the concerns that have been raised.

Poll: Voters Down on State’s Direction

A majority of Michigan voters, 52%, think the state is on the wrong track heading into the November election, a new WDIV/Detroit News poll found.

The survey also found tight races at the top of the ballot, with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, drawing 46.8% to Republican John James’ 42.7% in the contest for governor.

In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Mike Rogers led Democrat Abdul El-Sayed 45.8% to 44.4%, a gap within the poll’s 4-point margin of error.

Other recent polling underscores how close the Senate race is: a Sept. 1 Michigan State University survey had El-Sayed leading Rogers 50% to 45% among likely voters, the reverse of the WDIV result.

Flood Damage Lingers Up North

Five months after spring floods washed out roads and bridges across northern Michigan, the High Bridge Road closure has forced a 45-mile school bus detour that may not ease until the road reopens in mid-2027.

The washout lengthened commutes for about a third of students in Manistee County’s Kaleva Norman Dickson district, which added a bus route and budgeted for losing up to 30 children to nearby schools.

The closure is squeezing local businesses, too. The owner of Traks Bar & Grill said business fell 24% in April and 21% in May as drivers took the long way around.

Not every washout means years of waiting: near Traverse City, crews expect to reopen the Beitner Road bridge over the Boardman River by the end of 2026, while Manistee County’s High Bridge Road is expected to remain closed until at least June 2027.

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➤ Detroit: The city council voted unanimously Tuesday to have its Legislative Policy Division study alternatives to DTE Energy, after a tornado knocked out power to thousands on the east side for days. The move follows mounting frustration over outages and rates. (More)

➤ Also Detroit: Federal agents arrested Juan Romo-Padilla, 58, owner of La Posada, accusing him of laundering money to support Mexican drug cartels through more than 100,000 wire transfers totaling over $140 million from 2022 to 2026. Each count carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years. (More)

➤ Saginaw: City leaders detailed plans for the riverfront redevelopment, including a new 5.5-acre park and the Medical Diamond healthcare hub, with nearly $34 million secured for infrastructure and the park. City Manager Tim Morales said the city is also working on a development agreement for additional riverfront property. (More)

➤ Holland: A roughly $2,000 YETI cooler theft became a flashpoint in the breakup of a 50-year deal under which Ottawa County prosecuted cases from three Holland precincts in neighboring Allegan County. After Ottawa declined to prosecute, Allegan County took up the theft case and secured a guilty plea. (Read Story)

➤ Flint Township: A forensic exam found Damien and Jessica O’Brien competent to stand trial in the death of their 7-year-old son, Casper, who weighed 255 pounds when he died in November 2025. The couple face second-degree murder, torture, and three counts of second-degree child abuse. (More)

➤ Isle Royale: Craig Berg, 70, of Berkley, is missing on the remote Lake Superior island after failing to return Saturday from a solo hiking trip, his family says. The National Park Service is asking anyone who saw Berg, who was using trekking poles, to call 906-482-0984. (More)

➤ Detroit Catholic Central holds the top spot in Michigan’s Week 3 high school football Power Poll, with Detroit Cass Tech at No. 2 and Detroit King leaping eight spots to No. 3 after two wins. DeWitt tumbled from No. 4 to No. 20. (See List)

➤ Michigan State volleyball swept Western Michigan 25-18, 25-19, 25-14 at the Breslin Center to move to 6-0 and hand the Broncos their first loss. It was MSU’s fifth straight sweep, and its 17 consecutive sets won mark the program’s best run since 2018. (More)

➤ The Detroit Lions had their entire active roster accounted for at Tuesday’s practice ahead of Sunday’s opener against New Orleans. Jimmy Rolder, Derrick Moore, Trevor Nowaske, Thomas Harper, and Christian Izien were among those back after missing time in camp or the preseason. (More)

➤ Kirk Herbstreit said he didn’t know the TV and stadium clocks could differ after Michigan’s controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan. Replay officials restored one second after the TV clock hit zero, allowing Michigan to win on a Hail Mary. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | US Open | MLB | Soccer | FIBA Basketball

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➤ The Truth About Tylenol Is All Over the News. You’ve seen the headlines—Tylenol’s warning labels keep growing and the risks aren’t small. It doesn’t fix the problem, just masks pain temporarily. Now researchers point to a natural, gentler option that supports comfort without the harsh side effects. Learn More

➤ Buscemi’s Pizza, the Metro Detroit chain founded in 1956, is marking its 70th year by moving into the freezer aisle. The family brand, now about 50 stores, has put frozen pies in roughly 150 independent shops and 70 Kroger stores across Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. (Read Story)

➤ Trinity Health will permanently lay off 557 workers at its Livonia site starting Oct. 25 as the health system outsources IT operations. Affected positions include service desk and applications support roles, while clinical and patient-facing jobs will not be affected, the company said. (More)

➤ Detroit Metro Airport is up for Best Large Airport in USA Today’s 10Best awards, with Leo’s Coney Island inside the McNamara Terminal also nominated for best grab-and-go food. Voting runs through Oct. 5. (More)

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One Cup of This Morning Drink Floods Your Body with Stem Cells.  Harvard Researchers found that people who drank this hot morning drink had a 47% improvement in blood vessel function, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and a 220% increase in stem cells. See which drink here.

➤ Aaron Barnett, a Pontiac runner and 11-time marathoner, is running all 765 streets in his hometown and posting videos about the city’s history along the way. He started in June, is past the halfway mark and aims to finish in October. (Read Story)

➤ ArtPrize returns to Grand Rapids Sept. 18 with more than 1,000 entries displayed at restaurants, museums, businesses, and public spaces across the city. The competition runs through Oct. 3, with visitors voting for their favorites and helping decide who takes home the $100,000 grand prize. (See Details)

➤ Monique Harris, a Republic Airways flight attendant, cradled a baby so an exhausted mom could rest on a Newark-to-Grand Rapids flight, in a moment captured by a fellow passenger and later shared widely online. (See Photo)

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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. 

➤ Jurors from the Lindsay Clancy trial are breaking their silence about what really derailed a verdict. (Hear Breakdown)

➤ Today marks one year since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, as his wife Erika reflects on a year of grief. (Hear Details)

➤ Newly released disclosures show that President Trump gave tens of thousands of dollars in holiday cash gifts to four White House aides. (Listen Now)

What’s your favorite style of pizza?

1. Detroit-style
2. New York-style
3. Chicago deep-dish
4. Thin-crust
5. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

How often do you get out fishing?

1. Not my thing: 51%
2. Once in a blue moon: 22%
3. A few times a season: 13%
4. Every chance I get: 9%
5. Other: 5%

Roughly 1,100 feet beneath Detroit lies a sprawling underground mine that has operated for more than a century. What has been mined there since the early 1900s?

Show me the answer