Two Charged with Threatening Officials

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against two Michigan residents in unrelated cases for making terrorist threats against public officials.

Anthony Dekinderen, 61, of Lake Orion faces nine terrorism counts after prosecutors say he emailed a journalist threatening to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and members of the Michigan Supreme Court. Each count is a 20-year felony.

Alicia Choucair, 33, of Roseville is accused of calling dispatch and threatening a mosque and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud if “your people” weren’t kept out of her town. She faces two terrorism counts, a computer crime count, and a hate crime charge.

Nessel said threats against officials at all levels of government are becoming increasingly common. An attorney for Dekinderen did not respond to a request for comment. Dekinderen is due in court Sept. 28 on a $5 million bond with a GPS tether requirement. Choucair returns Sept. 30.

What’s on Michigan’s November Ballot

Absentee ballots start going out to Michigan voters who requested them Thursday, 40 days ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Every voter in the state picks a governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and a U.S. senator. Legislative races and two statewide proposals are also on the ballot, and metro Detroit votes on zoo and museum millages.

Proposal 1 asks whether to convene a convention in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution. A yes vote starts the process, and a no vote rejects it. Any revised constitution would later have to be approved by voters.

The question reaches voters every 16 years, and it has lost every time since the current constitution was ratified in 1963. The margins were 77% to 23% in 1978, 72% to 28% in 1994 and 67% to 22% in 2010.

The deadline to register online or by mail is Oct. 19. After that, voters can register in person at their local clerk’s office through Election Day. Early voting runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.

Lost 11 Days on Isle Royale

Craig Berg, the 70-year-old Royal Oak hiker airlifted from Isle Royale by a Coast Guard helicopter this month, is home and telling the story himself.

Berg went missing on a solo hike early this month, setting off a multi-agency search of the remote Lake Superior island. Halfway into a planned six-day crossing, he said he took a poorly marked trail, became stranded in a swamp, and lost his phone in the mud.

“I was up to my knees in mud,” Berg said. He rationed freeze-dried food, drank what water he could find, and used the sun to navigate. At night, he shivered in his sleeping bag, and he kept a journal for his family in case he didn’t make it out.

Two kayakers heard him yelling after 11 days. Berg says he’ll hike again, but with company, and he’s pushing for more funding to maintain safe trails and infrastructure at national parks.

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➤ Lansing: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of bills Monday that included new protections for renters. One measure requires every rental agreement to offer at least one fee-free way to pay rent, while another allows security deposits to be returned electronically. (More)

➤ Antrim County: State and local officials are seeking more money to address a decades-old industrial chemical plume near Mancelona that has contaminated groundwater and more than 500 drinking-water wells. They want to extend municipal water service to more homes in the plume’s path. (More)

➤ Barry County: Sheriff Dar Leaf, a Republican, and the office of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, are trading accusations of obstruction and harassment over his voter-registration inquiry. The state says Leaf pressured staff, which he denies, while none of his election-fraud reports to prosecutors since 2020 have resulted in charges. (More)

➤ Battle Creek: A gun discharged inside a third grader’s backpack at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary Tuesday morning, prompting a lockdown. No one was injured, and police recovered the firearm. (More)

➤ Detroit: The man suspected of fatally stabbing a restaurant worker downtown had been released from a psychiatric hospital in August, weeks after being hospitalized for acute psychosis. The case is raising questions about his follow-up care. (More)

➤ Croton Township: Construction crews digging a home foundation in Newaygo County unearthed human remains that authorities believe are historical, with no signs of foul play. Investigators are working to determine their age and origin. (More)

➤ Statewide: AAA says nearly 90% of Michigan children checked in 2025 moved to adult seat belts too soon, while about 81% of child restraints were used incorrectly. The group is urging parents to double-check car seats, boosters, and seat-belt fit. (More)

➤ The Pistons reportedly raised their offer to Jalen Duren to five years and $200 million, below the $287 million max he’s eligible for. The All-NBA center averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds last season and is reportedly considering a one-year qualifying offer. (More)

➤ Michigan could be without starting right tackle Andrew Sprague against Iowa on Saturday. Coach Kyle Whittingham said Sprague could return this week or miss several weeks with an undisclosed injury. (More)

➤ Dan Campbell said the Lions must clean up fundamentals after their loss in Buffalo. Detroit is 1-1 heading into Sunday’s Week 3 game against the Jets and has committed 18 penalties in two games. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph aren’t expected back this week. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA

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➤ State officials announced 243 new manufacturing jobs tied to three business expansions in St. Clair, Ogemaw, and Oscoda counties, backed by tens of millions in investment. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the projects reach from Port Huron into northern Michigan. (More)

➤ Jackson County needs between 1,115 and 3,389 new homes by 2031, according to a new study. Officials say more housing could help attract and retain workers, with more than 23,000 people commuting into the county for work each day. (More)

➤ Ann Arbor has launched a community-owned solar utility that pairs rooftop panels with battery backup, giving residents an optional alternative alongside the existing grid. The pilot is underway in the Bryant neighborhood, with a citywide rollout planned for 2027. (More)

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The Pentagon’s Got Its Eye on This Tech

One of the biggest indicators for forward-thinking investors is where the U.S. government puts its money.

First, they bet big on jet engines. Then drones. Now? Flying cars. The U.S. Air Force just signed a $142M deal for a company building five-seater air taxis. But our nation’s most covert operations need smaller, personal aircraft. And Doroni, the company positioned to lead the $100B personal eVTOL category, aims to capture this opportunity.

Their flying car, the H1-X, opens the skies to all military members. Their SOULAI platform is so intuitive that you can pilot their aircraft after 25 hours of training. And its patented ducted fan system is designed to be safer than competitors. 

Invest at $3.30/share before the share price increases after 10/22.

➤ Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada topped this year’s vote for the best cider mill in metro Detroit, just as fall arrives. The list rounds up the region’s five top-voted cider mills for a fall outing. (More)

➤ Abby Amburgey, 18, painted a mural celebrating the 176-year-old Hillsdale County Fair on a warehouse wall as a hometown tribute before leaving for art college. A local concessions company commissioned the mural. (More)

➤ A 60-foot spruce from Iron Mountain has been chosen as Michigan’s official Christmas tree and will go on display in downtown Lansing this holiday season. Donated by the Larry Riccio family, the tree will be cut Nov. 5 and arrive in Lansing Nov. 7. (More)

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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. 

➤ What are the 10 most popular at-home headache remedies, and do they actually work? (Hear Remedies)

➤ Tesla has reopened reservations for its long-delayed Roadster, nearly nine years after the car was promised. (Listen Now)

➤ Demand for wine is falling, forcing California grape growers to tear out vineyards their families tended for generations. (Hear Story)

In case you missed it, this week on Flyover Focus, we dug into the cost of living and how it affects you. Why does your paycheck buy less, and do Social Security raises keep retirees afloat? Tune in here for all of those answers and more.

Would you add solar to your home?

1. Already have it
2. Yes, if it lowered my bill
3. Only if the price dropped
4. No thanks

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever hit a deer?

1. No, but close calls: 26%
2. Yes, more than once: 25%
3. Yes, once: 24%
4. Never: 24%
5. Other: 1%

Michigan’s Isle Royale is home to the longest continuous predator-prey study in the world, now running more than six decades. Which two animals have scientists been tracking there?

Show me the answer