Michigan

Republicans and Democrats qualify for the ballot automatically. The West campaign did the hard work by collecting over 25,000 signatures of Michigan voters attesting they think their neighbors should have a right to vote for him, but the SOS denies that because an official in Colorado didn't dot her i's correctly. freep.com/story/news/politics/…

Always wondered what happened to them. So happy they're safe & sound!

Michigan is famous for its fruit festivals. Visitors can sample cherries at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City or blueberries at the National Blueberry Festival in South Haven.

The Apple Festival in Charlevoix and the Romeo Peach Festival feature fruit later in the season.

As a diverse crop-producing state and the top producer of asparagus in the country, Michigan has an agricultural scenery that is a picturesque blend of crop fields and fruit trees.

However, beneath this facade lies a harsh reality of precarious work and exploitative labor practices for Michigan’s farmworkers, who are often invisible to people who enjoy the fruits of their labors, according to the Michigan Farmworker Project’s ongoing research.

Let me recommend: Bill's Hot Dog Stand in Ypsilanti.

It's a drive-in. Open your window and eat in the parking lot. Get their dogs with everything on it + a mug of root beer. If you don't eat dogs, at least get the root beer!!! I don't even like root beer that much, but I now dream about the root beer from Bill's.

Absolute reasonable prices, too: got 4 dogs & 2 mugs of root beer for around 10$ total!

What's your recommendation for unexpectedly good food in Michigan?

Michigan lawmakers didn’t just pass an $83 billion budget early Thursday, they also approved nearly 100 other bills during a marathon 19-hour session before finally breaking for summer recess.

Some of the bigger policy changes, such as opening the Legislature and governor’s office to Freedom of Information Act requests and expanding unemployment benefits to 26 weeks, made immediate headlines.

Read on to learn more about the "Taylor Swift bot ban" and the bill against the ludicrous "Gay Panic Defense."

Anger or hatred is like the fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it. -- Gautama Buddha
!detroit@midwest.social ☆ !michigan@midwest.social ☆ !music@midwest.social

According to the state, a small population of juvenile spotted lanternfly was recently detected in Lambertville [Monroe County]. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the findings last week.

~Adult~ ~spotted~ ~lanternfly.~ ~Photo:~ ~Pennsylvania~ ~Department~ ~of~ ~Agriculture,~ ~bugwood.org~

“The infestation was detected through spotted lanternfly monitoring traps deployed by Michigan State University (MSU), as part of collaborative survey initiatives with MSU, MDARD, and the USDA,” MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. Steve Carlson said in a statement. “This work is a critical component of our ongoing efforts to identify and limit the spread of spotted lanternfly in Michigan.”

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive plant hopper native to eastern Asia. It was first found in the U.S. in 2014 and spread rapidly.

See it. Squish it. Report it.

According to Michigan.gov's Michigan Invasive Species website…

Spotted lanternfly feeds on more than 70 different plants including grapes, apples, hops and hardwood trees. The insects cause direct damage by sucking sap from host plants and secreting large amounts of a sugar-rich, sticky liquid called honeydew. This honeydew and the resulting black sooty mold can kill plants and foul surfaces. The honeydew often attracts other pests like yellow jackets, flies, and ants, affecting outdoor recreation and complicating crop harvests.

Anger or hatred is like the fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it. -- Gautama Buddha
!detroit@midwest.social ☆ !michigan@midwest.social ☆ !music@midwest.social

If you need a car or truck, can't afford the massive depreciation hit from a new vehicle but want to express pride in Michigan's manufacturing base, you still have options.

Assembly

Components

Propulsion

Stampings

Tooling

Logistics

Testing

Other Facilities

Pope Francis Center (PFC) today begins a new era for ending chronic homelessness in Detroit with the opening of its Bridge Housing Campus, a $40 million facility that provides comprehensive transitional services under one roof.

Born out of a desire to address the underlying reasons people live on the streets, the Bridge Housing Campus is the culmination of decades of PFC’s experience, research and dedication to helping the chronically homeless, one of the most challenging populations to serve.

“Putting people in a house or apartment before addressing issues such as substance abuse or mental health doesn’t work for everybody,” said Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, PFC president and CEO. “Our facility is a game-changer in how it allows those experiencing homelessness to have agency in their own healing. They decide how they want to progress, while we give them the support necessary to chart a better path in life.”

The 60,000 square-foot Bridge Housing Campus sits on 5.3 acres of land in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood. In addition to 40 furnished studio apartments, the facility features a gymnasium, commercial kitchen, free medical and dental clinic, library and classrooms, barbershop, and space for family gatherings and special events. A unique feature: heated sidewalks and an overhang outside the building for those not yet ready to make their way indoors.

Residents will have access to a range of social services including substance abuse rehabilitation, mental health assistance, and job training and computer classes. When they are ready, residents will transition to permanent housing while still receiving any support they need from PFC and its partners.

“Fr. Tim and the Pope Francis Center have done a great job working to create a better future for our most vulnerable residents,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “The Bridge Housing Campus will be another example of how Detroit and its partners are creating pathways from homelessness to affordable housing.”

Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, a Detroit native who represents the 10th House District, said PFC’s comprehensive approach will set residents up for future success. “Having the full suite of wraparound services is a critical piece to making sure people have the ability to be housed,” he said.

Financial support for the Bridge Housing Campus comes from a variety of sources, with the majority being contributed by private foundations and corporations. The Julia Burke Foundation in Northern California contributed $13 million, the single largest donation. Other major funders include:

• J. Addison and Marion M. Bartush Family Foundation
• City of Detroit
• Ford Motor Company
• Lear Corporation
• Magna Corporation
• Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus
• Piston Group
• The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation
• State of Michigan

The Bridge Housing Campus is located at 2915 West Hancock Street, Detroit. PFC staff are working to determine the first group of residents. Plans are for them to move in late June, although that may change if the selection process takes longer.

The Bridge Housing Campus will also double as PFC’s new headquarters. PFC will continue to operate the day center and shelter where it started in 1990 and now serves more than 200 guests a day. The center is located at 438 Saint Antoine Street, Detroit, next to Sts. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church.

Background:

Located in the heart of downtown Detroit, the Pope Francis Center provides vital services to the city’s homeless. On an average day, we welcome nearly 200 guests and provide them with nutritious meals, showers, laundry and access to doctors, dentists, lawyers, housing providers, and job training through our free clinics. We have been serving Detroit’s most vulnerable citizens since 1990, and we are committed to eradicating chronic homelessness in our city. @michigan @christianity

popefranciscenter.org/opens-th…