Wednesday, January 21st, 2026
Good morning! Welcome to The Mitten, where we provide you a 5-minute rundown of all things Michigan every morning at 5 a.m., directly in your inbox!
Police officers in Grosse Ile pulled a 6-month old puppy from the icy waters of the Detroit River on Monday. Check out photos of the pup here and read more in The Goodie Bag!
The Mitten State is a Michigan-based apparel company that makes soft T-shirts and hoodies with unique Michigan designs! Shop their collection now to get 20% off and free shipping on orders of over $99!
Detroit 23/30° 🌨️ | Grand Rapids 13/26° 🌨️ | Warren 23/30° 🌨️ | Sterling Heights 23/30° 🌨️ | Ann Arbor 22/30° 🌨️ | Lansing 16/29° 🌨️ | Dearborn 23/30° 🌨️ | Livonia 22/30° 🌨️ | Troy 23/30° 🌨️ | Flint 15/28° 🌨️ | Saginaw 14/27° 🌨️ | Marquette 10/20° 🌨️ | Traverse City 12/24° 🌨️ | Cadillac 12/24° 🌨️ | Mackinac Island 18/29° 🌨️
Michigan Beach Named Among Best in Nation
A new list from TripAdvisor ranked West Michigan’s Oval Beach in Saugatuck the 24th-best beach nationwide in its Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches.
The beach made the list thanks in part to its fine sand and scenic views, and consistently-available parking for visitors, according to the website.
Oval Beach was the only Michigan beach to make the list. You can see the full rankings here.
Congratulations to Rose C. in Port Austin for winning our 1,000 reader giveaway! We hope to see a photo of you enjoying Dancing With the Stars in person! 😀
And Rose—if you haven’t checked your email yet.. go check it 😉
National Retailer Closing 12 Michigan Locations
The national women’s apparel retailer Francesca’s is closing all of its locations nationwide, including 12 Michigan stores, the company announced.
In an email sent last week, the company stated all sales were final as of January 14th, 2026, with plans to close all stores in the “near future.”
The move followed the company’s filing for bankruptcy in 2020. Francesca’s employs more than 3,400 employees nationwide.
You can see a map of Francesca’s Michigan locations here.
Michigan Hunters Harvest 153 Elk
Data from the state Department of Natural Resources revealed Michigan hunters to have claimed 153 elk this hunting season.
The ability to participate in elk season is extremely rare, as a record-47,493 Michiganders applied for just 260 licenses.
Among the successful hunters was an 87-year-old man who had been waiting for years for his chance to take his shot. You can see a photo of the man with his harvest here.
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Around the Mitten
Ann Arbor: A new University of Michigan poll showed a majority of surveyed parents being okay with their children swearing. (See Results)
South Michigan: The majority of the southern part of the state is projected to see up to three inches of snow through this morning, with three West Michigan counties under a winter storm warning for heavier snowfall. (See Map)
West Michigan: Buddy’s Pizza is closing its last remaining location in Michigan. (More)
Benton Harbor: Michigan Works will host a job fair with 25 employers next month at its service center. (More)
Statewide: A recall was issued for Tuna sold at Meijer stores for bacterial contamination. (More)
Saint Joseph: Drone footage recorded by a resident shows the frozen shore of Lake Michigan after frigid wind chills. (See Video)
Statewide: Cannabis sales hit an all-time high in 2025, but revenues dropped $113 million due to lower prices. (See Report)
Grand Rapids: The nation’s “first community-wide festival of laughter” returns to the city this March. (More)
Sports
No. 3 Michigan basketball improved to 17-1 with a 86-72 victory over Indiana. (See Highlights)
Patrick Kane is just three points away from tying Mike Modano for the most-ever points scored by an American player. (More)
No. 10 Michigan State basketball cruised past Oregon 68-52 thanks to center Carson Cooper’s 19 points and seven rebounds. (See Box Score)
The Goodie Bag
Dramatic helmet-camera video shows firefighters rescuing two adults and a child from a burning apartment building in Wyoming. (See Video)
The Rare Yellow Fumewort winter flower will be blooming soon in three counties. (See Photos)
Rescue crews in Grosse Ile pulled a 6-month old puppy from the icy Detroit River waters on Monday. (See Photos)
Previous Results
Did you drive in blizzard conditions yesterday?
Yes - 24%
No - 76%
Answer: No, “We live 1 mile from Lake Michigan. We drove to see what the water was doing and couldn't see it beyond the squalls. However... GOOD NEWS!! The lake has ice!! And that keeps the water from eroding the shoreline””
Answer: Yes, “Had to go to work” — fair enough!
We had a few snowbirds participate as well… Don’t rub it in, okay? 🤣
Answer: No, “Enjoying cold Florida, but not even close to Michigan temps”
Thank you for reading Wednesday’s edition of The Mitten! We hope you enjoyed today’s stories. We always welcome any reader feedback by simply responding to this email.