Wednesday, November 5th, 2025
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!
Video caught the moment a bright meteor flew over the Northern Michigan sky on Monday night. Check out the video here and read more in Around the Mitten.
Bates Mill Store, proudly based in Maine, has been crafting heirloom-quality bedding for over 75 years. Read more on today’s featured brand below!
Detroit 36/60° 🌧️ | Grand Rapids 34/57° 🌤️ | Warren 37/58° 🌧️ | Sterling Heights 37/58° 🌧️ | Ann Arbor 29/61° 🌤️ | Lansing 38/53° ⛅ | Dearborn 42/56° 🌧️ | Livonia 34/51° ⛅ | Troy 36/58° ⛅ | Flint 33/51° 🌧️ | Saginaw 35/50° 🌧️ | Traverse City 34/48° 🌧️
Michigan City Named in Top 20 Best New Year's Celebrations
USA Today named Ludington as having one of the 20 best New Year’s ball drop celebrations nationwide on Tuesday in one of its popular 10BEST lists.
The town is up for a vote to make the top ten for the second year in a row after being named the winner of the 2024 list for its midnight ball drop festival that attracts about 10,000 people annually.
Ludington is currently No. 2 on the voting leaderboard at USA Today. You can vote for Ludington to make the top ten list, and see the other nominees here.
State Shuts Down LaFontaine Dealership Over Fraudulent Car Sales
The Michigan Department of State suspended the license of LaFontaine Chevrolet Buick GMC for allegedly fraudulently selling used loaner cars as new cars on Tuesday.
The St. Clair County dealership allegedly registered new vehicles in the business’ name to serve as loaner vehicles for customers, only to resell them as new after they were used in the program.
According to the Department of State, LaFontaine was previously warned about selling used loaner cars dishonestly and placed under probation before being found in violation again nearly one year later.
LaFontaine is prohibited from selling cars during the duration of the suspension. You can read more on the penalty here.
Cold Blast Set to Bring First Lake Effect Snow
A strong blast of December-like cold air heading through Michigan combined with warm Great Lakes waters will likely bring the first authentic burst of lake effect snow late this weekend.
A storm system with anticipated precipitation will move across the southern half of Lower Michigan on Sunday, with even colder temperatures moving in on Monday.
The snowbelts of the Upper Peninsula, northwest Lower Michigan and southwest Lower Michigan are the most likely to see substantial showers this weekend. You can see a radar for Sunday’s projected snowfall here.
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Around the Mitten
Traverse City: Hagerty, the city’s largest employer, is calling its 500 employees back to work in-person, departing from its remote work policy. (More)
Statewide: Three Michigan Community Colleges made the Aspen Institute’s top 200 list nationwide for schools eligible to apply for the Aspen Prize, a $1 million reward. (See List)
Mackinaw City: Incredible video captured by a resident on Monday night shows the moment a bright meteor flew across the Northern Michigan sky. (See Video)
Kalamazoo: The city reassured residents after viral videos on social media showed discolored water coming from a resident’s tap. (See Video)
Statewide: Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield was elected the city’s first woman mayor in history as voters decided on several ballot initiatives and local candidates across the state. (See Results)
Hart: The former Gales grocery store location on State St. will be converted into a satellite campus of West Shore Community College. (See Concept Photos)
Statewide: The Michigan Gaming Control Board announced a 4-step plan to combat insider betting following the NBA’s recent betting scandal. (More)
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Sports
Tigers star pitcher Jack Flaherty will be returning to the club in 2026 after exercising his $20 million player option. (More)
Grand Rapids native and first-round NFL pick Mazi Smith was traded to the New York Jets as part of a blockbuster trade with the Cowboys. (More)
The Red Wings faced off against the Las Vegas Knights in a late night showdown. (See Late Result)
The Lions signed undrafted rookie offensive lineman Jack Conley to the practice squad on Tuesday. (More)
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