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Morning Briefing

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025

Muskegon Luge Adventure Park’s 1,400 foot dual zip line glides over a Lake Michigan sand dune and through the white pine and oak forest inside Muskegon State Park. (Photo Courtesy of Adam Alexander)

Good morning, Michigan

Michigan set to experience near-record breaking warmth this weekend with temperatures reaching around 87 degrees. Whether you are zip lining through trees or taking an impromptu trip, here are several outdoorsy activities to help you enjoy the weather.

Enjoy the night sky with other stargazers Saturday at International Observe the Moon Night with Longway Planetarium in Lapeer.  For another family-friendly option, Frankenmuth’s 15th Big Country Fest kicks off today with live music, food, drinks and plenty of country-themed fun.

Looking for something more adventurous? Muskegon Luge Adventure Park’s 1,400 foot dual zip line is open until Oct. 19.

Curated by Cara Hackett

A drone image of the aftermath, on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, of a mass killing that occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Road, in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)

Michigan church attack was one of the deadliest at a U.S. house of worship

There have been more than 375 fatal attacks at U.S. houses of worship over the past 25 years.

The majority are like homicides committed anywhere else, rooted in domestic disputes, robberies gone wrong, retaliation for offenses real or perceived. Most claim only a single victim, according to data compiled by The Violence Project, a nonprofit research center at Hamline University in Minnesota.

The Sept. 28 attack on the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc was different, the sort of ideologically motivated mass killing that is both rarer but more jarring. There have been just 10 attacks like it at American houses of worship since the year 2000.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former Marine who told friends and strangers that Mormons were “the antichrist,” rammed the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc with his pickup truck that morning, police say. The truck was flying two American flags.

Related: Sheriff’s office to host tactical briefing for faith-based organizations after church shooting

Read more about the shooting

High temperature forecast for Saturday, October 4, 2025. (NOAA)

This weekend’s weather: You are going to want your shorts, tank tops, sunglasses & flip-flops

This weekend will not feel like an early October weekend. It’s actually going to be more of an August-like weekend.

The afternoons will have temperatures soaring into the 80s all across Michigan, including most of the Upper Peninsula. The mornings will be just a touch cool for an hour or so after sunrise, with temperatures in the 50s to 60 degrees.

The precipitation discussion is a short one. There isn’t a storm system to even talk about for the weekend. One of the better models has a couple of sidewalk-dampening showers around the Mackinaw City area.

Related: September was bone dry for parts of Michigan, rain totals show

Read more in weather

The brown marmorated stink bug. (Getty Images)

Stink Bug Invasion: Why these pests are trying to get into your home right now

If you’ve been noticing slow-moving brown stink bugs creeping around your windows and doors as we get deeper into fall, you’re not alone.

Lots of Michigan residents are seeing these unwelcome visitors seeking shelter in their homes. They’re known as the brown marmorated stink bug. These invasive insects, known for their shield-shaped bodies and distinctive odor, are becoming an increasing nuisance across the state.

But perhaps most troubling for homeowners is their tendency to invade buildings in large numbers during fall months as they search for winter shelter. Fortunately, experts at Michigan State University have provided practical strategies to deal with these unwanted guests.

Related: After 40 years and $84M in cleanup, Muskegon Lake comes off toxic list

Read more environmental news

Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (31) hugs Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14) as the Detroit Tigers host the Cleveland Guardians for Game 3 of the 2024 American League Division Series in Detroit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

‘We keep answering’: What A.J. Hinch told Tigers’ clubhouse after advancing to ALDS

The Detroit Tigers have had a rocky last month, but that hasn’t kept the team from popping champagne in the clubhouse twice in the past week.

First the Tigers got to celebrate at Fenway Park after clinching a postseason berth and then on Thursday at Progressive Field after beating the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Wild Card series to advance to the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners.

Before a raucous celebration in the visiting locker room, manager A.J. Hinch made a brief speech to the team following a 6-3 victory to clinch the series.

Related: Lions’ Jameson Williams shows bounce-back mentality after rough Week 4 outing

Read more in sports

Covered Road is a scenic 10-mile stretch of U.S. 41 between Lac La Belle Road and the town of Copper Harbor in Michigan’s Keweenaw County. This tunnel of trees is ideal for fall color viewing.Visit Keweenaw

Pure Michigan fall color update: Where colors are beginning to burst across the state

To help travelers across the state track the gorgeous fall color this season, our friends at Pure Michigan are posting a weekly Fall Color Report.

An interactive map shows when peak color is expected across both of our state’s peninsulas. Right now, there are lots of peak color spots flashing in the U.P., while downstate color is doing a slow burn.

In their weekly update, Pure Michigan is reporting the estimated percentage of fall color at dozens of spots across the state. We’re sharing some of their highlights here, concentrating on the sites now reported to be at 40% or more of their autumn colors.

Related: 68-foot spruce from U.P. town selected to be Michigan’s Christmas tree

Read more in life

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That’s all for now.

Thank you for joining me on today’s edition of the Morning Briefing.

As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. If you value the work of our journalists, consider becoming a subscriber.

I hope you have a safe and fun weekend.

– Cara Hackett

OTHER TOP STORIES

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• Look up! A rare cosmic visitor is getting brighter in our evening sky

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