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Michigan lawmakers remain deadlocked on the 2025-26 state budget, with less than three weeks before the October 1 deadline. The House has passed a $78.5 billion plan that boosts road funding but cuts millions from schools and state agencies. Governor Whitmer’s administration is drawing up contingency plans in case no deal is reached, warning that a shutdown could disrupt non-essential services across the state. Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist says a credible bomb threat was made at his Detroit home Thursday night, where he lives with his wife and children. It was later found to be false, but police responded quickly. Gilchrist, a 2026 Democratic candidate for governor, tied the incident to rising political violence — noting it came just a day after the killing of Charlie Kirk. He said such threats are meant to silence voices but vowed they won’t silence his. Meantime, a Michigan teacher has been placed on administrative leave after a social media post following Charlie Kirk’s death drew community concern. Vassar Public Schools Superintendent Steve Clark told parents the comments, which have not been shared by the district, don’t reflect district leadership and said an investigation is underway. New Census data shows Michigan ranks low in both income and education. The state’s median household income is more than $9,000 below the national average, and only a third of adults have a bachelor’s degree, compared to nearly half in Massachusetts. Experts say the gap comes down to education — college grads in Michigan earn about $28,000 more than high school graduates. A ribbon cutting today on Belle Isle will bring Michigan another step is closer to completing the 2,000-mile Iron Belle State Trail from Detroit to Ironwood. The new 5.8-mile segment on Belle Isle brings the project to 71 percent finished. When finished, it will be the longest state trail in the US.
Part of the Belle Isle Park trail opening today is the starting point for a now 71% complete state trail stretching from Detroit to Ironwood called the Belle Iron Trail. Photo from Michigan DNR |
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Now, here’s a look at events happening on your Emerald Isle… First your meeting planner…
On the fun front today… Friday, Senior + Vets Coffee + Donuts is on at the BIC Center from 8:30 to 11:30. At 9:00, there’s Chair Strength Training in the Hangout at the BIC Center. There’s Pickleball at 9:00, too, on the outdoor courts at Peaine Township Park. B-I-C-S Soccer and Volleyball squads take on Ojibwe in matches starting at noon at home. In our Dark Skies, as dusk falls this evening look to the western horizon to see Mars lined up with Spica. There’s more at Dark Sky Island dot org.[On the radio, Kick off your weekend with our fantastic Friday lineup! After the 6:00pm news, enjoy “That Thing with Rich Appel” featuring top forty hits from the 70s. At 9:00pm, tune into “The Titus Jennings Experience” offering music from all genres, followed by “The Midnight Special” with Marilyn Rea Beyer at 11:00pm for music, farce comedy, and late-night escape.] Saturday, there’s Pickleball outdoors at 9:00. The Artisan’s Market is back this weekend starting at 10:00 out at Whiskey Point. Fiero Coding Club is on at the library at 1:00. And, movies are back at the BIC Center after a summer hiatus. The 3:00 show is the latest from Pixar. It’s Elio, the story of a young a space fanatic with an active imagination who finds himself on a cosmic misadventure. At 7:00, it’s Martin Scorsese’s The Waltz, a film account of the last concert of The Band including performances by greats of the era including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmy Lou Harris, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. With the sound system in the theater, it’ll be like the final concert of the summer season. And, Saturdays are Prime Rib night at the Shamrock. [On the radio, tune in for Country Classics at 5:00 Saturday evening with host Sheri Timsak. At 7:00, Jackson Smith and Steve Girbach are in with Songs from the Trail. Mark Beltaire takes over at 9:00 with Rockin’ the Boat and continues at 10:00 with the Blues Cruise. Cousin Dan wraps up the evening with the Too Good Radio Show starting at 11:00.] Sunday, there are services at the Episcopal Mission at 9:00 and the Christian Church at 10:00, and Mass at Holy Cross at 12:15. Looking ahead to highlights for next week… Monday, in our dark skies, Aquila the Eagle is home to the star Altair, which is one of the corners of the Summer Triangle. The best time to see Aquila is in the evening sky through November as it soars along the Milky Way. And, because our galaxy provides a starry backdrop, many clusters and nebulae lie within its borders. There’s more info at Dark Sky Island dot org. Tuesday, there’s Chair Strength Training at the BIC Center at 9:00. Pickleball is outside on the township courts at 9:00. Babes and Toddlers mix it up at the library at 10:00. At 3:00, the library will hold a Fiero Code Club Boot Camp info session for adults. Learn how to code and earn certificates to document your skills. And, in our Dark Skies, look for Jupiter in the early morning hours to the east. It will rise higher in the sky each night as we head to the end of the month. There’s more at dark sky island dot org. Wednesday, at the BIC Center, there’s Bingo at 1:00 in the Hangout. Book Club meets at the library at 3:00 to discuss Call me Athena by Colby Cedar Smith. And, there is BINGO at the G-F-C. Doors open for fellowship at 6:15. Games start at 7:00. Thursday, at 9:00, there’s Pickleball on the Peaine Township Courts. At 10:00 a trio of activities: Tai Chi in the Hangout at the BIC Center, C-O-A Cardio Drumming out at the Peaine Township Hall and Women’s Bible Study at the Christian Church. And, Thursday evenings are Burger & a Beer Night at the Shamrock. |
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NAME OF DAY: The BIC Center Name of the Day is Kiley. If that’s your name, come on into the BIC Center today to pick out a free drink of your choice. BIRTHDAYS: Saygan Crosswhite, Billy Lemmink, Colleen Hoeksema, Sue Solle and Charlie Brooke are on our list today. Happy Birthday to Sue, Colleen, Charlie, Billy and Saygan, and if we missed you on the list, Happy Birthday to you too from everyone at WVBI and your Beaver Island Community Center! |
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TRAFFIC: No delays inbound or outbound to the airports. The island beltway is running smoothly with no bridge delays. But, let’s be careful out there—especially in the school zone. |
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On this date in 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered his landmark speech at Rice University, declaring the ambitious goal for the United States to land a man on the Moon before the decade’s end. The speech galvanized public and government support for NASA, leading to historic achievements in space exploration. Also on this day in 1958, Jack Kilby successfully tests the first integrated circuit at Texas Instruments. It will become fundamental to achieving President Kennedy’s goal of reaching the Moon. President Kennedy sets the Moon challenge at Rice University. “We choose to go to the Moon…and do the other things…not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Photo from nasa.gov. |
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Our Merriam Webster Word of the Day is flummox (verb) [FLUM-uks]. To be flummoxed is to be utterly confused, puzzled, or bewildered. When it comes to the origins of flummox, etymologists are, well, flummoxed. No one knows where it comes from. The verb first popped up in Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers in the 1830s, though the adjective “flummoxed” appeared a bit earlier in a Dublin paper about a labor strike: “Lord Cloncurry is actually flummoxed.” By the late 1800s, the word was common in both British and American English—even if its origins remain a mystery.Top of Form Bottom of Form |
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Now, to wrap up for this Beaver Island Friday… |
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Here’s a thought for the day from President John F. Kennedy: “…the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward… .” |
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On a lighter note… Why do all astronauts use a mac? Because its dangerous to open windows in space. |
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That’s the W-V-B-I Community Calendar Report for this Beaver Island Friday, September 12th, 2025. I’m Kevin Boyle reporting from W-V-B-I’s Langford Family Studios, wishing you a great day and asking you: why not go ahead and make it the best day ever? And thanks for listening. |
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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 67/71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Tonight A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57/56. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 67/71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 59/55. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 69/74. East wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 58/55. Monday Sunny, with a high near 70/74. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60/57. Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 71/75. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 60/57. Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 71/75. Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 60/57. Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72/75. |
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Fire Danger Level on the Island set at Low. AQI this morning was 33.
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Out on the Big Drink… |
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Today Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Saturday SSW wind 5 to 10 kt becoming WNW in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm. Waves 1 ft or less. Sunday ENE wind 5 to 10 kt. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Monday ESE wind 5 to 10 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. Tuesday Variable winds 5 kt or less. Sunny. Waves 1 ft or less. |
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Water Temperature: It’s 63 in Little Traverse Bay. The North Lake Michigan buoy southwest of Gull is reporting 61 with almost flat seas.
Mid Lake Michigan photo at time shown. Provided by NWS |
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Photos from webcams at wvbi.net and mackinacbridge.org |
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Michigan faces a looming budget deadline… a bomb threat at the lieutenant governor’s home… fallout from Charlie Kirk’s killing reaches a Michigan school… and new Census data shows why the state is falling behind. Plus, a new link opens on the Iron Belle Trail soon to be the longest in the U-S—all of those stories in today’s Community calendar Report along with a look at this date in history, birthdays, a word of the day and a bad joke…all after a global and national news update from FSN. [timecheck] |
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Today’s featured image: President Kennedy sets the Moon challenge at Rice University. “We choose to go to the Moon…and do the other things…not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Photo from nasa.gov. |
