Michigan
Are the Floodgates Open for Jonathan Smith’s In-State Pipeline?
Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith had many recruiting goals when he arrived in East Lansing.
Smith wanted to keep his West Coast pipeline — something he carefully built during his time at Oregon State — intact.
Smith had a goal to rebuild Michigan State through prolific recruiting in the Midwest.
His most important goal was to make the Green and White the premiere landing spot for Mitten-state talent.
This week, it has become apparent Smith could be on his way to achieving that goal.
Smith had already secured a commitment in April from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s three-star linebacker DJ White. White was the No. 2 linebacker in the state behind Dakota High School’s Di’Mari Malone, another three-star.
White is the No. 14 player in the state, per 247Sports. White, a former safety and quarterback, has great size — 6-foot-3, 190 pounds — instincts and speed for a linebacker. Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Joe Rossi will have plenty to work with. It is a very real possibility White outplays his three-star rating when he gets to East Lansing.
Smith secured Malone on Mother’s Day.
Malone was graded even higher than White by 247Sports. The site has him as the No. 1 linebacker and the No. 9 player in the state. Malone’s tape is electric. He shows uncanny ability in coverage, a combination of ball-skills and athleticism.
On Tuesday, Michigan State landed the state’s No. 1 running back in East Lansing High School’s Jace Clarizio. Clarizio is the No. 64 running back in the 2025 class and the No. 10 player in the state, according to 247Sports.
National recruiting analyst Allen Trieu touted Clarizio’s potential:
“Solid receiver out of the backfield although that is something he can keep getting more reps at,” he said. “All-around back with no real glaring deficiencies and should be a starter at the high-major level.”
Michigan State has received interest from other top in-state recruits.
The No. 1 athlete in the state, three-star Desmond Straughton of Roseville High School, has Michigan State among his top teams. Straughton plays safety and running back, and excels at both. He will likely find his home at safety. Straughton is the No. 6 player in the state and No. 18 nationally as an athlete.
The top tight end in the state, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Jayden Savoury, has Michigan State among his favorites as well. The 6-foot-6 basketball player-turned-football standout has a high ceiling. Savoury has an offical visit set for May 31.
Lately, Michigan State has been on a roll when it comes to securing 2025 in-state talent.
It could just be getting started.
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Michigan
Whitmer says she will pull Michigan National Guard from D.C. if troops used in Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that the Michigan National Guard soldiers heading to Washington, D.C., will only support the America 250 Mission and threatens to pull them if they participate in patrols under President Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission.
In a letter to Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers on Monday, Whitmer urges Rogers to “take all necessary measures” to ensure that soldiers only provide public safety and security during events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“If the National Guard is unable or unwilling to ensure the Michigan National Guard is only supporting the America 250 Mission, appropriately defined – and is unable or unwilling to communicate consistent with that fact – then I will end Michigan’s support for the America 250 mission,” Whitmer wrote to Rogers.
The Safe and Beautiful Mission was created under the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard to D.C. in August 2025 as part of a push to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, despite data showing that crime had declined in recent years.
At the time, local police data showed that violent crime in the area had been declining after a spike in 2023. However, Mr. Trump criticized that data, calling them “phony numbers.”
The deployments drew criticism from officials who opposed the federal government sending the National Guard to multiple cities. In one case, Illinois and Chicago sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of troops. That suit has since been dismissed, with a judge declaring the administration’s orders to no longer be operational.
“Several governors have deployed their National Guard soldiers to support this [Safe and Beautiful] mission. As you know, I have not deployed – and will not deploy – the Michigan National Guard to support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission,” Whitmer said.
CBS News Detroit reached out to the Joint Task Force for comment on Monday and has not heard back.
The nephew of Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alhabri was found dead in Menands, New York, according to authorities.
The Menands Police Department said on Tuesday that the circumstances surrounding 7-year-old Harbe Nagi’s death are under investigation.
Police say Albany County 911 received a missing child report on Sunday in a Menands neighborhood. Police say the child, who was autistic and nonverbal, had visited the neighborhood before but did not reside there.
CBS affiliate WGRB in Albany reported that the child went missing from a graduation party and was found in a neighbor’s pool, about two houses from where he went missing.
“The Menands Police Department extends its condolences to Harbe’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” police said.
Following news of the child’s death, Alharbi posted on social media: “We are devastated to share that he has been found deceased. Thank you to everyone who helped in the search.” Alharbi, who was first elected the mayor of Hamtramck in 2025, initially offered a $10,000 reward for the child’s return.
Utah wildfire burnover kills three firefighters near Colorado border
Three firefighters were killed and two were injured in a Utah wildfire burnover as the Snyder Fire grows past 28,000 acres.
One of three firefighters killing fighting a Colorado wildfire on Saturday, June 27, was a southeast Michigan woman, department of Interior officials announced on Monday, June 29.
Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Rifle Helitack crew. She died from burns while engaging in the initial attack on the Knowles Fire in Mesa County in western Colorado near the Utah border.
The two other fallen firefighters were identified as Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona, assigned to the USFS Kaibab National Forest; and Sydney Watson, 27, Warrior, Alabama, assigned to the USFS Rifle Helitack crew.
“We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow citizens,” U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said in a June 29 announcement. “Our thoughts are with their families, loved ones, friends and crewmates as they face an unimaginable loss. These firefighters embodied the courage, professionalism and selflessness that define the wildland fire service. Please join me and my family in keeping our thoughts and prayers with the families of the fallen and our injured firefighters and their families.”
Barker was a graduate of Grosse Pointe Academy and alumna of Northern Michigan University with a degree in ski area business management, the school said in a 2020 Facebook post.
The firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and U.S. Forest Service were battling the Knowles and Gore fires near the Colorado-Utah border June 27 when the incident occurred in Colorado, the U.S. Department of the Interior stated in a June 28 news release.
The firefighters were killed and injured during a burnover, which occurs when fire behavior changes and unexpectedly overtakes firefighters. The firefighters had deployed their protective shelters, according to a U.S. Forest Service news release June 28.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared her condolences with Michigan firefighter’s family in a Facebook post.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Clinton Township native, Emily Barker, who lost her life while fighting a wildfire in Colorado,” Whitmer said on Facebook on June 29. “My condolences go out to Emily’s loved ones. Her bravery in the face of danger kept people safe and will not soon be forgotten.”
As of Tuesday, June 30, the wildfire, known as the Snyder Fire, had consumed 30,163 acres, according to Map of Fire.
The blaze began Saturday, June 27, during a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to strong winds, low humidity and dry fuel. The fire prompted evacuations.
The state is facing several other wildfires and is covered in red flag warnings as of Tuesday morning, June 30.
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
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