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Here’s where things stand 4 years after the mid-Michigan floods

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Here’s where things stand 4 years after the mid-Michigan floods


MIDLAND, MI – The year 2024 was a stalemate of sorts for the folks on the Four Lakes Task Force.

The entity in charge of restoring the dams destroyed in the 2020 mid-Michigan flood celebrated a handful of milestones but was unable to continue some plans due to a bevy of court cases delaying proceedings.

“This year we made significant progress in construction, but unfortunately by mid-year we lost momentum in our mission to restore the Four Lakes because the pending litigation over the lake level assessment rolls has impeded our ability to obtain financing,” Four Lakes Task Force Chair and President Dave Kepler wrote in a year-end statement.

“We know how disappointing it is to end the year with work suspended on three of the four dams and suspension looming on the fourth.”

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The dams were formerly owned by Boyce Hydro, an insolvent company that lost them through condemnation after the May 2020 Edenville Dam collapse and flood that caused $200 million in property damage and forced 10,000 people to evacuate.

The organization began taking steps to acquire the former Boyce Hydro dams in 2018 after federal energy regulators revoked the Edenville Dam’s power generation license.

The Four Lakes Task Force received delegated taxing authority in 2019 after legal levels were established for Tittabawassee River impoundments Wixom, Sanford, Smallwood and Secord lakes.

The group was negotiating with former Boyce Hydro owner Lee Mueller to buy the damns and perform long-deferred upgrades when a May 2020 rainstorm overwhelmed the Edenville Dam, which collapsed and unleashed the combined waters of the Tittabawassee and Tobacco rivers in a 500-year flood that inundated downtown Midland.

The flood drained the Wixom and Sanford lake impoundments. The task force later acquired all four Boyce dams through bankruptcy for $1.5 million and has since been working to rebuild the damaged Edenville and Sanford dams, and upgrade spillways and embankments at Secord and Smallwood.

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The Smallwood Dam auxiliary spillway construction was completed in March. Construction on the auxiliary spillway and chute at Secord Dam wrapped up in June. In July, the Edenville Dam embankment was completed.

But then work on the dams was halted due to ongoing legal challenges over whether residents living in a special assessment district should be required to help pay for the dam repairs.

On Dec. 11, the Four Lakes Task Force as well as the Heron Cove Association, the group representing residents living in the special assessment district, argued before a panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals in connection with the challenge. The following day, attorneys for Gladwin and Midland counties and the task force appeared in federal district court in Detroit requesting dismissal of two HCA lawsuits.

Neither court has issued a ruling.

“We have legal and contractual obligations to restore the lakes and the financial capacity and permits to do so,” Kepler wrote. “The FLTF board and staff are committed to getting the project restarted as soon as we can in 2025 to fulfill our mission of restoring the lakes so property owners can enjoy them long into the future.”

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Michigan heatwave on way. See day likely to set a record high

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Michigan heatwave on way. See day likely to set a record high


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Get ready to sweat, Michigan.

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The summer’s first big heatwave is expected to start on Monday, bringing a four-day stretch of potential 90-plus-degree temperatures to much of the state, across the Midwest and parts of the East Coast.

The National Weather Service is advising Michiganians to limit time outdoors and stay hydrated in the leadup to Independence Day.

The heatwave is projected to peak on Tuesday, the final day of June, when virtually the entirety of Lower Michigan and surrounding states will be considered at major risk of heat-related effects, according to NWS.

Anyone without access to cooling or hydration or who must engage in prolonged outdoor activity or strenuous labor will face a significantly elevated risk of heat-related illness, including heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

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The NWS office in Marquette said above-normal humidity is expected to accompany the high temperatures, elevating the risk.

About 16 people a year die from heat and heat-related illnesses in Michigan, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Relief will be minimal, experts advised. Thunderstorms are unlikely during the heatwave, AccuWeather reported, and overnight lows are expected to drop only into the mid-70s, according to NWS.

‘Heat dome’ bringing near-record temperatures

AccuWeather attributes the warmup to a “heat dome,” which is a high-pressure system that traps hot air and prevents cooling. The weather system will bring above-normal temperatures throughout the central and eastern states. St. Louis could log eight straight days of at least 90 degrees.

Lower Michigan is expected to see this summer’s first consecutive 90-plus-degree days. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are all currently expected to climb past that mark.

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Currently, the hottest day on record this year in Detroit was May 18, when the mercury climbed to 90 degrees, according to NWS data.

High temperatures are likely to approach daily records during next week’s heatwave. Detroit’s record highs for June 29 through July 2 are 96, 96, 98 and 99, respectively. The weather service currently projects highs of 91, 97 and 95 for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A high for Thursday is not yet available.

On average, temperatures during this time of year top out around 81 or 82, NWS data shows.

The high temperatures approach the United States as Western Europe swelters under a record-setting heatwave that is expected to persist through the end of the week. On Wednesday, Britain and France both logged the hottest June days on record, Reuters reported.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

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Body of 13-year-old boy who went missing in Lake Michigan waters recovered by Indiana officials

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Body of 13-year-old boy who went missing in Lake Michigan waters recovered by Indiana officials


The body of a 13-year-old boy who went into Lake Michigan waters at a northwest Indiana beach and didn’t resurface has been recovered, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The recovery was confirmed to NBC Chicago Wednesday morning. It comes two days after officials say the boy went swimming at Washington Beach in Michigan City with a group of friends.

No further details on the boy’s identity have been released.

Searches for the boy were suspended Monday night and Tuesday due to “challenging water conditions” and high waves. All day Monday, Lake Michigan beaches in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan were under a high swim risk with a beach hazards statement from the National Weather Service in effect.

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The statement warned of dangerous waves as high as five feet, and “life threatening currents.”

The incident unfolded about 5:43 p.m. Monday at Washington Park Beach, with Michigan City police responding to the beach for a possible drowning. Witnesses say they saw a child wearing red shorts enter the water on the east side of the catwalk just south of the lighthouse and then disappear beneath the surface.

Dangerous water conditions “significantly complicated search efforts,” Michigan City police said. About 10:44 p.m., police posted an update saying dive operations had been suspended “due to hazardous conditions that posed a risk to responder safety.”

According to the update, three of the four MCFD divers sustained minor injuries during the search and were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. A DNR diver was also injured, police said, and was evaluated on scene.

“Strong currents, changing wave action, and limited visibility beneath the water can quickly overwhelm even experienced swimmers and rescuers,” police said. “We urge everyone to pay close attention to beach conditions, heed all posted warnings, and stay out of the water when hazardous conditions are present.”

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According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there have been 23 Great Lakes drownings to date in 2026. 12 of those, the site showed, have been in Lake Michigan.



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Michigan basketball champ Yaxel Lendeborg joins Warriors, gets chance to learn from Curry, Draymond Green

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Michigan basketball champ Yaxel Lendeborg joins Warriors, gets chance to learn from Curry, Draymond Green


NEW YORKMichigan Wolverines national champion Yaxel Lendeborg grew up rooting against Stephen Curry and Draymond Green; now he’ll be learning from them.

The Golden State Warriors selected him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Tuesday night, adding a versatile, defense-first playmaker from a national championship team to a franchise built on championship standards.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Lendeborg said after being drafted.“I’ve been saying this every time I get asked this question, but in 2016, I’m a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry. So now that I’m actually gonna be on the same team with him, play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot.”

Lendeborg said Curry’s reputation extends beyond the court.

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“I met him a couple of times. He’s a very great guy, genuine person, and it’s gonna be an honor to be able to watch him do what he does in person,” Lendeborg said.

Lendeborg is coming off a breakout season at Michigan, where he helped former coach Dusty May’s Wolverines win a national championship.

He became one of college basketball’s top defenders, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team while developing into a versatile forward who could impact the game on both ends.

“I feel like what will translate quickly for me would be just my defense, my versatility,” Lendeborg said. “Just the IQ of the game, making the right reads, making the play at the right time.”

In Golden State, Lendeborg will also have a chance to learn from veteran Draymond Green, the longtime Warriors leader and Michigan State Spartans legend, known for defense, playmaking, and voice in the locker room.

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One immediate adjustment will be a new jersey number.

Lendeborg wore No. 23 at Michigan, but Green wears it for the Warriors.

Lendeborg joked that his backup choice, No. 3, is also unavailable.

“I think now that I’m stepping into the NBA, I’m going to step in with another number and start a new legacy,” Lendeborg said.

He also carried his Michigan rivalry energy with him on draft night. Asked if he would wear Michigan State gear to convince Green to give up No. 23, Lendeborg quickly said no.

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“Nah, I’m not doing that, man,” Lendeborg said. “I hate those guys. I only been there for one year, but I definitely hate those guys.”

Lendeborg pointed to Michigan’s success against the Spartans during its title run.

“They can’t really say much because I went 2-0 against them this year,” Lendeborg said. “They’re gonna be little brother for me forever.”

Lendeborg also said his decision to return to college for another season helped him develop before making the jump to the NBA.

“When I was getting recruited by Dusty, he said he was going to make me a lottery pick,” Lendeborg said. “Evidently, he made me a lottery pick.”

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“I went back because I didn’t feel like I was ready yet,” Lendeborg added. “I wanted to become a better person, better player. I wanted to develop pro habits.”

Michigan’s championship group shared draft night moments as several Wolverines were selected in the first round.

Lendeborg said the players stayed connected throughout the process.

“We were all super excited, super nervous,” Lendeborg said. “We were just talking about who we think is going to go first, who’s going where.”

He also joked that Dusty May would leave Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks after the title, then select teammate Morez Johnson Jr. No. 9 overall.

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“I’m definitely mad at Dusty right now because we know who his favorite is now,” Lendeborg said.

Despite the banter, he said he was happy for his former teammate.

“I’m super happy for Morez. He definitely deserves it, and he’s going to be a great pro for sure,” he said.

Now Lendeborg heads to Golden State with the confidence of a champion and the chance to learn from champions.

“I’m super excited,” Lendeborg said. “I’m excited to be there and play

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