Michigan

Michigan Panthers showcase stability in kicking off 2025 training camp

Published

10 months ago

March 3, 2025

Michigan Panthers showcase stability in kicking off 2025 training camp

In a league that’s heavy on turnover, the Michigan Panthers have found some stability entering the 2025 season.

More than 60% of the projected roster is made up of returning players, and the entire coaching staff is back, including third-year head coach Mike Nolan. That made things a bit easier Monday as the Panthers hit the field for the first practice of training camp, ahead of the March 30 United Football League season opener at Memphis.

The return of the entire coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Collin Bauer and defensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille, is a big benefit, if an overlooked one, especially since training camp is about a week shorter than last season, when the United States Football League and XFL merged operations.

“It’s better than putting in a new system on a short training camp,” Nolan said after practice Monday. “I would say it’s good. Our players obviously that are returning will know the language, so you don’t have an entire football team learning a new language. That’s a little bit of, I will use the word, advantage. That’s the biggest thing.

“The players are the ones that benefit, the fact the coaches are all back. It’s easier for the returning players to kind of pick it up and just start playing football. Because of that, that also helps the new guys learn that much quicker.

“I really enjoy our coaching staff. They like doing this and so do it. It’s a good deal.”

The Panthers had near-full participation during a shortened practice Monday, including from the team’s three quarterbacks, returners Danny Etling and Bryce Perkins and newcomer Rocky Lombardi (Michigan State), a sign that contract talks between the UFL ownership and players is going well. The league’s 24 quarterbacks signed a letter holding out of a mini-camp last week amid contract negotiations over salaries and health care.

The Panthers, like with all eight UFL teams, are practicing in the Arlington, Texas, area, and will continue to travel each week to all 10 regular-season games, including five home games at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Panthers made the playoffs each of the last two seasons, in the USFL in 2023 and the UFL in 2024. Michigan was 7-3 last season, a year most-known for the emergence of future Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates. Several other Michigan Panthers from 2024 got looks from NFL teams, a big reason, Nolan believes, why the roster stability is so strong.

“They know they have a shot to get back in the NFL,” said Nolan, a former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Nolan said he expects two areas to see significant competition this spring: the secondary and offensive line. He also is intrigued by the receivers in camp. Running back Jaden Shirden, of Monmouth, made a strong impression Monday.

The Panthers have 61 players in training camp, including eight with local ties: Lombardi, offensive lineman Brian Dooley (Eastern Michigan), offensive lineman J.D. Duplain (Michigan State), defensive back Gemon Green (Michigan), defensive back Keni-H Lovely (Western Michigan), running back Nate McCrary (Muskegon; Saginaw Valley State), tight end Gunnar Oakes (Eastern Michigan) and defensive end Kenny Willekes (Rockford; Michigan State).

The rosters will be cut down to 50, with 43 active (including a third, emergency quarterback) on game days. The Panthers open the season on the road, before playing three straight home games, starting Friday night, April 4, against Birmingham at Ford Field.

“We’re always trying to get better,” Nolan, 65, said following the introductory practice Monday. “The energy was really good, the guys are obviously eager to get out there and run around. I thought there was a little more athleticism out of some of the guys, the new guys.

“It’s a good group.”

Michigan Panthers schedule

▶ March 30: at Memphis, noon (ESPN)

▶ April 4: vs. Birmingham, 8 (Fox)

▶ April 13: vs. San Antonio, noon (ABC)

▶ April 18: vs. Memphis, 8 (Fox)

▶ April 26: at St. Louis 7 (ESPN)

▶ May 4: vs. DC, noon (ESPN2)

▶ May 10: at Arlington, 1 (Fox)

▶ May 17: at Houston, 1 (Fox)

▶ May 24: at Birmingham, 3 (ABC)

▶ May 31: vs. Houston, 3 (ESPN)

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

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Michigan

Michigan Lottery contributions over $1B to K-12 schools for 7th year in a row, state says

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Lottery contributions over B to K-12 schools for 7th year in a row, state says

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Lottery’s annual contribution to K-12 education reached more than $1 billion for the seventh time in a row in 2025, according to the state.

The amount at $1.16 billion makes up roughly 5-6% of the state’s School Aid Fund, which has exceeded $20 billion in recent years.

It peaked in 2021 at $1.4 billion, according to the state budget office, marking a 78.4% increase in six years at the time. The reported portion for 2025 marks a slight decrease when compared to the previous five years.

In a release on Wednesday, Jan. 7, the state reported the total Lottery contribution had reached more than $30 billion since it began in 1972 and $8.7 billion within a seven-year span.

“In (2025), Lottery retailers earned more than $300 million in commissions for the sixth straight year,” Acting Lottery Commissioner Joe Froehlich said in a statement. “The support the Lottery provides to public education and to businesses throughout the state is critical and far-reaching.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office utilized Wednesday’s announcement to recap the current state investment in K-12 schools based on the budget deal lawmakers green-lit in October three months after the current fiscal year was already underway.

That includes a 4.6% hike to $10,050 per student, $201.6 million to maintain a free universal meals program that Whitmer said saves “parents almost $1,000 a year per kid,” and a series of investments geared toward boosting literacy skills.

“This year’s lottery contributions will help build on that progress and make a difference for students, educators and schools across Michigan,” the governor said in a statement.

Other budget highlights included hundreds of millions in grants to reduce class sizes and school infrastructure, as well as for career-technical education and English-language learners.

Additionally, there was another $258.7 million boost to $1.3 billion for at-risk student supports and $321 million to support mental health and school safety initiatives ― the latter including a waiver requirement that spurred litigation from schools against the state in late 2025.

According to the Michigan Lottery, participating retailers earned more than $330 million in commissions for the 2025 fiscal year. Since 2019, when the Lottery’s streak of billion-dollar contributions to the School Aid Fund began, the state reported more than $2.3 billion in commissions.

Lottery products are sold at more than 10,000 locations across the state, and over 700 retailers sold $1 million or more last year in Lottery games.

Michigan residents took home more than $2.8 billion in prizes in 2025 and over $58 billion since the Lottery began.

According to the state, roughly 25 cents went to the School Aid Fund from every dollar spent on a Michigan Lottery Ticket, while 63 cents went to players as prizes, 9 cents to vendor commissions and 3 cents to the Lottery’s operations.

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Michigan

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Jan. 6, 2026

Published

15 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for Jan. 6, 2026

The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 6, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 6-1-8

Evening: 5-7-8

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

Midday: 8-3-7-9

Evening: 1-7-2-3

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

10-13-24-27-31, Lucky Ball: 08

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

JD-4C-7D-2H-10S

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

05-25-26-28-34

03-05-11-22-32

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from Jan. 6 drawing

03-06-08-13-14-16-17-27-28-32-34-40-41-48-51-56-59-60-64-68-74-79

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lottery’s Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

Michigan Lottery

Attn: Claim Center

101 E. Hillsdale

P.O. Box 30023

Lansing, MI 48909

For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a driver’s license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.

If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:

Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325
Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325
Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325
Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325
Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325
Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325

For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s prize claim page.

When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?

Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.
Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily
Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily
Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily
Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Michigan

Michigan Football S Jordan Young enters transfer portal

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Michigan Football S Jordan Young enters transfer portal

Announced on Tuesday evening, Michigan true freshman safety Jordan Young has entered the transfer portal.

A former four-star prospect from Monroe, North Carolina, Young flipped his commitment at the last moment from Clemson to Michigan in the 2025 class. He played in nine games this season for the Wolverines and had 15 tackles and three pass breakups, with all three pass breakups coming in the final four games of the season.

We wish Young the very best at his next college football program.

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