Michigan State football has added to the 2026 recruiting class, landing a massive priority target in the first weekend of official visit season.

Englewood (CO) native Braylon Hodge has made his commitment to Michigan State, cancelling his remaining official visits. The Spartans beat out Iowa, Minnesota and Utah for the 6-foot-3, 210 pound linebacker. He is a highly rated 3-star, ranking as an 88-rated player on 247Sports, and the No. 44 linebacker in America.

Hodge has been a rapidly rising prospect in the region, and he almost certainly will be someone that is going to see his stock continue to rise as he continue to show off his ability with his size. Getting him to commit is a massive win for the Spartans.

He is the first defensive commitment for Michigan State in the 2026 recruiting class, and comes at a massive position of need.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner

More than 100 runners participated in the third annual Soles 4 Vets Memorial 5K at Granger Meadows Park in Lansing to support veterans across Michigan.

• More than 100 runners participated in the third annual Soles for Vets Memorial 5K at Granger Meadows Park in Lansing to support veterans across Michigan.
• The event raises funds for Footprints of Michigan, which provides free shoes to veterans, and the organizer, Geronimo Lerma, emphasized the growing impact and community support for the cause.
• Watch video below to learn more about how the “Sole Train” bus helps veterans in need and hear personal stories from participants, including a veteran who benefited from the program.

The event raises money for Footprints of Michigan, an organization that provides free shoes to veterans throughout the state.

WATCH VIDEO

Soles 4 Vets Memorial 5K raises funds for Michigan veterans’ footwear

Geronimo Lerma, executive director of Footprints of Michigan, highlighted the growing impact of the annual fundraiser.

“It’s a wonderful event that grows every year to see the people come out and support not just veterans, but the program itself. We travel all over the state of Michigan to help as many as we can yearly, so it helps out tremendously,” Lerma said.

The organization operates what they call the “Sole Train” bus, which travels across Michigan distributing shoes to veterans in need.

Roni Perkins, a veteran who participated in the race, shared how the program has personally benefited her.

“Every Veterans Day, I’m able to come in and pick up a pair of running shoes and then meet a lot of people in the community that are like me – veterans,” Perkins said.

Organizers hope to expand the event next year to assist even more veterans throughout Michigan.

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• Boating is a popular summertime activity in Michigan.
• The state’s expansive waterways include inland lakes and rivers and four of the Great Lakes.

Summer boating season in Michigan is getting underway, and boaters are already hitting the water.

A day out on clear, sparkling waters with loved ones offers a perfect summer getaway for Michigan boaters. The state is a boat lover’s paradise, boasting four of the Great Lakes and 11,000 inland lakes, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

“In Michigan, you are never more than 6 miles away from a lake, river or stream, so you never have to travel far to find a boaters paradise,” Pure Michigan says.

Here’s what to know.

5 places to tie off your boat and enjoy the day

When the day on the lake is done, consider docking in these areas and checking out nearby cities.

• Charlevoix: This northwest Michigan city borders Lake Charlevoix, Round Lake, the Round Lake Channel and Lake Michigan. The Charlevoix City Marina is open for the season and features a boaters’ lounge, floating docks, laundry facilities, a splash pad and restrooms. Nearby, the city features restaurants, hotels, a dog park and gardens.
• Detroit: The Motor City runs along an international border at the Detroit River. Among several docking options is the Riverside Marina, with the clubhouse featuring a jacuzzi, heated swimming pool, showers, locker room and laundry facilities. Downtown Detroit and nearby Midtown are packed with restaurants, museums, hotels, parks, theaters, shopping and sports venues.
• Holland: Holland borders Lake Macatawa and the Macatawa River, flowing toward Lake Michigan. Docking includes the Yacht Basin Marina, with a conference center and vacation rental units. The tourist town with Dutch heritage features tulip gardens, restaurants, a lighthouse, Dutch Village, museums, hotels and state parks.
• Higgins Lake State Park: North and South Higgins Lake State Park near Roscommon in northern Michigan are on Higgins Lake. The state parks provide boat launches, cabins, campgrounds, sandy beaches, a picnic area and hiking trails.
• Saginaw Bay: Along the bay on Lake Huron, cities in the thumb and central Michigan offer docking, including Bay City, Caseville, Au Gres and Linwood, among others. The region offers fishing, restaurants, parks, shopping and summer festivals, with Saginaw on the Saginaw River, and Frankenmuth short a drive farther inland.

6 places to boat this summer in Michigan

Here are six places to boat on in Michigan, according to Pure Michigan:

• Great Lakes: Enjoy boating on the vast waters of four Great Lakes bordering Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
• Lake Leelanau in Leland: This lake is split into two sections, North and South Lake Leelanau, featuring clear waters and a natural habitat of nearly 9,000 acres. Boaters can enjoy wildlife spotting and recreation, with nearby restaurants and vineyards for dining.
• Lake St. Clair in southeast Michigan: This popular metro Detroit lake connects Lake Erie, the Detroit River and Lake Huron. Lake St. Clair sees 3,000 freighters go through its shipping canal, and 150,000 boats registered in the area for recreation.
• Grand Lake in Alpena: In northeast Michigan, this over 8,900-acre lake features several small islands. The nearby Besser Museum for northeast Michigan highlights the region’s wooden sailing and motorized boats.
• Gull Lake in Battle Creek: This lake in southwest Michigan offers regular sailboat racing with a yacht club, scuba diving, homes and cottages along the shores and a fishery.
• Torch Lake resembles the Caribbean in its deep, multi-tone color. At 18 miles in length, Torch is Michigan’s longest inland lake. Its sand bars are so legendary that musician Kid Rock wrote a song about them. Torch also is the state’s deepest lake. The village of Alden, on the lake’s southeast curve, boasts one of the few public beaches.

Glide along the ‘Inland Waterway’

Michigan’s “Inland Waterway” cuts across the tip of the mitten, starting north of Petoskey and ending at Cheboygan.

Michigan’s longest chain of rivers and lakes covers nearly 40 miles, including Pickerel Lake and Crooked Lake, the Crooked River, Burt Lake, the Indian River, Mullett Lake, the Cheboygan River, and finally into Lake Huron.

The water trails connect seven state parks; numerous campgrounds, day-use parks, and resorts; 20 Little Traverse Conservancy Nature Preserves, and six communities.

How can you register your boat in Michigan?

Boats must be registered and you can do so through the Michigan Department of State. Some boats also require a title if they’re 20 feet long or longer, or have a permanently affixed engine.

More: Planning a beach trip? These 10 Michigan beaches are worth checking out

Registration is good for three years, expiring on March 31 of the third year, according to the state. Boat owners can renew online, via mail, at a self-service station or in-person at your local Secretary of State office.

What should you know before you go?

Check with your local boating access site for hours and rules. Most state-sponsored sites are closed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., says the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Life jackets must be on board and the type and number depend on the type of boat you have and how many people are on board, the Michigan DNR says.

If you plan to take a pet, check whether pets are allowed and how to handle them. In Michigan, pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash and under the owner’s immediate control and you must clean up after them and prevent them from interacting with wildlife.

More: New Motown Museum exhibit honors the life and career of musician-songwriter Hank Cosby

If you plan to fish or water ski, be sure to check local regulations, some inland lakes prohibit certain activities.

Can you take alcohol onboard your boat?

It’s illegal to operate a boat in Michigan while under the influence of alcohol, according to state law. Boaters with a 0.08% blood alcohol content or higher could face civil penalties like fines and imprisonment.

Some boating access sites in Michigan ban drinking alcohol, the Michigan DNR said.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.