MILWAUKEE (AP) — Trump-Vance 2024.

The Republican presidential ticket came together on Monday when Donald Trump named JD Vance as his running mate. In turning to the 39-year-old Ohio senator, the Republican nominee injected new energy into a campaign that has centered in recent weeks on questions of age following President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance.

The Republican National Convention opened less than 48 hours after Trump was the subject of a shocking assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The shooting, which left Trump injured and one man dead, loomed over the convention with speakers expressing gratitude for the former president’s survival and resolved to win back the White House in November.

Here are some takeaways from the first day of the convention.

Trump made a powerful entrance

Just two days after a gunman tried to kill him, Trump walked into the convention hall with a bandage over his injured right ear as the singer Lee Greewood performed “God Bless the USA,” a regular feature of the former president’s rallies. Trump waved to the crowd and pumped his fist in the air, a regular gesture that has taken on new meaning after he made a similar motion from the stage as Secret Service agents whisked him to safety on Saturday.

The crowd stood and cheered with delight at the sight of their nominee. Trump, who is rarely left without words, made no formal comments. But the sight of him said plenty, offering a palpable reminder of the former president’s narrow miss from tragedy.

He then greeted his family before taking a seat between Vance and commentator Tucker Carlson.

The GOP’s Trump-era evolution was on full display

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is arguably responsible for the GOP’s biggest policy accomplishments, particularly in installing conservative judges at all levels of the judiciary. But that didn’t matter much to the Trump-friendly crowd at the RNC, which greeted the Kentucky Republican with boos — a tangible rejection of someone demonized as an establishment Republican who has insufficiently supported the former president.

Just a short while later, Vance enjoyed a much different reception. The second-youngest U.S. senator — and the first millennial to appear on a major party ticket — received raucous applause when he walked onto the convention floor for the first time as Trump’s running mate.

The dueling moments offered a window into the changes that have swept the GOP under Trump — bookending an era in which McConnell has gone from one of his party’s most powerful leaders and incisive tacticians to getting jeered on the convention floor by his own party’s activists.

Stylistically, McConnell and Vance couldn’t be much more different. Vance, an outspoken MAGA warrior, is one of Trump’s chief acolytes. McConnell, meanwhile, has an understated demeanor while his political sensibilities are rooted in the GOP of Ronald Reagan.

Without McConnell, however, the 39-year-old Vance’s political rise might not have been possible.

Two years ago, Vance was struggling to raise money and up against a well-funded Democratic opponent. McConnell’s super PAC swept in with more than $30 million in advertising spending.

Vance won and began his climb to prominence. McConnell, now in the twilight of his political career, will step down as the GOP’s Senate leader in November.

Unions are the GOP’s new friend?

For decades, Democrats have been the party of labor unions, while Republicans have been outwardly hostile to them.

But on the opening night of the RNC, Trump threw the doors of the convention open to International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who delivered the final speech of the night and singled out both major political parties for not doing enough for working people.

If it seems unusual for a president of a major labor union to address a major gathering of Republicans, that’s because it is. For decades the party has pushed anti-labor laws intended to curtail the ability of unions to organize.

But in his speech, which wasn’t always warmly received by Republicans in attendance, O’Brien said workers are being taken for granted and sold out to big banks, big tech, the corporate elite, as well as both parties in Washington.

His speech amounted to criticism of Biden, who often likes to boast that he’s “the most pro-union president in history.”

As Trump continues to scramble American politics and position himself as a champion of working people, O’Brien appeared to be making clear that Democrats shouldn’t take labor for granted.

“We are not beholden to anyone or any party,” O’Brien said.

Republicans spoke of unity — but leaned into hot-button social issues

The first night of the RNC was supposed to be about the economy, with the goal of uniting voters of all ideological persuasions who are frustrated by high prices. But some of the biggest applause lines came from harsh criticisms of transgender people.

It’s a reminder that cultural issues motivate the GOP base as much as financial ones. A trio of speakers unabashedly went after Democrats who have sought greater acceptance for transgender people. Of particular outrage to Republicans this year was Biden marking Transgender Day of Visibility. It happened to overlap with Easter in 2024, a byproduct of the Christian holiday being based off the lunar calendar.

To many in the LGBTQ+ community, it was a coincidence. But to many Republicans, it was an insult.

“They promised normalcy and gave us Transgender Visibility Day on Easter Sunday,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. “And let me state this clearly, there are only two genders.”

Other Republicans sought to make the issue a matter of fairness. Their argument was that it’s wrong to ask “girls” to compete against transgender athletes. The Biden administration proposed a rule in April that would prevent schools and colleges from enacting outright bans on transgender athletes, a rule that was quickly challenged in court.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said at the convention it was all part of a “fringe agenda” that “includes biological males competing against girls.”

Rep. John James, R-Mich., tried to equate it to part of a broader critique of Democrats, saying that they promised to offer the country hope and had failed. “Our daughters were sold on hope, and now they’re being forced on the playing fields and changing rooms with biological males,” James said.

Republicans hit Biden hard on inflation

To hear Republicans tell it, inflation had crushed the U.S. economy and it’s all Biden’s fault.

The argument is a key message for voters who may have doubts about Trump’s ethics but still trust his economic judgment. None of the speeches at the convention offered much of a detailed explanation as to why prices went up. That would require acknowledging the broken supply chains after the pandemic as well as how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up food and energy costs. But Biden pushed through $1.9 trillion in pandemic aid and the GOP argued that Americans have suffered as a result by paying more for groceries and gasoline.

This was all about taking the troubling inflation data and ignoring the positives in the economy such as a strong job market and solid growth as the economy has recovered.

“So many American families have to live with so much less,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. “This is too high a price to pay for an administration that has brought us to such lows.”

But how would the GOP fix inflation?

The speakers never really gave a plan, other than simply returning Trump to the White House.

— By Adriana Gomez Licon, Brian Slodysko and Josh Boak Associated Press

A tornado watch has been issued across northern Illinois into southwest Lower Michigan and northwest Indiana. Intense severe weather is ongoing in Iowa and Illinois at 8:00 p.m. and heading east.

The Michigan counties in the tornado watch are Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo and Van Buren. The tornado watch extends to 2 a.m. here in Michigan.

There are several tornado warnings now with the severe thunderstorms just west of Michigan in northern Illinois. Our best model that has been able to forecast tornadic supercell thunderstorms a few times this summer is now forecasting a supercell storm will move into southwest Lower Michigan near midnight.

Here is that severe storm forecasting model and the radar forecast from it for late evening and overnight.

The severe situation is leaning much more toward a straightline wind event, but a few tornadoes are also possible. In the end, the more widespread threat will be significant straightline wind gusts.

The National Weather Service has used beefed up wording on the strength of the gusts saying numerous gusts between 70 mph and 90 mph are possible in the tornado watch area.

One good thing for southwest Michigan is we will be on the very tail end of the severe weather time period. The storms likely enter the southwest corner off Lake Michigan around 11 p.m give or take an hour. There is still enough instability expected then to support significant severe thunderstorms. Over the course of the few hours through 2 a.m. Tuesday the energy for damaging severe storms should wane and the storms weaken.

The National Weather Service wrote in the tornado watch that, “Thunderstorms are expected to evolve into one or more bow echoes from Iowa into northern Illinois this evening, with the potential to produce swaths of significant severe gusts up to 75-90 mph and several tornadoes with embedded circulations. The storms will spread into northwest Indiana and southwest Lower Michigan later tonight.”

Look for the severe thunderstorms to enter Michigan’s part of the tornado watch sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight. This would include Benton Harbor, Niles, Three Rivers, Kalamazoo and the rest of the very southwest corner of Michigan. Between midnight and 2 a.m. the storms should move along the I-94 corridor through Jackson, Ann Arbor and the Detroit area. During this time the storms should be weakening but still could be on the verge of severe.

If the storms are very severe when they hit your area move to the basement during the storms or go to the interior-most part of your house. Campers should not stay in your camper during these storms.

You can track the severe thunderstorms on these radars stretching from Illinois into southwest Michigan.

Keep updated with MLive here all through this round of severe weather.

Courtney Hawkins, Michigan State football’s wide receivers coach, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the team as he enters his fifth season in this pivotal role.

A former NFL player with nine seasons under his belt, Hawkins transitioned smoothly into coaching after concluding his professional playing career. Before joining Michigan State, he made a significant impact as a coach at Flint Beecher High School, where he cultivated a reputation for developing young talent and instilling a winning mentality.

Hawkins’ journey from NFL player to respected coach has been marked by his deep commitment to the game and his players. Known for his approachable demeanor and genuine care for those under his mentorship, Hawkins has quickly become a beloved figure among the Michigan State football players. His ability to relate to them on both personal and professional levels has fostered a strong bond, creating an environment where players thrive and develop both on and off the field.

As Michigan State gears up for the upcoming season, Hawkins is poised to play a pivotal role in the team’s success. His expertise in coaching wide receivers is complemented by his understanding of the game at a strategic level, honed through years of playing at the highest level. Hawkins’ coaching style emphasizes discipline, technique, and a relentless work ethic — essential for any successful football team aiming to compete at the highest level.

Beyond his technical knowledge, Hawkins brings a unique perspective to the team. His journey from a small-town high school star to an NFL player and now a respected coach resonates deeply with the players he mentors. His experiences serve as both a source of inspiration and a blueprint for success, illustrating the possibilities that lie ahead for those willing to dedicate themselves to their craft.

As the season approaches, Hawkins remains focused on preparing his receivers to excel. Whether fine-tuning route running, improving catching technique, or fostering a winning mindset, he leaves no stone unturned in his quest to elevate his unit’s performance. His dedication and leadership are invaluable assets to Michigan State football, ensuring that the team is well-prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming season.

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