Michigan
Missing White River kayaker found safe, police say
Michigan State Police say a kayaker who went missing on White River northeast of Montague and Whitehall on Sunday, June 14, has been located safe, after a three-day search.
The man, Justin Wolfiss, 44, entered the river in a kayak at Sischo Bayou around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday with a friend, but did not arrive with his friend at the end point of their trip.
Wolfiss was located safe near Pines Point, officials announced on Tuesday, June 16.
He is currently being medically evaluated, officials say.
Wolfiss and his friend were traveling downstream toward the Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery, near Diamond Point, when they were separated early in the 3- to 4-hour trip, police said.
The friend, police said, waited several hours for Wolfiss to arrive after reaching Diamond Point around 7 p.m.
“The Michigan State Police would like to thank Blue Lake Township Fire Department, Hesperia Fire Department, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MSP Aviation, MSP K-9, partnering agencies, volunteers, and members of the public who assisted in the search effort and shared information.”
Michigan
Report: Michigan cancels volleyball game vs. Texas Tech, to discuss prohibiting other contests
The fallout from the Brendan Sorsby saga continues. On Monday, Michigan canceled a scheduled volleyball game against Texas Tech, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger.
According to Dellenger, Michigan “plans to hold further discussions with its athletic staff on prohibiting contests against the Red Raiders.” The program becomes the latest to expressly state intent not to schedule Texas Tech amid the ongoing Sorsby saga.
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The controversy involves legal rulings that have made Sorsby eligible to play after Texas Tech and the NCAA declared him ineligible over sports wagering. Sorsby was granted an injunction against the NCAA that restored his eligibility temporarily, allowing him to play in 2026 after serving a two-game suspension.
Many, including the Big 12 itself, have come out staunchly against the ruling. They argue it presents an existential threat to the integrity of college athletics.
Sorsby placed dozens of sports bets while a student-athlete, including bets on his own program while at Indiana. The NCAA prohibits such activity.
Because of the legal posturing by Sorsby, the Big 12 and even programs outside the conference, like Michigan, have explored various avenues to state their own intent. Already, programs like Georgia and Nebraska have taken steps to avoid scheduling Texas Tech in athletics contests as a form of protest.
Last week, reports emerged from both athletic departments about their intent. Dellenger provided much of the reporting.
“Based on recent developments, Georgia Athletics will not schedule future contests against Texas Tech until further notice,” Georgia’s internal message read.
“Please review your sport’s current schedules and future scheduling plans. If you have any contests currently scheduled against Texas Tech, or are actively engaged in scheduling discussions with Texas Tech, please notify your sport administrator as soon as possible so we can evaluate the situation and determine next steps.
“Effective immediately, no new contests should be scheduled against Texas Tech without prior approval from the Athletics Department.”
The message from Nebraska was a bit briefer. But it carried the same directive.
“I want to reach out to let you know we will not schedule any contests vs. Texas Tech in any sport,” the memo read. “If you currently have a future contest already scheduled, please connect with (Nebraska athletic director) Troy (Dannen) immediately.”
Now Michigan has reportedly actively taken a step to cancel a contest against Texas Tech. It may not be the last, either.
Michigan
Mark Hollis tells AP he’s interested in Michigan State AD job after Kentucky hires J Batt
The University of Kentucky has hired athletic director J Batt away from Michigan State, a little more than a year after he left Georgia Tech.
Kentucky announced the move on Monday, delivering another blow to Michigan State’s leadership.
“The championship standard has been established at Kentucky and we are committed to upholding that standard of excellence,” Batt said.
Shortly thereafter, former Michigan State AD Mark Hollis told The Associated Press he wants to lead the Spartans’ athletic department again.
“I would be interested in talking to Michigan State about it,” Hollis said at Detroit Golf Club, where he was serving his role as tournament director of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic. “I care for the university and I want to help it in any way I can.”
Batt will succeed retiring Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Barnhart has had the job since 2002, making him the longest-serving AD in the Southeastern Conference. Barnhart won’t take on a high-paying role at the school after Gov. Andy Beshear questioned decision-making at the school.
A year ago, Michigan State hired Batt away from Georgia Tech, where he was its athletic director since the fall of 2022. Before leading Georgia Tech’s athletic department, he was executive deputy athletic director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department.
Michigan State athletic director J Batt speaks during a news conference, June 4, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. Credit: AP/Larry Lage
“Across these institutions, J has distinguished himself as a record-breaker in fundraising and as a leader who strategically invests in facilities to maximize resources and revenue,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said.
Batt’s exit follows Michigan State President Kevin M. Guskiewicz choosing to leave for the same job at Clemson.
Hollis had a successful run for a decade as AD at Michigan State before announcing his retirement in 2018 amid the fallout from the sex abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar, a former Michigan State sports doctor who also worked for USA Gymnastics.
He also was credited with innovative concepts such as putting a court in the middle of a football field as he did when Michigan State played Kentucky in 2003 at Detroit’s Ford Field in front of a then-world-record crowd of 78,129 at a basketball game.
Hollis, a Michigan State graduate and close friend of Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo, hired Mark Dantonio and he became the school’s all-time winningest football coach.
Michigan
NWS confirms two EF0 tornadoes touched down in West Michigan Thursday night
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Two tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, one in Kent County and the other in Barry County.
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids released information on the two twisters over the weekend after storm survey findings had been compiled.
Both tornadoes were rated EF0 and were estimated to have occurred at the same time, from 9:31 to 9:34 p.m., along the leading edge of a severe thunderstorm.
Kent County EF0
According to the preliminary survey results, the Kent County tornado touched down 2 miles east-southeast of Caledonia, near and north of 100th Street just east of the Thornapple River near Alaska Avenue Southeast.
The NWS said the twister reached peak intensity while moving through the southern part of Saskatoon Golf Club, where significant tree damage occurred.
An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in southeastern Kent County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 85 mph. (WWMT)
The Kent County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 85 mph, traveled 4.25 miles and had a maximum width of 75 yards, according to the storm survey results.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Barry County EF0
The NWS said another brief tornado initially touched down about 2 miles south-southwest of Irving, north of Bowens Mill Road between Yankee Springs Road and North Peets Road.
After crossing North Peets Road, the most intense damage was observed along North Whitmore Road, where tree damage was more extensive and a house was covered in fallen branches, the NWS said.
An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Barry County during severe storms on Thursday night, June 11, 2026. The tornado had maximum wind speeds estimated up to 75 mph. (WWMT)
After lifting just shy of 3 miles east of where it touched down, the same thunderstorm went on to produce sporadic pockets of straight-line wind damage from North Irving Road all the way into the north side of Hastings.
The Barry County tornado had maximum winds estimated at 75 mph, traveled 2.9 miles and had a maximum width of 50 yards, according to the storm survey results.
A busy season thus far
With the two additional tornadoes confirmed to have touched down in West Michigan, the statewide total now stands at 20 in 2026.
Following the confirmation of 2 tornadoes in West Michigan on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, Michigan’s tornado tally now stands at 20 so far this year. (WWMT)
Michigan averages about 15 tornadoes a year, with a seasonal peak typically expected in May and June.
This season got off to an early start on March 6, when four tornadoes touched down in West Michigan, including an EF2 in Three Rivers and an EF3 in Union City.
The storms Thursday were part of a larger severe weather outbreak on June 11, 2026, which brought more than 30 tornadoes to the Midwest, with some of the strongest occurring in Illinois and Indiana.
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