Michigan

Trombley, Coffia paint contrasting pictures for northern Michigan • Michigan Advance

Published

1 year ago

October 3, 2024

Trombley, Coffia paint contrasting pictures for northern Michigan • Michigan Advance

This coverage is made possible in part through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

The two candidates in a closely watched House race in northern Michigan laid out their positions as an audience ate pie and ice cream inside the gym at Glen Arbor Township Hall.

The 103rd House District encompasses Leelanau County, as well as parts of Grand Traverse and Benzie counties. The Cherry Pie Debate is presented by the Leelanau Enterprise, IPR and the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County.

Coffia and Trombley showed a stark contrast on things like climate change, gun control and abortion, while also addressing more local topics, like northern Michigan’s difficult housing market and the struggles of area cherry farmers.

Climate change

Last year, Michigan House Democrats passed the state’s new clean energy standard by razor thin margins. One of those votes came from Coffia, who in 2022 flipped that seat for the Democrats by a margin of 765 votes.

Coffia and Trombley have different approaches to climate change — and what to do about it.

“I’m probably not going to do much on this topic,” Trombley said. “Science can argue science. In my mind, a lot of that ends up being theoretical and hypothetical, and we have so many problems and challenges that we need to address that we can completely get to the root cause of lay in a plan of attack and make something happen, I think we ought to stay focused there.”

Scientists are in wide agreement that human-caused climate change is happening.

Trombley said the push for clean energy had to be balanced with practical considerations and said she opposes expensive measures to address climate change.

Things that are expensive — talk about Asheville being underwater,” Coffia countered, referencing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated western North Carolina and several other states. (Climate change is contributing to dangerous hurricanes like Helene.)

She said it made financial sense to address the crisis now and that Michigan has the most clean energy jobs and workers in the Midwest.

“We are in the position now to draw down over $8 billion in federal infrastructure money because we adopted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate plan,” Coffia said. “We codified it, and what that does is move us in the direction of clean, carbon neutral energy as a state by 2040.”

Coffia praised local utilities, like Cherryland Electrical Co-op, which is hoping to be carbon-free even sooner by 2030.

Housing

The two candidates agreed broadly on the need to fix northern Michigan’s housing woes, even if they differ on how to do that. The region has been struggling with low housing availability and high costs.

Coffia said she wants to direct money from visitors back into local investments.

”There’s a bill package right now that I support that would allow us to tax our vacationers (and) use the funds from those short term rentals toward building housing for our permanent workforce, as well as pay for infrastructure and public safety,” she said.

Trombley said Lansing can’t solve the problem alone, but there are steps the state can take.

“The legislature could drive forward and work an expansion of some of the utilities in the infrastructure that would also then make whatever housing gets built on top of that that much more affordable,” Trombley said. “So there are ways to move forward and to move the needle, and there’s not one size fits all.”

Addressing gun violence

Mass shootings continue to happen in American schools and in other public places — including in Michigan.

Coffia and Trombley are far apart on what should be done about it, at least at the legislative level.

Coffia noted that shortly into her first term, a shooting happened just a few miles away from the Capitol, on the campus of Michigan State University. And she pointed to several measures state lawmakers passed afterward — from universal background checks and safe storage laws to a red flag laws that temporarily removes guns from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

“I grew up in a hunting family. That’s part of how we fed ourselves in the winter, was venison,” Coffia said. “I’m an excellent shot with a pistol and I enjoy target shooting with my sheriff in Grand Traverse (County). And this is about reasonable protections for public safety and especially our children. There is more we can do.”

Coffia said she wants to look at additional action in the term ahead.

Trombley was much more reticent to see more laws about firearms.

“What can Lansing do? We can have 3,000 laws on the books. It’s not going to stop that one person who is compelled to create violence in any kind of circumstance,” Trombley said. “I know that’s a terrible thing to say and we don’t want to hear that, but at some point we have to understand what we can and cannot do. It’s imperative that we be cautious with additional laws because every law we put on the books, quite frankly, is an infringement on that Second Amendment.”

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Michigan

What time is Michigan basketball’s game vs Wisconsin today? TV, stream

Published

9 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

What time is Michigan basketball’s game vs Wisconsin today? TV, stream

Michigan basketball finally got tested last game for this first time in almost two months.

Ever since a tough win on the road at TCU on Nov. 14, the Wolverines have been absolutely steamrolling everyone on their schedule. But Penn State finally offered some resistance that Michigan just hasn’t been seeing.

In Michigan’s third true road game of the season, the Wolverines were pushed to the brink in University Park, Pennsylvania, as the Nittany Lions found a way to keep it close without their leading scorer, freshman Kayden Mingo, who was scratched just before the game.

Michigan led by as much as 15 in the second half against the Nittany Lions, but Penn State just kept chipping away. Ultimately it came down to a final shot for Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V, who seemingly lost track of the clock and was forced to jack up a prayer that didn’t go in. As they say, an ugly win is better than an ugly loss, especially for a Michigan team who has been nearly flawless in every other game.

On Saturday, the Wolverines will return to the friendly confines of the Crisler Center for an early afternoon tipoff against the Wisconsin Badgers (CBS, 1 p.m.) for a chance to get back to the dominant style they were playing before.

Here’s what you need to know for Michigan’s game against Wisconsin on Saturday:

What channel is Michigan basketball vs Wisconsin

Michigan basketball will face Wisconsin in a nationally televised game on CBS.

How to stream Michigan vs Wisconsin basketball

Michigan basketball vs Wisconsin start time today

Date: Saturday, Jan. 10.
Time: 1 p.m. ET.
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor.

Michigan basketball schedule 2025-26 next 5 games

Find the Wolverines’ full 2025-26 schedule.

Saturday, Jan. 10: Wisconsin, 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
Wednesday, Jan. 14: at Washington, 10:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.
Saturday, Jan. 17: at Oregon, 4 p.m. ET, NBC.
Tuesday, Jan. 20: Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, Peacock.
Friday, Jan. 23: Ohio State, 8 p.m., Fox.

Michigan vs Wisconsin prediction

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Morez Johnson Jr.’s early foul trouble against Penn State was a big factor in that close finish; as deep as U-M is, it does not have a replacement for his motor and ability to switch on defense. Presumably, that narrow win was a wakeup call for Michigan, and while it’s hard to expect the Wolverines to beat teams by 30 or 40 a night, this one could be lopsided by the end. The pick: U-M 92, Wisconsin 73.

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

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Michigan

Butler WR transfer Braydon Alford commits to Michigan football

Published

21 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Butler WR transfer Braydon Alford commits to Michigan football

Butler wide receiver transfer Braydon Alford, the son of Michigan offensive run game coordinator and running backs coach Tony Alford, has committed to U-M under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, he announced on social media Friday evening.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Dublin, Ohio, native didn’t appear in any games in his two seasons at Butler and has three years of eligibility remaining.

From Alford’s bio while at Butler: “Set his school’s single-season receptions record with 90 catches during his senior year… Had 1,487 all-purpose yards that year and scored 10 touchdowns… Named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District and Third-Team All-State as a senior… Team captain… Had an outstanding game against Hilliard Bradley in Week 5 which included 14 catches for 195 yards and three touchdowns.”
Alford entered the transfer portal earlier this week and quickly became a Michigan commit.
Whittingham took the Michigan job Dec. 26 and quickly built his staff. One of three holdovers on the group of assistant coaches was Tony Alford, who’s entering his third season in Ann Arbor. Whittingham had a previous connection with Tony Alford’s family.
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“Tremendous football coach. I was blessed to have at Utah, his brother, Aaron Alford, before he passed away, worked for us for several years,” Whittingham said at his introductory press conference. “So I know the Alford family. Great family. Tony, I got a ton of respect for him and we’ll see how things work out in that direction.”
Alford was an unranked recruit out of Dublin (Ohio) Jerome.

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Michigan

Applications for spring turkey season in Michigan is open through Feb. 1. What to know

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

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Applications for spring turkey season in Michigan is open through Feb. 1. What to know

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources opened applications through Feb. 1 for Michigan’s spring turkey season.

Officials say there are some changes to the 2026 season, such as the number of turkey management units, which are designated areas open to hunters.

“These regulation changes uphold the goals for the spring turkey hunting season: maximizing hunter opportunity while also maintaining satisfactory hunting experiences across the state,” said Adam Bump, DNR upland game bird specialist.

Here’s what to know about licenses for the upcoming turkey season. For more information on other regulations, visit the DNR’s website.

How much do the applications cost?

Turkey season applications cost $5 each and are available online on the DNR’s website, at any license agent or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

A map of license agents is available online.

Who is eligible to apply?

Hunters aged 17 and older during the hunting period are eligible to apply for a license as long as they have a hunter education certificate or an apprentice license.

Anyone between the ages of 10 and 16 can purchase a turkey youth license. Anyone age 9 and under can participate through a mentored hunting program to receive a license. Youth turkey licenses are valid for all three management units and season dates.

Where and when can I hunt?

In 2026, the DNR announced that it had reduced the turkey management unit from 14 to three — Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula. The units also determine the type of license hunters can obtain and when they can hunt.

View a map of the turkey management units below:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

A Hunt 0110 license is for the Upper Peninsula, with an April 18-May 31 hunting season. Hunt 0134 license is valid for the northern Lower Peninsula and is available from April 18 to May 1. The Hunt 0302 license is available for the southern Lower Peninsula from April 18 to May 1. A Hunt 0303 license is also available for the Southern Lower Peninsula (May 2-31).

These licenses have a limited number available.

Other licenses include Hunt 0234, which is for statewide (April 25-May 31), and Hunt 0301, which is for private land (April 18-May 31). Hunt 0234 is valid on private and public lands in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, but private only in the southern Lower Peninsula, as well as Fort Custer military lands, with permission.

How can I get a license?

Hunters who apply for a license are entered into a random drawing system. The drawing results are available on March 2.

The Hunt 0234 license (statewide) and Hunt 0301 license (private land) do not require people to enter a drawing. These licenses can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. on March 16. Hunters can check their drawing results online or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

“These changes will give hunters longer seasons and bigger units to hunt in,” said Bump.

Anyone who is not selected in the drawing can purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. on March 9. Anyone who did not enter the drawing can purchase a leftover license on March 16.

How many licenses are available?

There is a 6,000-license quota for Hunt 0110 (Upper Peninsula), an 18,000-license quota for Hunt 0134 (northern Lower Peninsula), a 6,000-license quota for Hunt 0302 (southern Lower Peninsula April season) and an 8,000-license quota for Hunt 0303 (southern Lower Peninsula May season).

Hunt 0234 (statewide) and Hunt 0301 (private land) licenses are unlimited.