Midwest
The cherry could be this state's official fruit if new bill passes
The Great Lake State may have an official fish and a state flower, but it has yet to have an official state fruit.
A bill introduced in the state Senate by Sen. John Damoose, is looking to change that by officially naming the cherry as Michigan’s fruit.
Michigan isn’t the only U.S. state without an official state fruit. Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut and Hawaii are a few other states that have not yet received the agricultural symbol.
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Michigan produces both sweet cherries for eating, and tart cherries which are commonly used for baked goods.
Sen. John Damoose introduced a bill to name a cherry as the state fruit of Michigan. (Photo by John L. Russell/Cherry Marketing Institute via Getty Images)
The state grows 70% of the United States’ supply of tart cherries, according to the Michigan Ag Council, an organization that raises awareness of food and agriculture.
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Damoose, who represents Michigan’s 37th congressional district, told Fox News Digital via email that the bill is more than just a feel-good measure.
The state grows 70% of the United States’ supply of tart cherries, according to Michigan Grown council. (Photo by Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“Instead, it is intended to highlight the challenges faced by the cherry industry that has been devastated by illegal dumping of product from foreign nations, unfair trading practices, and an onerous regulatory environment,” Damoose said.
The state of Michigan produced 201 million pounds of tart cherries in 2018, valued at $280.1 million, according to the Michigan Ag Council.
“We in Northern Michigan have seen too many orchards chopped down by farmers who cannot afford to keep losing money on every cherry sold. It is time we help rebuild this industry, which is a source of pride for the entire State of Michigan,” Damoose said.
The state of Michigan produced 201 million pounds of tart cherries in 2018, valued at $280.1 million, according to Michigan Grown council. (Photo by Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images, Photo by John L. Russell/Cherry Marketing Institute via Getty Images)
In August, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture declare a federal disaster over the state’s drastic losses in the 2024 cherry harvest.
Whitmer’s request cited rainfall, insect infections and fungus growth, which resulted in estimated crop losses of between 30% and 75%.
Fox News Digital reached out to Whitmer’s office for comment.
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Illinois
Prevent plant claims likely in soaked southeastern Illinois – Brownfield Ag News
News
Prevent plant claims likely in soaked southeastern Illinois
A technical services representative with BASF says some southeastern Illinois farmers have struggled to find windows to plant this year.
Mike Probst, who’s based in Effingham County, says his area has been inundated with heavy rains throughout the spring.
“Weather event after weather event of two to three inches of rain really made it tough on folks in that area.” He says, “I think there’s fields that have probably been replanted 3 times. I know a lot of the corn that went in at the end of April, most of that didn’t make it or wasn’t a quality enough stand, so it got worked up.”
He tells Brownfield it’s causing farmers to adjust plans on the fly and to consider prevented plant insurance claims.
“We’ve already had several questions where folks have asked if they can come back and plant soybeans based off of what they’ve applied on their corn crop that year, especially in river bottom ground that’s been flooded multiple times.” He says, “But yeah, I know for a fact that’s going to impact a good number of growers.”
Probst says the disjointed planting season has led to crops in varying stages of development, which could pose management challenges for producers throughout the rest of the growing season.
“Maybe the yield potential is not there, but we have actually seen in some of our data, some of that later planted corn is actually where we see some of our biggest fungicide responses.” He says, “It actually goes through more of its life cycle where it is combating disease if that disease does show up early like this year.”
He says the crops in the area that were planted timely and have withstood the storms are doing well and have benefited from the rains.
AUDIO: Mike Probst – BASF
Indiana
Indiana BMV, ISP dispel rumours about Blackout license plates
INDIANA (WPTA) – The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Indiana State Police are addressing online rumors about the BMV’s new license plate design.
The BMV says that when they post about the Blackout plates on their social media accounts, they receive comments claiming the design makes it easier for plate recognition cameras, like Flock, to read.
WATCH: Fort Wayne Flock camera showdown reflects nationwide debate | Story continues below
ISP confirmed that Automated License Plate Recognition cameras can read all Indiana plates with the same efficiency and accuracy as the Blackout version.
Police say the color and design of a license plate do not impact the camera’s ability to read it.
“I wouldn’t want Hoosiers to miss out on the Blackout plate because of incorrect information,” Indiana BMV Commissioner Kevin Garvey says. “The Blackout plate’s purpose is to give our customers more choices when it comes to their plate design. It’s simply a fun style choice.”
The BMV says more than 240,000 Hoosiers have purchased the Blackout plate since its release in August 2025. Learn more about it here.
Copyright 2026 WPTA. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Linn County, Kansas, man killed in early Thursday crash
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Linn County, Kansas, man died in a single-vehicle crash early Thursday morning.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says just after midnight Thursday, a 41-year-old Centerville, Kansas, man was driving south on Mills Road about 6.5 miles southwest of La Cygne when he lost control of a 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
The vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment, causing the Hyundai to overturn before coming to rest on its top.
The driver and sole occupant of the car, Edward Schultz, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
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