Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered her sixth State of the State address this week. The annual speech is a chance for the governor to outline wins from last year while laying out her priorities for the year ahead. In case you missed it, political correspondent Kyle Kaminski has the rundown below.

Plus—We’ve rounded up our top 10 list of Michigan colleges and college towns with the best dining options.

LIONS ARE 1 GAME AWAY FROM SUPER BOWL (link): Following their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (and another sound record from fans at Ford Field), The Detroit Lions are one game away from heading to their first super bowl. The obstacle? Beating the 49ers on their home turf in San Francisco Sunday. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET. Fun fact: The Lions’ last road playoff win came in 1957—against the 49ers.

TRIAL BEGINS FOR MOTHER OF OXFORD SHOOTER (link): The involuntary manslaughter trial of Jennifer Crumbley—the mother of the teenager who killed four students at Oxford High School in 2021—began this week. Prosecutors say Crumbley and her husband were grossly negligent in allowing their son to carry out his plans, while attorneys for Crumbley say they didn’t know the mass shooting would occur.

CAN YOU HELP SOLVE MICHIGAN’S DEER PROBLEM (link)? State officials say deer overpopulation has led to car accidents, forest damage, and agricultural loss—and they want your help to solve the problem. Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources recently opened applications for its Deer Management Initiative. The group will brainstorm better ways to solve deer problems throughout the state. All residents are encouraged to apply.

Image via AP Photo/Al Goldis

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used her sixth State of the State address to outline her administration’s legislative agenda for 2024. The overarching theme? Cutting costs for Michiganders. 

‘Gander political correspondent Kyle Kaminski has the details on these 5 key priorities you should know about (click on any for more details):

1. Community college for all

2. Free preschool for all

3. Affordable housing

4. New tax credits

5. Fixin’ the damn roads

Click here for the full article.

Image via Orion Production on Shutterstock

Yeah yeah, when it comes to ranking Michigan’s best colleges of course people will automatically want to look at academics. But which institution takes the crown when it comes to the best grub in the state?

From dietary-conscious dining to sustainability initiatives, writer Lisa Green has this list of Michigan’s best college campuses for superior food options:

10. University of Michigan-Flint (Flint)

9. Grand Valley State University (Allendale)

8. Davenport University (Grand Rapids)

7. Andrews University (Berrien Springs)

6. Saginaw Valley State University (Bay Region)

5. Ferris State University (Big Rapids)

4. Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo)

3. Wayne State University (Detroit)

2. Michigan State University (East Lansing)

1. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

To read the full story, click here.

Image via Kayleigh White

Where: Hancock

When: Jan. 27

Head on up to the Keweenaw Peninsula this weekend for the biggest day of Heikinpäivä. What is Heikinpäivä (pronounced “hey-keen-pie-vuh”)? It’s Hancock’s celebration of winter’s midway point and the town’s strong Finnish origins. Enjoy a parade, winter markets and, of course, saunas.

Welcome to our new segment, the Question of the Week, where we give you a chance to sound off on a hot topic in the Mitten. I think it’s pretty obvious what we’re starting out with:

Image via The ‘Gander

So, what do you think? Let us know by clicking on the image above and leaving a comment, or by replying to this email. I’ll share some of my favorite answers next week.

This email is written by Karel Vega, community editor at The ‘Gander. Have a question or comment? Reply back to this email!