Today marks 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the most famous shipwreck in Great Lakes history.

When the massive freighter went down during a fierce storm on Nov. 10, 1975, all 29 crew members were lost. The moment would forever be immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Today, we look back on the tragedy and the ways people across Michigan and beyond continue to honor the men who never came home.

Plus: Should utilities be able to fast-track data center power plans?

P.S. Our newsletter is taking a break tomorrow in honor of Veterans Day. We’ll see you Wednesday with your list of weekend events.

Lawmakers consider banning ICE from Michigan schools, churches (MLive): Michigan Senate Democrats have proposed three bills limiting ICE actions, banning enforcement in churches, hospitals, and schools without a court order, and requiring officers to display their identity instead of wearing masks. The legislation also bars local and state police from sharing personal info with ICE without a warrant. The bills were discussed in committee Nov. 6 but face slim chances in the Republican-controlled House.

DTE pushes to fast-track data center power approval (Freep): DTE Energy is seeking fast-track approval from Michigan regulators to power OpenAI and Oracle’s massive Stargate data center in Saline Township without public hearings. Some officials, including AG Dana Nessel, are urging the MPSC to scrutinize the project to ensure residential rates aren’t affected. The commission could take up DTE’s request at its Dec. 5 meeting.

Lions beat Commanders 44-22 (AP News): Dan Campbell took over play-calling as the Lions bounced back with a 44–22 win over Washington, extending their streak of never losing consecutive games under his leadership. Jared Goff threw for 320 yards and three TDs while Jahmyr Gibbs scored three times. Detroit (6–3) heads to Philadelphia to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles Sunday.

The Fitzgerald in a 1959 file photo, with a crew of 28 to 30 men, was carrying a load of 26,216 tons of taconite pellets. (AP Photo, file)

By The Associated Press

Spend enough time along the shores of Lake Superior and it won’t be long before there’s some reminder of what happened “when the gales of November came early.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest and most famous of the estimated 6,500 ships that have gone down in the Great Lakes. But the Fitzgerald is remembered while the others are forgotten, thanks in large part to Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting 1976 folk ballad that became a surprise hit.

The Fitzgerald, a 730-foot-long freighter named after a Milwaukee insurance company executive, went down in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. All 29 men on board died.

Earlier in the newsletter, we shared news of DTE’s effort to fast-track approval of power lines for a new data center in Saline without public approval.

So, today we want to know:

Hit reply and let me know.

Have a question you want me to ask our community? Pass it along. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from The Associated Press. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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