If you’ve walked into a Michigan grocery store lately, you’ve probably noticed the signs: Place your pączki orders before Feb. 17.

And if you’re anything like The ’Gander’s Ellery Weil, Fat Tuesday isn’t complete without having eaten at least one powdered, jelly-filled masterpiece.

So, this morning is the perfect time to brush up on why Michiganders go all-in on Pączki Day, and where to score the best batches around the state.

Plus: Six years on from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a look at how restaurants in Michigan’s capital city have adapted to customer expectations.

P.S. We’re off Monday for Presidents Day. Back in your inbox Tuesday.

Whitmer unveils budget proposal (Bridge Michigan): Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled a record $88 billion budget proposal that would tap $400 million from the state’s rainy day fund and raise new “sin” taxes to cover rising Medicaid costs, while boosting funding for literacy, K-12 schools, and higher education.

English influencer says hospital staff accessed personal data (Freep): English travel influencer Joshua Cauldwell-Clarke, one half of the “Josh & Jace” social media duo, says several Michigan hospital employees improperly accessed his medical records during a January visit. Cauldwell-Clarke shared the news after receiving a notice of unauthorized access and urged workers to respect confidential information.

Michigan native’s home reno show pulled after racial slur (WOOD-TV): HGTV has pulled “Rehab Addict” after a resurfaced video showed host and Michigan native Nicole Curtis using a racial slur on set, prompting the network to say the language does not align with its values. Curtis apologized through a spokesperson, calling it a slip of the tongue and taking full responsibility for the hurt caused.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

Raspberry-filled pączki from New Palace Bakery. (New Palace Bakery)

By Ellery Weil

In addition to displays of Valentine’s chocolates and roses, Michigan grocery stores have been advertising a certain pastry as of late, recommending that customers place larger orders well in advance of Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Feb. 17 isn’t just any Tuesday, though; it’s Mardi Gras, which explains everything. In New Orleans, Mardi Gras means parades, cocktails, and King Cake. In Michigan, though, the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent calls for something a little different, although just as sweet: pączki! These jelly donuts are an iconic part of Michigan Mardi Gras, and whatever your favorite flavor may be, “Pączki Day,” as some call it, is hard not to love.

But how did this tasty tradition start? How do you pronounce “pączki” anyway? And maybe most importantly, is it too late to get in an order for a dozen in assorted flavors? Let’s have a look and find out.

A table cheers after a trivia night round at the Peanut Barrel on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in East Lansing. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

Evenings at Mike Krueger’s two downtown East Lansing restaurants have been about more than eating dinner in the last four years.

There’s live music at The Peanut Barrel on Tuesdays and Fridays and live trivia games on Thursdays. Comedians make regular appearances at Crunchy’s.

“We’re trying to create an experience where people want to come and hang out for an hour or so and be able to interact with each other and we’re just kind of doing whatever we can to try to keep that going,” Krueger said.

Four miles away, at Henry’s Place, a pub and restaurant in Okemos, owner Henry Kwok is organizing and hosting his own dinner events. Included is a blindfolded dinner on Feb. 13-14, and an interactive murder mystery dinner scheduled for the end of the month.

Krueger and Kwok’s restaurants are examples of a trend across the region in which more full-service restaurants are turning to events—including everything from themed dinners and weekend brunches, to live music and game nights—to attract new customers and keep regulars coming back.

Michigan State Senator and US Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow says Big Tech is failing kids.

Earlier this week, she released an agenda that includes bans on targeted ads, stronger data privacy protections, and limits on addictive app design, should she be elected to the US Senate.

So, in light of those plans and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing a classroom cellphone ban, we wanted to know:

Should the government step in more when it comes to kids and tech? What restrictions would you like to see?

Here’s what you had to say:

“I favor initiatives to ban targeted ads and addictive app design which target kids.” — Davila Joel

“Children should not be on devices because a study shows it prevents crucial white matter in the brain from developing!” — Kassie Maurer

“Really need to take loot box mechanics more seriously. It’s building a gambling mindset and habits.“ — Erik Rick

“Keep the government out of this, Parents go be parents, rules and regulations, that’s what you do.” — Linda Fetter

“I think tech should be divided into groupings like social, research/study, entertainment, and games while also being divided into age-appropriate groups. Parents & teachers should have the ability to turn certain segments on or off depending on need & times. Parents should be able to adjust age limits on the different areas depending on the child’s abilities and their family beliefs/rules.” — Sue Sylvester

And if you have a question you’d like me to ask our community, send it my way. I might feature it in a future newsletter.

*Responses may be edited for conciseness or clarity.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Ellery Weil and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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