A pipeline leak discovered last April in Northern Michigan released more than 9,200 gallons of crude oil, brine and other pollutants into a wetland in the Pigeon River Country State Forest — over four times the amount initially estimated by state officials.
The story is one of five “must-read” stories from MLive not to miss this Friday morning.
Cheboygan County spill totaled 221 barrels, officials said
The spill in Cheboygan County’s Forest Township totaled 221 barrels, according to Lambda Energy officials managing the cleanup.
State officials had originally estimated the spill at 50 barrels. The leaked materials included approximately 11 barrels of crude oil, 100 barrels of brine and 110 barrels of condensate, a type of hydrocarbon.
“It’s been scraped. The oil is gone. There’s still chloride-impacted water that’s seeping into the sumps that are in there, but at least there’s a way to recover that,” Nick Summerland of Lambda Energy told state officials.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is awaiting results from groundwater and surface water tests to determine whether additional cleanup is necessary.
The full story, by reporter Sheri McWhirter, is available here.
Washtenaw County properties declared ‘ICE-free zones’ in unanimous vote
The “ICE out for Good” rally outside Ann Arbor’s city hall Jan. 10, 2026. Demonstrators stood up for Renee Nicole Good and called for the arrest and prosecution of ICE agents who have killed people and the removal of ICE from communities. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News
Washtenaw County has banned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from all county-owned, leased or operated properties without a judicial warrant or court order, declaring them “ICE-free zones.”
The Board of Commissioners passed the resolution unanimously Wednesday, Jan. 21. The measure directs county employees, contractors and agents not to voluntarily cooperate with or assist ICE’s civil immigration enforcement activities unless legally required.
Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor — who drafted the resolution with grassroots group Movement for Immigrant Rights Action — said local officials need to take federal government actions “very seriously” and suggested non-cooperation should mean “actively working against what ICE is doing.”
This isn’t the first time of late that the county has resisted federal immigration enforcement. In May 2025, officials refused to voluntarily hand over records from the county-issued photo ID program to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following a federal subpoena. And in January 2025, Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer announced her department would not assist ICE.
The full story, by reporter Jennifer Eberbach is available here.
Former UM football coach seeks dismissal of charges
Sherrone Moore arrives with his wife, Kelli Moore, left, and defense attorney Ellen K. Michaels, right, for a probable cause conference before Washtenaw County District Judge J. Cedric Simpson in Pittsfield Township on Thursday, Jan. 22 2026.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com
An attorney for former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is pushing to have all charges against her client dismissed, contending the arrest warrant contained false and misleading information.
Ellen Michaels, Moore’s Detroit-based attorney, declared her client’s innocence following a Jan. 22 probable cause conference. Moore, 39, faces one felony and two misdemeanor charges stemming from his Dec. 10 arrest in Pittsfield Township.
“This warrant was issued based on false and misleading statements presented as fact,” Michaels told reporters. “We’re confident the truth will come out in court under oath, where it belongs.”
Moore was arrested after he allegedly attempted to break into the apartment of a staff member with whom he had been in a long-term relationship, according to court records. The university terminated his head coaching position the same day, citing violations of policy regarding inappropriate relationships with staff.
The full story, by reporter Jordyn Pair is available here.
Pilots push for fly-in camping at remote Northern Michigan airstrip
For decades, members of the Black River Ranch leased and stewarded the land, maintaining log cabins and a main lodge dating back more than a century. The ranch was acquired by the Michigan DNR in late 2025.Black River Ranch
Recreational pilots are urging Michigan officials to utilize a remote airstrip in the Pigeon River Country State Forest for fly-in camping, though state authorities say it’s premature to make any commitments.
More than a dozen pilots and aviation enthusiasts presented their case to the Pigeon River Country Advisory Council during a Jan. 15 meeting in Gaylord, speaking for over 45 minutes about their interest in the landing strip.
The pilots argue the site, which was obtained by the state just over a month ago, could serve as a valuable recreational destination for backcountry aviators while generating revenue for the state.
The airstrip sits on the former Black River Ranch, part of more than 8,800 acres recently acquired by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through a $17 million grant-funded purchase. The land is currently accessible for non-motorized activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking and camping.
The full story, by reporter Sheri McWhirter is available here.
Pine Hall rooftop bar set to debut this spring at Hudson’s Detroit
Pine Hall, a cocktail bar, is the first announced restaurant coming to Hudson Detroit. It will be situated on the 12th floor rooftop in the building next to the tower.Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive
A 300-seat rooftop cocktail bar will open this spring as the first dining destination in the new Hudson’s Detroit building on Woodward Avenue, offering sweeping views of the city’s downtown skyline.
Pine Hall, located on the 12th floor of the building adjacent to the Hudson tower, marks the first Detroit venture for Union Square Hospitality Group. The establishment’s name honors The Pine Room, a wood-paneled restaurant that once operated inside the historic J.L. Hudson Department Store.
The bar, being developed by Bedrock Detroit, will feature a 3,300-square-foot outdoor deck and serve cocktails, beer and a tavern food menu.
The bar is just one of many features anticipated at the 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use complex. The Bedrock development will also house GM’s Global Headquarters, an event venue, retail shops, The Detroit EDITION hotel and The Residences at The Detroit EDITION, scheduled to open in 2027.
The full story, by reporter Edward Pevos is available here.