Coming up on the last evening of February, Mother Nature will treat us to another astronomical phenomenon known as “planets on parade.”
What You Need To Know
Six planets will align on the evening of Feb. 28
Planets lining up happens a couples times per year
Two of the six planets can only be seen through binoculars or a small telescope
It’s nicknamed as such because several planets appear to form a fairly straight line in the early evening sky. However, Spectrum News Space Expert Anthony Leone says it’s all about perspective. “In reality (and out in space), they are not lined up. It only appears that way to us.”
This ‘parade’ is unique because six planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) will align. He recommends looking west to southwest 30 to 60 minutes after sunset and finding a location with minimal light pollution for optimal viewing. The earlier the better, as Mercury will dip below the horizon not long after sunset. Jupiter will appear as a bright star to the east of the waxing gibbous moon.
And make sure you bring binoculars or a telescope. “With the naked eye, you can see planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as stars,” Leone says. “The more distant planets like Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope to view.”
Adding, “Free astronomy apps like ‘Sky Guide,’ ‘Planets’ and ‘SkyPortal’ are great at helping people see when and where the planets will rise.”
How frequently does this event occur?
“Believe it or not, planet alignments are not too rare, and they happen a couple of times each year. It just depends on how many planets will be in alignment for a parade,” explains Leone.
If the weather doesn’t permit you to view this February, there will be another opportunity in August. The next one will be Aug. 12 with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all aligning.
Happy viewing everyone!
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Coming up on the last evening of February, Mother Nature will treat us to another astronomical phenomenon known as “planets on parade.”
What You Need To Know
Six planets will align on the evening of Feb. 28
Planets lining up happens a couples times per year
Two of the six planets can only be seen through binoculars or a small telescope
It’s nicknamed as such because several planets appear to form a fairly straight line in the early evening sky. However, Spectrum News Space Expert Anthony Leone says it’s all about perspective. “In reality (and out in space), they are not lined up. It only appears that way to us.”
This ‘parade’ is unique because six planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) will align. He recommends looking west to southwest 30 to 60 minutes after sunset and finding a location with minimal light pollution for optimal viewing. The earlier the better, as Mercury will dip below the horizon not long after sunset. Jupiter will appear as a bright star to the east of the waxing gibbous moon.
And make sure you bring binoculars or a telescope. “With the naked eye, you can see planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn as stars,” Leone says. “The more distant planets like Uranus and Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope to view.”
Adding, “Free astronomy apps like ‘Sky Guide,’ ‘Planets’ and ‘SkyPortal’ are great at helping people see when and where the planets will rise.”
How frequently does this event occur?
“Believe it or not, planet alignments are not too rare, and they happen a couple of times each year. It just depends on how many planets will be in alignment for a parade,” explains Leone.
If the weather doesn’t permit you to view this February, there will be another opportunity in August. The next one will be Aug. 12 with Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all aligning.
Happy viewing everyone!
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said Wednesday that two Muslim Democratic U.S. Representatives, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, should be “institutionalized” and sent back to “where they came from,” a day after they had a heated exchange with him during his State of the Union address.
During Trump’s speech on Tuesday, Tlaib, a Palestinian American, and Omar, a Somali American, criticized Trump as he touted his administration’s hard-line immigration crackdown and its immigration enforcement actions.
Both Omar and Tlaib shouted “you’re killing Americans” at Trump during his speech, with Omar also calling him a “liar.”
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump said the two lawmakers “had the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.”
“We should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible,” Trump added. Both Omar and Tlaib are U.S. citizens.
House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries cast Trump’s rhetoric against Tlaib and Omar as “xenophobic” and “disgraceful.” Tlaib said on X that Trump’s comments showed “he is crashing out.”
Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations also said Trump’s comments were racist.
“It’s racist and bigoted to say two Muslim U.S. lawmakers should be sent to the country they were born in or where their ancestors came from based on their criticism of the gunning down of Americans by ICE,” CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that members of the media have “smeared” the president as a racist.
Trump’s immigration enforcement actions were criticized following two separate January fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minnesota. At least eight people have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers since the start of 2026, following at least 31 deaths last year.
During his Tuesday speech, Trump reiterated his accusation that Somali communities in the U.S. have engaged in fraud and claimed that “Somali pirates” had ransacked Minnesota. His administration had used fraud allegations to deploy armed federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
Trump has cast his actions as aiming to tackle fraud and improve domestic security.
Rights groups say the crackdown has created a fearful environment and that Trump has used isolated fraud cases as an excuse to target immigrants. They also dismiss Trump’s ability to tackle fraud, citing pardons from him to those who have faced fraud convictions in the past.
Trump also recently faced criticism after his social media account posted a video that contained a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Edited by Kat Stafford and Aurora Ellis)
There’s something comforting about going to a local grocery store and knowing exactly how to find the items you want. Plus, local grocery stores are often filled with friendly faces and workers who have been there for years, even decades, so it becomes a true community feel. It’s not something people think about every day, but there’s something magical and friendly about your local grocery stop. So, what’s the most popular grocery shop in this state? Now, one study has the research to answer that question.
The Most Popular Grocery Store in Michigan is a Staple
So, where did the supermarket get its start? According to Groceteria, it was a long time ago. “Chain grocery retailing was a phenomenon that took off around the beginning of the twentieth century in the United States, with the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in 1859 and other small, regional players,” they state. “Grocery stores of this era tended to be small, generally less than a thousand square feet, and also focused on only one aspect of food retailing.”
Today, grocery stores can be huge. Stop in, and you’ll find everything from fresh vegetables to seasonal items to brownie ice cream. So, what’s the most popular grocery store in the state?
The experts at Kitchn have a feature out naming the most popular supermarket in each state. “Naturally, we were curious what makes people choose to shop at one grocery store over another and how that differs across the country,” they explain in the piece. “So, we set out to find the best grocery store in every state.”
So, what’s the most popular supermarket here in Michigan? It’s Meijer. In the piece, they state that the spot “is a staple grocer in the Midwest and operates over 500 stores, the majority of which are in Michigan. People love its community-led, Midwestern feel.”
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
Amid one of the most difficult eras in American history, the weather in the Southeast did nothing to ease the ongoing fight for justice.
What You Need To Know
The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965
It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South
Heavy rain soaked the protesters
What was the Selma to Montgomery March?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark achievement that ended segregation in public spaces and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or sex.
It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.
On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.
In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. to draw greater attention to the injustices faced by the Black community and to advance their voting rights.
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. hops over a puddle as it rains in Selma, Ala., March 1, 1965. King led hundreds of African Americans to the court house in a voter registration drive. At front is civil rights worker Andrew Young, and at right, behind King is Rev. Ralph Abernathy. (AP Photo)
The beginning of the march
The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.
Even these miserable conditions couldn’t halt the movement. Thousands of people prepared for the journey with raincoats, umbrellas, and rain boots, laying the foundation for one of the most important marches of the civil rights movement.
On March 7, the march from Selma to Montgomery began and ultimately stretched over more than two weeks. State troopers and segregationists repeatedly tried to stop the protesters, causing several interruptions along the way.
On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson voiced his support for the march, and military personnel then led the protesters the rest of the way, culminating in the march’s completion on March 25.
A big win for racial equality
After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.
Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Amid one of the most difficult eras in American history, the weather in the Southeast did nothing to ease the ongoing fight for justice.
What You Need To Know
The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965
It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South
Heavy rain soaked the protesters
What was the Selma to Montgomery March?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark achievement that ended segregation in public spaces and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or sex.
It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.
On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.
In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. to draw greater attention to the injustices faced by the Black community and to advance their voting rights.
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. hops over a puddle as it rains in Selma, Ala., March 1, 1965. King led hundreds of African Americans to the court house in a voter registration drive. At front is civil rights worker Andrew Young, and at right, behind King is Rev. Ralph Abernathy. (AP Photo)
The beginning of the march
The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.
Even these miserable conditions couldn’t halt the movement. Thousands of people prepared for the journey with raincoats, umbrellas, and rain boots, laying the foundation for one of the most important marches of the civil rights movement.
On March 7, the march from Selma to Montgomery began and ultimately stretched over more than two weeks. State troopers and segregationists repeatedly tried to stop the protesters, causing several interruptions along the way.
On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson voiced his support for the march, and military personnel then led the protesters the rest of the way, culminating in the march’s completion on March 25.
A big win for racial equality
After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.
Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Amid one of the most difficult eras in American history, the weather in the Southeast did nothing to ease the ongoing fight for justice.
What You Need To Know
The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965
It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South
Heavy rain soaked the protesters
What was the Selma to Montgomery March?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark achievement that ended segregation in public spaces and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or sex.
It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.
On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.
In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. to draw greater attention to the injustices faced by the Black community and to advance their voting rights.
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. hops over a puddle as it rains in Selma, Ala., March 1, 1965. King led hundreds of African Americans to the court house in a voter registration drive. At front is civil rights worker Andrew Young, and at right, behind King is Rev. Ralph Abernathy. (AP Photo)
The beginning of the march
The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.
Even these miserable conditions couldn’t halt the movement. Thousands of people prepared for the journey with raincoats, umbrellas, and rain boots, laying the foundation for one of the most important marches of the civil rights movement.
On March 7, the march from Selma to Montgomery began and ultimately stretched over more than two weeks. State troopers and segregationists repeatedly tried to stop the protesters, causing several interruptions along the way.
On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson voiced his support for the march, and military personnel then led the protesters the rest of the way, culminating in the march’s completion on March 25.
A big win for racial equality
After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.
Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Amid one of the most difficult eras in American history, the weather in the Southeast did nothing to ease the ongoing fight for justice.
What You Need To Know
The Selma to Montgomery march in Alabama occurred in 1965
It was an effort to register more Black voters in the South
Heavy rain soaked the protesters
What was the Selma to Montgomery March?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark achievement that ended segregation in public spaces and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or sex.
It helped strengthen the voting rights of African Americans in the South, but even so, many southern states continued to deny African Americans their right to vote.
On Feb. 18, 1965, a peaceful protest for voting rights in Marion, Ala. turned deadly when white segregationists attacked the group. An Alabama state trooper shot an African American protester, Jimmie Lee Jackson.
In response, Martin Luther King Jr. organized a march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. to draw greater attention to the injustices faced by the Black community and to advance their voting rights.
Dr. Martin Luther Jr. hops over a puddle as it rains in Selma, Ala., March 1, 1965. King led hundreds of African Americans to the court house in a voter registration drive. At front is civil rights worker Andrew Young, and at right, behind King is Rev. Ralph Abernathy. (AP Photo)
The beginning of the march
The event began on March 1, 1965, with a voter registration drive. Pouring rain soaked the supporters and led to ponding on the roadways and sidewalks.
Even these miserable conditions couldn’t halt the movement. Thousands of people prepared for the journey with raincoats, umbrellas, and rain boots, laying the foundation for one of the most important marches of the civil rights movement.
On March 7, the march from Selma to Montgomery began and ultimately stretched over more than two weeks. State troopers and segregationists repeatedly tried to stop the protesters, causing several interruptions along the way.
On March 15, President Lyndon B. Johnson voiced his support for the march, and military personnel then led the protesters the rest of the way, culminating in the march’s completion on March 25.
A big win for racial equality
After all of their hard work, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It guaranteed the right to vote for all African Americans in every state.
Southern states could no longer use literacy tests to stop African Americans from voting.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. It provided another way for the voice of the Black community to be heard.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Michigan was ranked No. 1 in the nation and Duke was No. 3, but that was in the AP poll.
Nearly everyone else, and nearly every metric, have the Wolverines and Blue Devils 1-2, the two best teams in the country with February coming to and March just ahead.
It almost seemed fitting that the two would meet Saturday in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena. In a nonconference game that had all the feels of a Final Four matchup, with some high-quality, fiercely competitive play, the Blue Devils emerged with a 68-63 victory.
The game, which attracted a crowd of 21,537, not only was a matchup of two elite teams but two of the nation’s best players in Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg. Boozer, who is more about power at 6-9 and 250 pounds, finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Lendeborg had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Wolverines.
Duke’s Caleb Foster (1) and Dame Sarr (7) celebrate as time expires in Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
The Blue Devils (25-2) learned what it’s like to play with Boozer in foul trouble in the second half. Boozer’s fourth personal foul came with 8:42 left and Duke leading 53-46, the first time since the Michigan State game in early December that the big man had been charged with more than three.
Duke got some strong play off the bench from Nikolas Khamenia, who had nine rebounds and gave the Devils some aggressive defense.
“I thought his energy … he wanted it a little bit more,” Michigan coach Dusty May said.
Boozer returned with 4:47 left in the game and Duke holding a 57-53 lead, but a Lendeborg 3-pointer made it a one-point game.. But Boozer later answered with a 3 of his own, and later pushed Duke ahead 66-61 with 1:01 after a goal-tending call against the Wolverines was confirmed after review.
Duke’s Caleb Foster (1) heads to the basket defended by Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the first half of Duke’s game against Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
With Duke leading 66-63 with 14.6 seconds remaining, the Devils’ Isaiah Evans made both ends of a one-and-one at the line to seal it. Evans, who had 14 points, later dunked at the buzzer to finish it off.
Michigan’s May called it a “slugfest” and a “rock fight” and that was a good assessment. It was physical, and the Blue Devils doggedly won the rebounding battle, taking a 41-28 advantage off the boards,
Duke’s Cameron Boozer (12) celebrates after slamming in two in the second half of Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
The Wolverines rolled into D.C. ranked at the top this week, 25-1 overall after 11 straight wins and a 15-1 Big Ten record. It’s a team with some swagger to it, with a legit player of the year candidate in Lendeborg and a team with length and strength.
Michigan and Duke were 1-2 in defensive efficiency, according to the recent KenPom rankings, and have been stifling teams. But Michigan’s transition game gave Duke problems at times and the Blue Devils were effective with their drives to the lane and kicks.
Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II (21) shoots in the final 24 seconds in the second half of Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ngongba II pulled in his own rebound and was fouled by Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Not that anything came easily, for either team. Cam Boozer had a couple of shots swatted away — Michigan had seven blocks — and once crashed to the floor attempting a dunk as Lendeborg slammed into him.
Boozer picked up his third foul five minutes into the second half. Dame Sarr missed a driving dunk attempt and Boozer, chasing after the loose ball, was called for a third personal foul in the scramble.
Here are observations from the Duke win:
Michigan’s Lendeborg impressive
Michigan’s Lendeborg is as complete a player as the Blue Devils have faced this season
At 6-9 and 240 pounds, he has the quickness and agility of someone shorter and lighter. He’s smooth. He’s not lacking confidence. He can score inside and out, with nice moves around the basket.
In the first half Saturday, Lendeborg airballed a 3-pointer from the right wing, in front of the Duke bench. He shook his head in that direction – a “no problem” kind of motion.
The next time down the court, Lendeborg again got the ball on the right wing. Cam Boozer backed off a step, Lendeborg again took the 3 – a swish. This time, there was a hint of smile as he ran back on defense.
Lendeborg had 16 of the Wolverines’ 33 first-half points, with a pair of 3-pointers. The second half was more of a challenge as he missed five of six shots.
“I had the same looks, they just weren’t falling,” Lendeborg said.
Ngongba was inconsistent
Duke needs smoother offensive play from Patrick Ngongba II, who at times Saturday seemed indecisive with the ball.
On some plays, Ngongba made the wrong decisions with his ball handling and passing. Isolated on one first-half play, he muscled his way toward the basket, only to pivot and lose the ball.
Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II (21) looses control of the ball while defended by Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. (21) and L.J. Cason (2) during the first half of Duke’s game against Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Back to basket and in the paint, Ngongba can be a handful for opponents. He has a dependable jump hook and can finish. Putting the ball on the floor is not always wise for the 6-11 sophomore.
Ngongba takes an occasional 3-pointer and did with Duke leading by five points with 10:40 left in the second half. And missed – not good timing for a 3-ball.
Challenging night for Cadeau
Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau had an interesting night – at least at the start.
The former North Carolina guard was booed by Duke fans. That was expected.
Cadeau had an early lob pass to 7-3 Aday Mara for the first basket of the game, but then put up a couple of early 3’s, both bricked. He added a few more in the second half.
Late in the first half, play suddenly was stopped as Cadeau, in pain, left the floor and headed to the Michigan bench. Treated by the team trainers, he did return before the half ended but was scoreless in 13 minutes.
Cadeau had Sarr on him defensively a lot of the game and scored his first points with 9:17 left at the foul line
Cadeau transferred to Michigan after two years in Chapel Hill and has had a productive first season as the Wolverines dominated the Big 10 and moved up in the polls.
Cadeau finished with eight points on 1-of-8 shooting against Duke on Saturday night.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer hugs Patrick Ngongba II (21) after Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Caleb Foster (1) heads to the basket defended by Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. (21) during the first half of Duke’s game against Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Nikolas Khamenia (14) dives after the loose ball during the first half of Duke’s game against Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. (21) celebrates after slamming in two during the first half of Duke’s game against Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Isaiah Evans (3) celebrates after slamming in two as time expires in the second half of Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II (21) shoots in the final 24 seconds in the second half of Duke’s 68-63 victory over Michigan in the Capital Showcase at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Ngongba II pulled in his own rebound and was fouled by Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published February 21, 2026 at 8:57 PM.
In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.
Becoming an astronaut is challenging, yet one woman defied the odds to become the first African American woman in space.
What You Need To Know
Jemison wanted to study science from an early age
She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA
She went to space in Sept. 1992
After NASA, she accomplished many more things
Early life accomplishments
Born in the 1950s, Mae C. Jemison refused to let anything stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.
She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.
She worked hard and graduated from high school at just 16, then headed across the country to attend Stanford University.
As one of the few African Americans in her class, she faced discrimination from both students and teachers, yet she earned two degrees in four years—chemical engineering and African American studies.
Jemison didn’t begin her career in space; she first attended Cornell Medical School, where she earned her medical degree and practiced general medicine.
Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.
Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)
On to space
After serving in the Peace Corps, Jemison opened a private medical practice, but before long she set her sights on a long-held dream: going to space.
Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.
In 1987, Jemison reapplied and was chosen as one of 15 out of 2,000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols—Uhura from the original Star Trek—recruited her, and as a longtime fan, Jemison later guest-starred in an episode of the series.
In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.
Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)
After NASA
Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.
She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.
She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.
With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
President Trump has declared that he’ll block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge – a major infrastructure project connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario – unless “the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given [Canada].”
America shouldn’t even be in this position. The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been a long and arduous folly in spending abuses of the very type the Constitution is designed to protect us from.
The GHIB was initially planned in 2001, intended as a public competitor to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge. But in order to begin construction, Michigan needed land. Much of the land along the Detroit river, it turned out, rested in the hands of Manuel “Matty” Moroun – the billionaire owner of the Ambassador Bridge. Obviously not keen to sell his land to his competitor, Moroun played hardball – and the State had no option but to exercise its power of eminent domain.
But after a successful lobbying campaign, Moroun persuaded the Michigan State Legislature to ban the Michigan Department of Transportation from making any expenditures on the bridge – theoretically saving his land. That is, until the Michigan DOT struck a reimbursement deal with the Canadian government. Canada would foot the bill for the seizure of Moroun’s land, and in exchange, it would get ownership of the bridge and exclusive and perpetual tolling authority.
Not so fast, said Moroun. Each state, after all, is required by the federal Constitution’s Guarantee Clause (Article IV, Section 4) to provide a republican form of government. And, as with the federal system, republican governments are designed to place the control of the purse strings in the hands of the legislature. From James Madison’s writings in “Federalist 58,” to George Mason’s 1787 declaration, the founding fathers understood that placing the proverbial “purse” in the same hands as the “sword” was a recipe for a tyrannical executive.
So Moroun sued. Just as is the case with any federal agency, he argued, Michigan’s Department of Transportation can’t spend money when the legislature has expressly told it not to. Both the Michigan constitution (Art. IX, § 17) and Michigan legislation (§ 18.1366) make that clear.
Still, the Michigan Court of Appeals disagreed. In DOT v. Riverview-Trenton R.R. Co. (Mich. 2020), the court held that money was not really “expended” unless it was missing at the end of a fiscal year’s accounting. Accordingly, the DOT could spend however much money it wanted, so long as someone else provided reimbursement in the proper timespan.
This is a disgrace, and the consequences are clear: Unbound from democratic accountability through the legislature, the executive can wield state power on behalf of the highest bidder. Under this system, the executive devolves from a faithful servant of the public will into a gun-for-hire with a monopoly on violence.
In this instance, the consequences are only the perpetual GHIB toll. But under these lax principles, there’s no real limit as to what benefits rogue executives may deliver into the hands of foreign and private actors.
Indeed, SCOTUS has left similar vulnerabilities in the federal legal system. In the 2024 case Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Ltd.(2024), the court held that so long as the executive is able to identify a legal source of funds, the Appropriations Clause (which safeguards the power of the purse) is satisfied. Justices Alito and Gorsuch provided a grave warning in their dissent: Such loose conditions “would give the Executive a most dangerous discretion,” that, as the solicitor general admitted at oral argument, would “permit an agency to be funded entirely by private sources.”
The president is right: Canada’s exclusive right to toll on the GHIB is rotten. But if we don’t want the executive handing out special privileges to foreign actors and private parties unchecked, we need to draw a hard line at allowing the executive to take their paychecks.
Tate Kaufman is a senior contributor at Young Voices, an editor at the National Security Law Journal, and a Mercatus Center Graduate Scholar.
Winter snowfall is beginning to melt and the artic air that gripped the eastern two-thirds of the country has retreated.
What You Need To Know
Parts of the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic experience prolonged snow coverage this winter
This type of fungus thrives in cooler conditions
Ways to keep snow mold away include mowing grass short in the late fall
However, this temperatures shift and rapid thawing has lead to an unwelcome sight across many lawns: snow mold.
Prolonged snow coverage
A snow event on Jan. 24 to 26 brought snow and ice to regions of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Following the winter weather, arctic air surged south, keeping much of the region snow- and ice-covered.
Another system Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 brought snow to the Mid-Atlantic, with areas like Charlotte, N.C. picking up just under a foot of snow. Like its predecessor, this storm was followed by bitter cold, leaving snow-covered ground in areas that don’t see flakes every winter.
Snow mold
If you start to notice odd circular patches or web‑like areas on your lawn, with pink or grayish discoloration, you might have snow mold.
Snow mold develops on a lawn in St. Charles, Mo. after prolonged snow during the winter. (Spectrum News/Stacy Lynn)
According to Cardinal Lawn’s Lawn Disease Library, snow mold or snow rot is a type of fungal lawn disease that forms from sustained snow cover or wet leaves. It is most visible in spring after snow melts, but sometimes it is observed in winter after a big snowfall and then a thaw.
Any grass exposed to cold temperatures and snow cover can be affected, and if left untreated, the lawn may suffer damage.
This fungus thrives in cold, damp conditions, damaging individual blades as well as the crown and roots. It often appears as gray circular patches or pink, web‑like growth. The pink type is the more severe fungus and does not need snow cover, as it proliferates when the grass is wet and temperatures are below 45 F.
While most lawn diseases are associated with warm weather, TruGreen’s lawn care tips note that snow mold only occurs on actively growing winter grass in cooler weather and can persist up to 60°F if air and soil remain moist. Spores can be spread by wind or splashing rain, moving the disease from one part of the lawn to another.
It’s best to avoid nitrogen fertilizer in late fall and make sure your soil drains properly to prevent excess moisture. Late summer or fall aeration can help break up the plant material that exists between the soil and the grass.
During the winter, don’t let the snow pile up. Those large piles that were created from clearing driveways and sidewalks need to be spread out and shortened. Any piles that take long to melt could be potential breeding grounds for the fungus.
Repair
Snow mold may happen despite best efforts. Ways to treat it include raking the matted grass, which adds circulation and helps to stimulate new grass growth. If your grass still doesn’t appear healthy, consult a lawn care company.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
If you’ve ever wondered what defines “middle-class” in your state, we have some numbers and research that points what that really means.
The term, according to Investopedia, is “a socioeconomic category used to describe people and families with incomes that fall into the median range for the geographic area they live in. The definition is not precise, but generally, middle-class people in the United States viewed as having sufficient means to live a comfortable lifestyle.”
So, what defines the middle-class in the state? A CNBC feature sheds light on that question.
Are You Considered ‘Middle-Class’ in the State? Here Are the Statistics
Winters adds that, “Even as more households earn six-figure salaries, many middle-class earners are feeling the squeeze. While inflation-adjusted wages have risen since 2022, those gains have been largely offset by increasing costs since the start of the pandemic in 2020.”
So, that’s for the upper middle-class. But, what about lower middle-class and, well, just the median household income in the state? It actually varies widely per state, which makes sense, because the cost of living in each state is very different. But, as mentioned earlier, to be considered upper middle-class, each state’s figure is more than $100,000.
Let’s look at this state and get into the numbers. According to the SmartAsset research, in Michigan, the low end of middle class is $46,117, the high end of middle class is $138,366 and the median household income $69,183. So, those are the numbers and figures that drive comparisons. If you’ve been wondering about the definition of the term is today, there’s your answer.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
DETROIT (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency announced an end Thursday to credits to automakers who install automatic start-stop ignition systems in their vehicles, a device intended to reduce emissions that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said “everyone hates.”
In remarks with President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, Zeldin called start-stop technology the “Obama switch” and said it makes vehicles “die” at every red light and stop sign. He said the credits, which also applied to options like improved air conditioning systems, are now “over, done, finished.”
Zeldin repeated the generally-debunked claims that start-stop systems — which are mostly useful for city driving — are harmful to vehicles, asserting Thursday that “it kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment.”
This latest Trump administration move to cut automotive industry efforts to clean up their cars and reduce transportation-driven emissions came as Zeldin and Trump also announced a broader repeal of the scientific finding known as endangerment that has been the central basis for regulating U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Start-stop is a technology that automatically shuts down a vehicle’s engine when a driver comes to a complete stop, and then automatically restarts the engine when the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal. Developed in response to the 1970s oil crisis, the feature was intended to cut vehicle idling, fuel consumption and emissions.
About two-thirds of vehicles now have it, providing drivers with anywhere from 7% to 26% in fuel economy savings, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers. Start-stop also causes a split-second lag in acceleration, a point of irritation for some consumers and automotive enthusiasts.
Burning gasoline and diesel fuel for transportation is a major contributor to planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and more, according to the EPA. By implementing the systems, automakers could earn credits toward meeting federal emissions reduction rules.
“Countless Americans passionately despise the start/stop feature in cars,” Zeldin wrote in a post on X on Tuesday teasing the announcement. “So many have spoken out against this absurd start-stop-start-stop-start-stop concept.”
The announcement made good on Zeldin’s promises last year to “fix” the feature. Start-stop is “where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy,” Zeldin said in a post on X last May. “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it,” he wrote at the time.
Jeep-maker Stellantis welcomes the deregulatory effort, a spokesperson’s statement said: “We remain supportive of a rational, achievable approach on fuel economy standards that preserves our customers’ freedom of choice.”
A Ford Motor Co. statement said: “We appreciate the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice.”
General Motors deferred comment to the auto industry group Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
“I’ve said it before: Automotive emissions regulations finalized in the previous administration are extremely challenging for automakers to achieve given the current marketplace demand for EVs,” said John Bozzella, president of the alliance. “The auto industry in America remains focused on preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and staying on a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles.”
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Earlier this week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed increasing the state’s highest online casino tax rate by eight percentage points to 36% as part of her Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
Governor Proposes Tax Increase
Her proposal also includes a widely criticized per-wager surcharge on mobile sports betting, mirroring the structure adopted in Illinois. Under the plan, operators would pay 25 cents on each of the first 20 million bets placed, and 50 cents on every wager beyond that threshold. It is expected that Whitmer’s proposal for a per-wager surcharge is projected to raise $38.8 million in revenue for the state.
Currently, Michigan online operators pay monthly progressive rates ranging from 20% to 28% based on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) figures. The first $4 million AGR is taxed at a 20% rate before increases of two percentage points at $8, $10, and $12 million. Operators then pay the cap of 28% rate on all winnings when they exceed $12 million. According to the General Briefing Papers, only three operators – FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings – surpassed the threshold last year that triggers the top 28% tax rate on adjusted gross revenue exceeding $12 million. However, some mid-tier operators, such as BetRivers, began consistently exceeding that mark in 2025.
It should also be noted that with Gov. Whitmer‘s proposal, nearly all Michigan iGaming operators would lose the ability to deduct promotional credits from gross revenue starting in 2027, which would mark their sixth year of operations for most. Original licensees can deduct up to 4% this year, down from 6% in 2025 and 10% from launch in 2021 through 2024.
Could Illinois Be a Warning for this New Policy?
The new proposal is notable given the strong backlash and subsequent year-over-year decline in betting volume seen in neighboring Illinois. There, sportsbooks reported their steepest monthly drop in handle since the surcharge was implemented, with wagering falling nearly 25% in December after declines of more than 15% in September, October, and November.
The proposal also follows a year in which Michigan’s sports betting handle was essentially flat. In 2025, total wagers reached $5.54 billion, an increase of just 0.6% compared to 2024. By comparison, Illinois posted 11.6% year-over-year growth to $15.65 billion, even amid its recent slowdown in betting activity. Despite that growth, however, Illinois is reconsidering its gambling tax policy right now. If the state does so, it would essentially confirm the operator’s warnings that higher taxes on gambling would have a negative effect on betting.
But back to Michigan, it should be noted that these effects might not be as severe as in Illinois, as Michigan operators, though, only pay 8.4% in state taxes on AGR, which is among the lowest in the US. Therefore, an increase in the gambling tax, while it might lead to a decrease in overall bets, might not lead to a very large decline in operator revenue.
January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”
But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?
What You Need To Know
Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”
Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events
Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.
Why 30 years?
Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather.
He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).
These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.
Differences in the data
There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.
(Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)
More frequent 100-year events
It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”
“Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.
Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”
He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”
“For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”
Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.
Weather vulnerability
How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”
But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?
What You Need To Know
Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”
Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events
Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.
Why 30 years?
Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather.
He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).
These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.
Differences in the data
There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.
(Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)
More frequent 100-year events
It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”
“Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.
Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”
He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”
“For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”
Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.
Weather vulnerability
How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”
But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?
What You Need To Know
Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”
Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events
Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.
Why 30 years?
Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather.
He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).
These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.
Differences in the data
There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.
Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.
(Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)
More frequent 100-year events
It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”
“Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.
Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”
He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”
“For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”
Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.
Weather vulnerability
How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”
FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel into space, became one of the space community’s most influential figures.
What You Need To Know
Guy Bluford was the first African American to fly in space
He started his career as a pilot in the Air Force
He became an astronaut for NASA in 1979
Bluford developed a fascination with flight at a young age, and by high school he knew he wanted to become an aeronautical engineer.
Early life
After earning his college degree, Bluford joined the U.S. Air Force and received his pilot wings in Jan. 1966 at the early age of 24.
He soon became an instructor pilot and later entered the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, where he earned a master’s degree in 1974 and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 1978.
After his 1974 graduation, he served at the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, initially as a deputy and eventually as branch chief of the Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch.These achievements led to his selection for the NASA astronaut program in 1978.
It’s safe to say he never lost sight of his childhood dreams.
Becoming a legend
The crew of Space Shuttle 8 shown in front of launch pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida on August 5, 1983, with the tip of the orbiter Challenger showing in the background. Ready for a August 30 launch are left to right: Mission Specialists Dale Gardner, Guion Bluford, Dr. Bill Thornton, pilot Dan Brandenstein and commander Richard Truly. The crew was going through STS-8 countdown test on Thursday, and are wearing blue suits with pilot Brandenstein wearing a red tee shirt underneath. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
After a year of training, Bluford became an official astronaut in Aug. 1979.
Four years later, on Aug. 30, 1983, he flew his first mission aboard STS-8. That inaugural flight was brief but notable, pioneering techniques for nighttime operations and deploying the Indian National Satellite.
After 145 hours in space, the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 5.
Over the next 10 years, Bluford became the second, third and fourth African American in space, logging over 688 hours.
After NASA
In 1993, Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air Force to become the Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc., in Greenbelt, Maryland.
After several more high-end jobs, he went on to become the President of Aerospace Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, a job that he still holds today.
Bluford never stopped learning or pursuing the next level of his career. A brilliant figure in the space and engineering communities, he became a leader and role model for many African Americans.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
EXCLUSIVE — Detroit native and cultural icon Kid Rock is taking sides in the race for Michigan governor.
The famed musician and entertainer with a working-class persona who is known for his conservative political views is endorsing Republican Rep. John James in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The Michigan governor’s office and a Democrat-controlled open U.S. Senate seat are top targets for the GOP to flip in November’s midterm elections.
“As our next Governor of Michigan, I know you will bring many victories to our GREAT STATE!” Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, said in a statement shared first with Fox News Digital on Sunday.
Musician and Detroit native Kid Rock, left, joins Republican Rep. John James of Michigan, who is running for governor.(John James gubernatorial campaign)
James, who’s in his second term representing a swing congressional district in suburban Detroit, said in a statement, “Kid Rock is a good friend. We share our love for Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States of America!”
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of this unapologetic freedom-loving patriot and I look forward to working with him and every other Michigander to make Michigan great again!” added James, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Iraq War, and a businessman who was the 2018 and 2020 Republican Senate nominee in the Great Lakes battleground state.
Kid Rock’s backing of James comes a couple of hours before the singer and songwriter headlines Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” during the Super Bowl.
Turning Point USA, which was co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is hosting its own alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday. The event comes as conservatives criticize the NFL’s choice to feature Latin music star Bad Bunny as the halftime performer.
Musician Kid Rock performs on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Kid Rock is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, backing him in all three of his presidential campaigns. He performed his song “American Bad Ass” at the 2024 Republican National Convention with altered lyrics to showcase his support for Trump.
Trump, whose sway over the GOP remains immense and whose endorsements in Republican primaries are highly coveted and extremely influential, to date has not weighed in on Michigan’s gubernatorial race.
A release from James’s campaign highlighted that “John James has stood with President Trump consistently since 2018, and every subsequent election, maintaining a clear and steady alignment when others backed his opponents, ran against him, or stayed silent.”
The James campaign also emphasized that “Kid Rock and John James share deep Detroit roots and a common view of Michigan as a state defined by hard work, manufacturing, culture, and natural beauty — from the Great Lakes to the communities that power the Midwest economy.”
Rep. John James of Michigan, seen at the 2024 Republican National Convention, is running for governor in the battleground state’s 2026 race.(Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty)
James is the clear polling front-runner in a very crowded field of Republicans vying for the GOP nomination in the August primary. Among the other Republicans in the race are former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, former state House of Representatives Speaker Mike Leonard, and businessman Perry Johnson, a longshot candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination who is making his second bid for governor.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the clear front-runner among three candidates for the Democratic nomination.
