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49+ min ago (765+ words) The No. 2 Michigan men's basketball team has been dominating opponents, getting off to a 10-0 start after beating Maryland on the road on Saturday, 101-83. Let's take a look at the year-by-year ratings since 1997 and highlight some of the best defenses in that time. -1996-97: 94.2, ranked 41st in the country Statistically, this was Michigan's best defense over a 15-year period (1997-2012), and notably, this was Steve Fisher's final season as Michigan's head coach. This team did not make the NCAA Tournament after a five-game losing streak that spanned from Feb. 16-March 2, but it went on to beat Florida State to win the NIT. This defense wasn't really elite at anything, ranking everywhere from 51st to 104th in defensive metrics on KenPom. This is not even close to Michigan's best defense, but I think it's notable because it's the best defensive team Michigan had for a while. This…...

1+ hour, 4+ min ago (391+ words) With the future of Michigan's football program in flux, other schools are circling its recruits. Two recent signees " Billings (Mont.) West four-star tight end Matt Ludwig and White (Ga.) Cass three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter " have been granted release from their financial aid agreements since head coach Sherrone Moore was fired on Dec. 10 and have already found new homes. With Michigan's search to hire a new head coach still ongoing, the program is at risk of losing more of its 25 class of 2026 signees. The Wolverines' class of 2027 verbal pledges are also being coveted by other schools, most notably four-star quarterback Peter Bourque. The No. 85 overall prospect and No. 6 signal-caller nationally, per the 247Sports composite rankings, announced on social media Tuesday night that he has received offers from Penn State and Virginia Tech. Widespread interest in Bourque shouldn't come as a surprise....

1+ hour, 31+ min ago (296+ words) Could Arizona State really lose head coach Kenny Dillingham to Michigan? One college football insider provided an update on the Michigan football coaching search on Dec. 16, saying that there was a "reasonable shot" that the ASU football coach could leave the Sun Devils for the Wolverines, who are seeking a replacement for the recently fired Sherrone Moore. More: Kenny Dillingham Michigan speculation returns after ASU coach comments Just a few days ago, it appeared certain that Dillingham would return to Arizona State next season after the coach addressed the media with emotional comments about ASU, his alma mater. But comments from Dillingham to the media after the Sun Devils' practice for the Sun Bowl on Dec. 16, as well as Pate's comments, have seemed to at least keep the door open for Dillingham to at least entertain interest from Ann Arbor,…...

2+ hour, 19+ min ago (820+ words) GRAND RAPIDS, MI " Conference title races are officially underway. League play in the OK Gold, OK Black, OK White, OK Silver and Alliance League tipped off Tuesday in gyms around Grand Rapids, giving boys basketball teams an early opportunity to seize some momentum in their quest for a conference title. In the OK Gold, defending champ Northview got off to a strong start with a 60-39 win over previously unbeaten Wayland, as Mr. Basketball candidate Cam Ryans scored a team-high 24 points. In the OK Black, sharpshooting senior guard Brogan Sherd drained four 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead reigning champ Unity Christian past Hamilton, 64-45. In the OK White, the dynamic duo of Brieland Watkins and Jordan McCoy combined for 34 points in GR Catholic Central's 58-36 win over East Grand Rapids, while Forest Hills Northern senior Kyle Brown had another big night with…...

3+ hour, 19+ min ago (298+ words) THOMAS TWP, MI " Jessi Koehler, an elementary STEM teacher at Freeland Elementary School and Freeland Learning Center, has received the weekly Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery, earning $2,000 and recognition for her innovative teaching methods. The award, established by the Michigan Lottery in 2014, recognizes outstanding public school educators across Michigan. Koehler stands out for her use of dramatic play to teach core concepts, Michigan Lottery officials said. She transforms her classroom into immersive environments such as a post office, veterinarian's clinic or space station, creating scenarios where students take on roles and explore new ideas through hands-on experiences. "I grew up in a house where helping and teaching others was just a part of our everyday," Koehler said in a statement. "Both my parents coached and my mom worked as a paraprofessional, and I was lucky enough to…...

3+ hour, 59+ min ago (189+ words) City of Grand Rapids unveils new $98.2M Public Service Center GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The City of Grand Rapids wrapped up almost two years of construction and $98.2 million of investment with the unveiling of its new Public Service Center. City officials celebrated on Tuesday, Dec. 16, with a ribbon cutting at the new 1500 Scribner Ave. location plus remarks from key figures including Mayor David LaGrand and City Planner Mark Washington. Guests toured the new facility and talked to city employees about the project. Originally housed at 201 Market St., Grand Rapids bought the former Kent County Road Commission headquarters in 2021. Now, the Scribner Avenue location is home to almost 200 employees across 17 divisions of the city's management including public works, parks and recreation and the city clerk. The 323,290-square-foot campus includes a fitness center and wellness spaces for employees, newly-renovated garages for the city's fleet…...

5+ hour, 54+ min ago (230+ words) December 17, 2025 / 11:54 AM EST / CBS Detroit A former Michigan pharmacist will spend more than six years in prison in connection with a $6 million health care fraud scheme, according to federal prosecutors." Isaiah Okoh, 55, of Sterling Heights, was sentenced in October to 80 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,889,760 in restitution and $3,230,147 in forfeiture, which includes about $1.2 million in fraudulent proceeds seized by investigators in this case, prosecutors said." The Department of Justice accuses Okoh of billing health care benefit programs for prescription drugs that he did not dispense at three pharmacies in Michigan." According to court records, between 2019 and 2022, Okoh and a co-conspirator filed false claims to benefit programs for medications that a doctor did not order and that were not issued to a patient." Prosecutors allege that Okoh and a co-conspirator hid their alleged scheme by forging prescriptions from doctors,…...

6+ hour, 19+ min ago (373+ words) Our brief warm-up continues today, but by Thursday we'll be in for a dramatic weather switch. Temperatures will warm into the 40s across much of the Lower Peninsula by Thursday, but we'll also see widespread rain and high wind gusts. The roller coaster feel of Wednesday-into-Thursday is part of a strong system that will be sweeping across the Plains states and into Michigan. "A powerful storm will shift from the Pacific Northwest across the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes Wednesday into Thursday," the National Weather Service said. Later Thursday, we will feel temperatures crash from the 40s into the teens in just a matter of hours. For most of Michigan, this means the rain could flip to flash freeze conditions late Thursday into Friday. An icy Arctic blast of air will bring us back into bitter cold. Here are the forecast…...

12+ hour, 57+ min ago (240+ words) For many children in West Michigan, having a few weeks off school for the holidays is fun and exciting, but for those looking for something more to do during their time off, the Grand Rapids Public ... For many children in West Michigan, having a few weeks off school for the holidays is fun and exciting, but for those looking for something more to do during their time off, the Grand Rapids Public Museum's "Snowflake Break" brings activities and curiosity for attendees of all ages - not just kids! From December 19 through January 3 and included with $20 general admission pricing, Snowflake Break transforms the museum into a winter wonderland with themed displays in The Streets of Old Grand Rapids and Grand Junction. These include large LEGO scenes and life-sized Santas from around the world, as well as giant versions of games like Chess…...

13+ hour, 59+ min ago (837+ words) BROOKLYN -- The Michigan Center girls basketball team was able to beat back one rally after another from Columbia Central in Tuesday's Cascades Conference showdown, leading most of the way, but constantly seeing the Golden Eagles whittle away that lead and make another run. But the Cardinals kept holding them off, and eventually pulled away for a 53-39 win. The win is Michigan Center's third in a row after an opening night loss to Lumen Christi, and improves the Cardinals record to 2-0. It was the Golden Eagles' first loss of the year. Columbia Central was within three points with four minutes to play, down 38-35, before Vieau responded with a drive to the basket for a layup, drawing a foul in the process which turned things into a three-point play. Moments later, Reese Wright cleaned up an offensive rebound and scored on a…...