12/10/2025

MICHIGAN - AAA released its year-end holiday travel outlook for the Christmas travel period Wednesday morning. Much like the Thanksgiving travel period, the agency expects a record number of travelers.  AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their home over the 13-day period. The Christmas holiday travel period starts on Saturday, December 20, and ends on Thursday, January 1.  This year’s projection is an increase of 2.2% from 2024.  AAA projects 3.9 million Michiganders to travel for the holiday. That’s up 1.8% from 2024. Of those, 3.5 million will travel by car. That’s up 1.6% than 2024.

12/10/2025

MARQUETTE - Prison staffing shortages continue to cause safety concerns for corrections officers and inmates in the U.P..  During the month of October, the Michigan Corrections Organization documented a surge in assault-related incidents at the Marquette, Baraga, Alger and Chippewa Prisons.  At the Baraga Max Correctional Facility. Between July 1 and July 17, 2024, 13 incidents involving assault or attempted assault were recorded.  The Baraga Max Facility and Marquette Branch Prison are each more than 50 corrections officers short.

12/10/2025

N. WISCONSIN - On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers signed Braydn’s Law, named after Braydn, increasing the penalties for sexual extortion.  Under Braydn’s Law, sextortion is now a standalone crime. If it leads to a child’s death, the crime is punishable up to a Class B felony murder, which carries up to 60 years in prison.  Victims and victims’ families are now also eligible for crime victim compensation through the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  The legislation received significant bipartisan support and takes effect immediately.  The law is named after 15-year-old Braydn Bohn was targeted with sexual extortion online earlier this year and died just hours later, by suicide.  Sextortion cyber tip reports in Wisconsin are up more than 80% since 2023, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.