Events from the year 2018 in Michigan.

2018
in
Michigan

Decades:
See also:

Office holders

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State office holders

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Rick Snyder

Mayors of major cities

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Mike Duggan

Federal office holders

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Debbie Stabenow
 
Gary Peters

Population

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In the 2010 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 9,883,640 persons, ranking as the eighth most populous state in the country. By 2018, the state's population was estimated at 9,995,915, and the state had become the 10th most populous state.

The state's largest cities, having populations of at least 75,000 based on 2016 estimates, were as follows:

2018
Rank
City County 2010 Pop. 2018 Pop. Change 2010–18
1 Detroit Wayne 713,777 672,662 −5.7%  
2 Grand Rapids Kent 188,040 200,217 6.5%  
3 Warren Macomb 134,056 134,587 0.4%  
4 Sterling Heights Macomb 129,699 132,964 2.5%  
5 Ann Arbor Washtenaw 113,934 121,890 7.0%  
6 Lansing Ingham 114,297 118,427 3.6%  
7 Flint Genesee 102,434 95,943 −6.3%  
8 Dearborn Wayne 98,153 94,333 −3.9%  
9 Livonia Wayne 96,942 93,971 −3.1%  
10 Troy Oakland 80,980 84,272 4.1%  
11 Westland Wayne 84,094 81,720 −2.8%  
12 Farmington Hills Oakland 79,740 81,093 1.7%  
13 Kalamazoo Kalamazoo 74,262 76,545 3.1%  
14 Wyoming Kent 72,125 75,820 5.1%  

Sports

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Baseball

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American football

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Basketball

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Ice hockey

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Music and culture

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  • February 8 - Diana Ross began a mini-residency at The Wynn Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
  • March 16 - PRhyme 2, the second studio album from PRhyme, was released.
  • March 23 - Boarding House Reach, the third studio album from Jack White, was released. The album reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 upon release.
  • August 16 - Aretha Franklin died.
  • August 17 - Motor City Muscle, a festival in downtown Detroit, features seven stages of music and an exhibition of muscle cars.
  • August 31 - Eminem's 10th studio album Kamikaze was released. The album reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.
  • September 14 - The feature film White Boy Rick, based on the true story of undercover police informant and drug dealer Richard Wershe Jr., was released.
  • September 21 - Greatest Hits: You Never Saw Coming from Kid Rock was released.

Chronology of events

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January

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  • January 1 - The 2017 Michigan Wolverines football team lost to South Carolina, 26–19, in the 2018 Outback Bowl.
  • January 1 - Jim Caldwell was fired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
  • January 9 - Mike Duggan was sworn in for his second term as Mayor of Detroit.
  • January 11 - Fiat Chrysler announced that it would invest more than $1 billion to modernize its Warren Truck Plant. The company also announced $2,000 bonuses to be paid to 60,000 U.S. employees and credited the federal tax legislation passed in December made the moves possible.[6]
  • January 15 - Jorge Garcia of Lincoln Park, a 30-year resident, father, and landscaper with no criminal record, was deported to Mexico. Garcia's story was selected as the No. 1 story of 2018 by the Detroit Free Press based on its page views on the newspaper's web site.[7]
  • January 16 - Larry Nassar's sentencing hearing began in Lansing, Michigan.[8][9]
  • January 17 - The Michigan Legislature overrode Gov. Rick Snyder's veto of a bill granting a sales tax break to persons trading in old vehicles.[10]
  • January 17 - Matt Patricia was hired as the new head coach of the Detroit Lions.
  • January 20–28 - The North American International Auto Show was held at Cobo Center in Detroit.
  • January 20 - Candice Diaz and Brad Fields were arraigned for felony murder, child abuse and torture in connection with the January 1 death of Diaz's four-year-old daughter, Gabrielle Barrett of Sumpter Township.[11]
  • January 23 - Michigan State University confirmed receipt of a letter from the NCAA opening a probe into the conduct of Larry Nassar.
  • January 23 - Gov. Rick Snyder delivered his eighth and final State of the State address.
  • January 25 - Larry Nassar was sentenced by Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina to 40 to 175 years following his conviction in the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal.[12]
  • January 25 - Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon resigned amid criticism and controversy in the Larry Nassar scandal.[13]
  • January 26 - Michigan State students rally in support of victims of sexual assault.
  • January 26 - Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis resigned in the wake of the Nassar scandal.[14]
  • January 27 - The Detroit Free Press reports on its investigation into four alleged cases of sexual assault involving Michigan State football players.[15]
  • January 27 - Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette appointed a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of sexual abuse at Michigan State.[16]
  • January 29 - The Detroit Pistons engage in a trade that brings Blake Griffin to Detroit.
  • January 30 - Former Michigan Governors John Engler and James Blanchard were named as interim president and senior adviser, respectively, at Michigan State.[17]

February

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  • February 2- Special agents of the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Attorney General's office arrived without warning at Michigan State's administration building and removed records as part of the Attorney General's investigation into the Nassar scandal. Acting MSU president John Engler called the move a "political stunt".[18][19]
  • February 5 - Larry Nassar received a further sentence of 40 to 125 years in an Eaton County court.
  • February 16 - Michigan State extended the contract for football coach Mark Dantonio through 2024.
  • February 21 - Ford's North America president, Raj Nair, left his position after admitting to "inappropriate behavior"[20] Kumar Galhotra was named as his replacement the following day.

March

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  • March 2 - Central Michigan University sophomore James Eric Davis Jr. shot and killed his mother and father when they came to campus to take him home for spring break. After the shooting, Davis fled and the campus was placed on lockdown. Around 15 hours later, police arrested him and took him to a local hospital.[21][22][23] The shooting was selected as the No. 10 story of 2018 by the Detroit Free Press based on its page views on the newspaper's web site.[7]
  • March 2 - Michigan State Senator Bert Johnson of Highland Park resigned his seat and pled guilty to theft for putting a woman on the payroll at a salary of $23,000 in order to repay a loan he had received from her.[24]
  • March 4 - The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team won the Big Ten Conference tournament.
  • March 6 - WXYZ-TV anchor Malcolm Maddox was taken off air after a suit was filed by a former reporter accusing him of sexual harassment.[25]
  • March 7 - Wayne County reached agreement with Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures to build a new $553-million jail in Detroit.
  • March 11 - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos appeared on 60 Minutes and struggled to answer questions about under-performing Michigan schools.[26]
  • March 13 - FBI crime statistics were released showing Grosse Ile to be the safest city (greater than 10,000 population) in the United States. Of the 25 safest cities in the state, 19 were in Oakland County.[27]
  • March 16 - The National Park Service announced that it would introduce 20 to 30 wolves to the Isle Royale National Park over three years to bolster the population and assist in controlling the moose herd.
  • March 27 - A judge in Port Huron ousted the Tea Party's Karen Spranger as Macomb County clerk/register of deeds, ruling that she was not legally elected in November 2016 due to the fact that she had lied about her residency in Macomb County. The Court ordered her to be removed immediately from office.

April

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June

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  • June 4 - The Michigan Attorney General filed charges against Joseph Hattey, a Michigan State University physicist, for bestiality involving sexual conduct with a dog.
  • June 4 - The Detroit Tigers selected Casey Mize with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.
  • June 11 - The U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a federal suit challenging the University of Michigan's free speech code.
  • June 11 - Ford Motor Company announced its acquisition of Detroit's Michigan Central Station and plans to convert the building into a campus for advanced automotive technology.
  • June 11 - The Detroit Pistons hired Dwane Casey as their new head coach.
  • June 14 - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and several state legislators called for John Engler to resign as interim president of Michigan State University. Emails were published the prior day in which Engler accused a survivor of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal of taking kickbacks from attorneys.

July

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August

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  • August 7 - During the Democratic primary, state representative Bettie Cook Scott drew fire after calling her opponent, Stephanie Chang, "ching chong" or "ching chang" and accusing one of Chang's campaign volunteers of being an "immigrant," saying "you don't belong here" and "I want you out of my country."[29][30]
  • August 9 - Rashida Tlaib won the Democratic primary to take over the Congressional seat previously occupied by John Conyers. She became the first Muslim woman and the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress.
  • August 10 - The Detroit Red Wings signed Dylan Larkin to a five-year, $30.5 million contract.[31]
  • August 12 - The Detroit Tigers held a ceremony at Comerica Park to retire Jack Morris's jersey No. 47.
  • August 14 - The University of Michigan Hospital was ranked as the No. 5 hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.[32]
  • August 15 - The Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan State interim president John Engler censored the cover of the school's alumni magazine featuring imagery used by sexual assault victims. The replacement issue featured a more positive spin on the Nassar scandal and a less controversial cover.[33]
  • August 16 - Aretha Franklin died.
  • August 18 - The annual Woodward Dream Cruise was held along Woodward Avenue in Metro Detroit.
  • August 20 - Democrat Gretchen Whitmer announced her selection of Garlin Gilchrist as her running mate in the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election.
  • August 24 - Former Michigan State gymnastics coach Kathie Klages was charged with lying to police in connection with the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal. Klages was alleged to have lied to Michigan State Police about having been told about Larry Nassar's sexual misconduct. Witnesses came forward stating that Klages had received reports of sexual abuse some 20 years earlier.[34]
  • August 26 - The Detroit Tigers held a ceremony at Comerica Park to retire Alan Trammell's jersey No. 3.
  • August 27 - Fiat Chrysler executive Al Iacobelli was sentenced to 5+12 years in prison for diverting $4.5 million intended for worker training to himself and UAW officials.[35]
  • August 31 - The funeral of Aretha Franklin was broadcast on national television and held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. The ceremony included speeches and musical performances by Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, and others.[36] A 50-minute eulogy by Jasper Williams Jr., critical of black families, was deemed offensive by Franklin's family.[37]

September

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  • September 7 - The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the University of Michigan must allow students accused of sexual assault to cross-examine their accusers at a live hearing.[38]
  • September 12 - The Detroit Free Press reported on a lawsuit alleging that former Michigan State athletic director George Perles forced the school's field hockey coach in 1992 to (a) return a videotape of a sexual assault by Larry Nassar against a field hockey player, (b) resign, and (c) sign a non-disclosure agreement.[39][40]
  • September 14 - Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg announced his retirement.

October

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November

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Gretchen Whitmer
  • November 6 - Women of the Democratic party dominated the November 6 elections. Key results included the following:
  • Democrat Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing received 2,149,014 votes to defeat Republican Bill Schuette who received 1,801,878 votes in the gubernatorial election.
  • Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow received 2,098,244 votes to defeat Republican challenger John E. James who received 1,878,260 votes.
  • Democrat Dana Nessel received 1,921,947 votes to defeat Republican Tom Leonard who received 1,855,529 votes for Michigan Attorney General.
  • Democrat Jocelyn Benson received 2,096,301 votes to defeat Republican Mary Lang who received 1,782,577 votes for Michigan Secretary of State.
  • Democrat Elissa Slotkin received 172,880 votes (50.6%) to defeat incumbent Republican Mike Bishop who received 159,782 votes (46.8%) in Michigan's 8th Congressional District (northern Oakland, Livingston, and Ingham Counties).
  • Democrat Haley Stevens received 181,912 votes (51.8%) to defeated Republican Lena Epstein who received 158,463 votes (45.2%) in Michigan's 11th Congressional District (western Wayne and southern Oakland Counties). The seat had previously been held by Republican Dave Trott.
  • Incumbent Democrat Debbie Dingell received 68% of the votes to defeat Republican Jeff Jones (29%) in Michigan's 12th Congressional District (downriver, parts of Wayne and Washtenaw Counties).
  • Democrat Rashida Tlaib received 83% of the votes with no Republican adversary in Michigan's 13th Congressional District (central Detroit, parts of western Wayne County). She won the seat that had been occupied by Democrat John Conyers since 1965.
  • Incumbent Democrat Brenda Lawrence received 95% of the votes to win reelection in Michigan's 14th Congressional District (part of Detroit, Grosse Pointes, Oakland County).
  • November 6 - Proposal 1, aka the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, a statewide ballot proposal, passed by a margin of 56% to 44%, making Michigan became the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. (Medicinal use of marijuana had been legalized in Michigan pursuant to an earlier 2008 ballot initiative.) Proposal 1 was selected as the No. 2 story of 2018 by the Detroit Free Press based on its page views on the newspaper's web site.[7]

December

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  • December 13 - Jessica Starr, meteorologist for Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK-TV) died by suicide. She was out of work for several weeks after an October lasik procedure resulted in complications. Starr's suicide was selected as the No. 3 story of 2018 by the Detroit Free Press based on its page views on the newspaper's web site.[7]

Deaths

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2018 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  2. ^ "2017-18 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
  3. ^ "2017-18 Michigan Wolverines Roster and Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
  4. ^ "2017-18 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
  5. ^ "2017-18 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Sports Reference LLC.
  6. ^ "Back in the USA". Detroit Free Press. January 12, 2018. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d "Here Are Our Most Viewed Stories of the Year". Detroit Free Press. December 28, 2019. pp. 4A, 9A – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Victims: Our lives changed forever". Detroit Free Press. January 17, 2018. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "MSU's Simons a day late, short on empathy". Detroit Free Press. January 18, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Lawmakers override Snyder veto". Detroit Free Press. January 18, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "No bond for pair charged in girl's death". Detroit Free Press. January 21, 2017. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Judge proclaims, 'I just signed your death warrant'". Detroit Free Press. January 25, 2018. p. A6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "MSU President Simon resigns amid fallout". Detroit Free Press. January 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "AD Mark Hollis resigns". The Lansing State Journal. January 27, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Assault reports embroil MSU". Detroit Free Press. January 27, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Schuette names special prosecutor for MSU". Detroit Free Press. January 28, 2018. p. A7 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Engler, Blanchard will take MSU reins". Detroit Free Press. January 31, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "AG investigators take MSU records". Lansing State Journal. February 3, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Engler slams AG's 'indiscreet behavior' on search". Lansing State Journal. February 7, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Ford exec Nair is ousted". Detroit Free Press. February 22, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Hanna, Jason (4 March 2018). "Central Michigan student used father's gun to kill his parents, police say". CNN. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  22. ^ Siemaszko, Corky; Blankstein, Andrew (2 March 2018). "Central Michigan University shooting leaves two dead, gunman on the loose". NBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  23. ^ Smith, Mitch (2 March 2018). "Shooting Reported at Central Michigan University". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Johnson pleads guilty, quits Senate seat". Detroit Free Press. March 3, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "WXYZ anchor Maddox off the air". Detroit Free Press. March 7, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "DeVos flubs questions on schools on '60 Minutes'". Detroit Free Press. March 13, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Oakland County dominates 'safest city' survey". Detroit Free Press. March 14, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ James David Dickson (April 5, 2018). "Hazel Park Raceway closes after 70 years". The Detroit News.
  29. ^ Chasmar, Jessica (August 16, 2018). "Bettie Cook Scott, Michigan Democrat, under fire for allegedly calling Asian opponent 'ching-chang'". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  30. ^ Lou, Michelle (August 16, 2018). "Michigan Lawmaker Fire For Alleged Racial Slurs Against Asian Opponent". HuffPost. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  31. ^ "Larkin Is Locked Up". Detroit Free Press. August 11, 2018. p. B1.
  32. ^ "U-M Hospital wins No. 5 rank nationwide". Detroit Free Press. 15 August 2018. pp. A5.
  33. ^ "Alumni mag: no looking backward". Detroit Free Press. August 15, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Ex-MSU gymnastics coach charged". Detroit Free Press. August 24, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Ex-FCA exec gets 5-1/2 years in scam". Detroit Free Press. August 28, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Aretha Goes Home". Detroit Free Press. September 1, 2018. pp. 1A, 8A – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Franklin's family says eulogy was offensive". Detroit Free Press. September 4, 2018. p. A3 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Court: More rights for accused". Detroit Free Press. September 8, 2018. p. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Nassar accused of drugging, raping". Detroit Free Press. September 12, 2018. p. A1 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "MSU helps Perles by hiring law firm". Detroit Free Press. September 16, 2018. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Art van founder". Detroit Free Press. 13 February 2018. pp. A1.