Good morning, Southfield.

Betty DeRamus, a prize-winning columnist for The Detroit News, died at 84 early Friday after a long illness at a Novi care facility, according to friend Denise Crittendon.

Her career—which included Pulitzer-nominated work and induction into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame—inspired many aspiring journalists.

Four gubernatorial candidates addressed a Michigan Education Association forum in Detroit on Friday, Feb.

6, where they detailed plans to boost public school funding and increase teacher pay to strengthen education statewide.

Recent data shows that Michigan winters are changing with shorter durations, increased snowfall variability, and reduced ice cover on the Great Lakes (which could affect travel, roads, and outdoor recreation) as experts warn these shifts may continue into the future.

The IRS and Michigan Treasury are accepting 2025 tax returns ahead of the April 15 deadline — taxpayers can request a six-month extension using Form 4868 if they are not ready, with special rules for military and overseas filers.

Henry Ford Health and Trillium partnered to add 100 beds (to ease the mental health provider shortage) and expand services for local residents, as announced February 6.