x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Michigan Minute

WKAR Public Media

WKAR’s Jamie Paisley presents intriguing stories for each day in Michigan history. From name changes and iconic cities to arcane laws, Michigan Minute covers a wide variety of fascinatingly true tales from the Great Lake State. Interested in supporting the Michigan Minute?

history

All Episodes

1:00

Michigan Bans Hitchhiking on Freeways | August 28

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/28

Michigan passed a law banning hitchhiking and bicycles on the Interstate Highway System, nearly a decade after the system's enactment. Also, on this day in 1835, President Andrew Jackson removed 19-year-old Stevens T. Mason from his role as acting governor of Michigan Territory, replacing him with John Horner. Despite this, Michiganders elected Mason as the first governor of the new state of Michigan just two months later.

en

1:00

Lincoln's Kalamazoo Visit | August 27

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/27

Today in 1856, Abraham Lincoln visited Kalamazoo to campaign for John Charles Fremont. His speech, initially lost to history, was rediscovered in 1930 by Tom Starr in a 1856 Detroit Advertiser at the Detroit Public Library. Lincoln emphasized the importance of emancipation, stating, “Shall we say, 'Let it be'? No – we have an interest in the maintenance of the principles of the Government, and without this interest, it is worth nothing.”

en

1:00

UAW Formation | August 26

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/26

Today in 1935, the United Auto Workers (UAW) was officially organized, uniting various autoworker unions under one banner. This led to a series of sit-down strikes, culminating in the 44-day sit-in at Fisher Body Plant No. 1 in Flint. By the mid-1940s, the UAW represented nearly every auto worker in the U.S. and Canada.

en

1:00

John Smalley's Last Stand | August 25

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/25

Today in 1895, notorious train robber John Smalley was killed in a shootout with deputies near Cadillac, Michigan. Smalley, who had stolen over $1 million and eluded capture for a decade, was shot while attempting to evade arrest after a robbery near Farwell. Despite his criminal career, he was never jailed due to insufficient evidence. The missing loot is rumored to be buried near McBain, Michigan.

en

1:00

Bounty on Rats & Bathtub Boat Adventure | August 24

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/24

Today in 1915, Michigan introduced a bounty of 5 cents per rat to combat rodent infestations, a law that remained in place until its repeal in 2000. In 1969, East Lansing's Victor Jackson made headlines by crossing Lake Michigan to Wisconsin in a bathtub boat made from a bathtub and oil drums, completing the journey in nearly 15 hours.

en

1:00

Keith Moon's Memorable Flint Birthday | August 23

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/23

Today in 1967, The Who performed at Flint's Atwood Stadium on drummer Keith Moon’s 21st birthday. Fans sent 200 cakes to the Holiday Inn, leading to a wild food fight that attracted police. Moon ended up smashing a police officer's face with cake, then crashed a brand-new Lincoln Continental into the hotel's swimming pool.

en

1:00

Iris Kyle's Birthday & Detroit's Electric Trolley...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/22

Today in 1974, professional bodybuilder Iris Kyle was born in Benton Harbor. She is the most successful woman bodybuilder with 10 Ms. Olympia and 7 Ms. International titles and made a pop-culture appearance in Katy Perry's "Swish Swish" video. On the same day in 1892, Detroit began using electric trolley cars, with test trips starting at 7:42 AM and regular service beginning the following day, marking a significant advancement in transportation.

en

1:00

Oldsmobile's Debut & Capri Drive-In Theater Opening |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/21

Today in 1897, Ransom Eli Olds founded Olds Motors Works, which later became Oldsmobile. After a fire destroyed most of the cars, the surviving model became a sensation at the 1901 New York Auto Show, leading to large-scale production. On the same day in 1964, the Capri Drive-In Theater opened in Coldwater, Michigan, on Route 12. It has since been recognized as one of the top drive-ins in the U.S. by USA Today and the New York Times.

en

1:00

First Commercial Radio & Paul Bunyan Claims | August 20

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/20

Today in 1920, Detroit began the first commercial radio broadcasting with the test call sign 8MK, later becoming WWJ. It continues to broadcast today. On the same day in 1971, Oscoda, Michigan, claimed Paul Bunyan as their own, noting that the first printed story about the legendary lumberjack came from Oscoda in 1906, although other towns also claim his origin.

en

1:00

Birthdays of Rick Snyder & Colleen Moore | August 19

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/19

Today in 1958, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was born in Battle Creek. Snyder, a businessman and lawyer, served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and gained national attention for his role in the Flint water crisis. On the same day in 1899, silent film star Colleen Moore was born in Port Huron. Known for popularizing the bob cut, Moore later became a successful financier and authored “How Women Can Make Money in the Stock Market.”

en

1:00

Presidential Pie and Olympic Gold | August 18

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/18

Today in 1926, Traverse City's Wallace Keep sent a 46-pound cherry pie to President Calvin Coolidge, showcasing the region’s famous cherries. On the same date in 2016, Helen Maroulis, who moved to Marquette to train at the US Olympic Education Center, became the first US gold medalist in women’s freestyle wrestling at the Rio Olympics.

en

1:00

Claudia House Morcom's Legacy | August 17

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/18

Today in 2014, Claudia House Morcom, the first Black woman to serve as a Wayne County circuit court judge, passed away. Morcom was a pivotal civil rights advocate, providing legal defense for civil rights workers in Mississippi and challenging discriminatory practices throughout her career. She served on the bench for nearly 30 years and continued her activism until her death.

en

1:00

Michigan’s First Black Police Chief & Madonna’s...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/18

Today in 1965, George Grady became Michigan's first African-American police chief in Dowagiac, serving for 9 years. Today also marks the birthday of Madonna, born in Bay City, Michigan in 1958, widely celebrated as a pop icon.

en

1:00

Michigan’s First Postage Stamps & Chrysler’s Tank...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/18

Today in 1847, the U.S. Government introduced postage stamps to Michigan, with 5 and 10 cent versions arriving in Detroit. On the same date in 1940, Chrysler began constructing a tank factory in Warren Township, Michigan, contributing to Detroit’s Arsenal of Freedom during WWII. The factory later transitioned to automobile production.

en

1:00

Magic Johnson’s Birthday and Bay City’s Rock & Roll...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/18

Today in 1959, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan. In 2014, Bay City honored the song “96 Tears” by Rudy Martinez, aka Question Mark and the Mysterians, recorded in 1966, by declaring it the official Rock & Roll song of the city.

en

1:00

James Monroe’s Visit & The Palace’s Grand Opening |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/13

Today in 1817, President James Monroe visited Detroit as part of his tour inspecting US forts post-War of 1812, and also visited Monroe, Michigan, named in his honor. On the same day in 1988, The Palace at Auburn Hills opened with a Sting concert. The venue served various sports teams and events until its demolition in July 2020.

en

1:00

Commissioning of the U.S.S. Wolverine & Its Historic...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/12

Today in 1942, the U.S.S. Wolverine, the Great Lakes’ first aircraft carrier, was commissioned in Buffalo, NY. Originally named the Seeandbee, the ship was repurposed by the Navy to train aviators in Lake Michigan. Alongside its sister ship, the Sable, the Wolverine played a crucial role in carrier landing training during World War II.

en

1:00

Detroit's Record Rainfall & First Mechanical Heart...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/11

Today in 2014, Detroit experienced its heaviest one-day rainfall in nearly 90 years, causing flooding, power outages, and two deaths. In 1971, Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz performed the first American implantation of a mechanical heart pump at Mount Sinai Hospital, marking a significant medical advancement.

en

1:00

First European Ship in Michigan & Soviet Propaganda |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/10

Today in 1697, the European ship Le Griffon docked in Michigan, only to sink in Lake Michigan shortly after. In 1950, Soviet radio claimed Michigan football players were regularly injured, but the U.S. offered Soviet reporters season passes to University of Michigan games to refute the claim.

en

1:00

Claressa Shields' Olympic Gold and Gillian Anderson's...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/08/09

In 2012, Flint native Claressa Shields won gold in the first women's middleweight boxing event at the London Olympics. Today is also Gillian Anderson's birthday. Known for "The X-Files" and "The Crown," Anderson grew up in Grand Rapids and attended City Middle-High School. On her graduation night, she broke into the school as a prank but managed to reduce charges to trespassing.

en

787 results

Similar Podcasts

The Old Front Line

Paul Reed

Today In History with The Retrospectors

The Retrospectors

جنود خلدهم التاريخ

ALSUMOOD PODCAST

Film History - Daily

Inception Point Ai

Madonna - Biography Flash

Inception Point Ai