By Rich Herl | 1320 WILS News | Lansing, MI — May 12, 2025

LANSING, MI — The political landscape in Michigan continues to evolve as State Representative Joe Tate enters the race for U.S. Senate. Tate, a Democrat and current Speaker of the Michigan House, joins three other party members in the contest to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters. Tate has served in the House since 2019 and became Speaker in 2022, marking a historic milestone as the first African American to hold the position.

Meanwhile, Michigan drivers are getting some relief at the pump. According to AAA, average gas prices in the Lansing area dropped to $3.07 per gallon as of Sunday, down 18 cents from the previous week. The statewide average also declined, falling 13 cents to $3.06. AAA spokesperson Adrienne Woodland is expected to provide additional context later today on 1320 WILS.

In other news, the world of professional wrestling is mourning the loss of Lansing native Terry Bronk, better known to fans as Sabu. A former ECW champion and high-flying icon of the 1990s wrestling scene, Sabu was 60 years old. He graduated from Sexton High School in 1982. No cause of death has been released.

Tragedy struck Ionia County over the weekend in a head-on collision that killed a woman from Lowell. The crash occurred on Centerline Road near Pinckney Road outside Saranac. Several others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities believe speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors.

In a more heartwarming turn, police in Oakland County helped deliver a baby deer after its mother was fatally struck by a vehicle near a Meijer store in White Lake Township. Officers discovered the pregnant doe had died at the scene, but managed to safely deliver her fawn. The baby, affectionately named “Little Baby Meijer,” is now being cared for at a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

In environmental news, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has paused a controversial plan to euthanize Canadian geese in an effort to control overpopulation. The program, which involved gassing geese during their flightless molting season, had been recently approved by both the state legislature and the Natural Resources Commission.

And on a federal level, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum ahead of the weekend to accelerate efforts to block invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. The initiative includes reinforcing the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois—a crucial barrier to protect the region’s waterways. The action follows a White House meeting last month with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.