Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.
‘I can’t imagine him not being there’: Wayne County family searches for kidney donor to save grandad’s life
Loved ones of 68-year-old Ed Nyberg are handing out flyers, putting up yard signs, and posting at local businesses in hopes of finding a living kidney donor who could save his life.
Nyberg, recently retired from a career at General Motors, learned he has Stage 5 kidney failure and is down to 9% kidney function.
If his kidney function drops further, he will need to start dialysis.
“It’s like a wall hits you. All of a sudden, they tell you you’re sick and that you might need a kidney transplant,” Nyberg said.
Nyberg is on the transplant registry for a deceased donor kidney, but the wait can stretch five years or longer, a time they worry he may not have.
Sen. Van Hollen backs El-Sayed for Michigan Senate in break from Democratic leadership
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen is backing progressive Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, breaking with party leadership and intensifying a battle over the party’s direction in one of the most important Senate races of 2026.
Van Hollen’s endorsement, shared first with The Associated Press on the day early voting begins in Michigan, makes him the first senator to back El-Sayed since Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed him shortly after he launched his campaign last year. It also comes on the heels of big wins for progressive challengers in New York U.S. House races on Tuesday.
Oak Park, Ann Arbor among five Michigan communities to receive brownfield grants for local projects
The state is awarding more than $3.5 million in grants to projects in five Michigan cities that are expected to create approximately 80 jobs and 378 new housing units.
Funded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Brownfield Redevelopment program, the agency announced on Wednesday that the grants will support projects in Ann Arbor, Oak Park, Holland, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
Detroit Pistons acquire No. 53 pick Ugonna Onyenso from Knicks after Isaiah Stewart trade
The Detroit Pistons continued their busy draft-night activity Wednesday, acquiring the rights to center Ugonna Onyenso, the No. 53 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft, from the New York Knicks for cash considerations.
The move, announced by ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania on X, came hours after Detroit reportedly traded veteran center-forward Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for three future second-round draft picks, further reshaping the Pistons’ frontcourt.
Weather: Showers exit early, but isolated strong storms possible this afternoon
Rain showers continue to push east across Southeast Michigan early this morning and most areas are expected to be dry by daybreak. While the morning commute should improve as the rain departs, we’ll be keeping an eye on the potential for a few thunderstorms later today.
A scattered thunderstorm or two may develop this afternoon, and while widespread severe weather is not expected, an isolated strong to severe storm cannot be ruled out.