1. With Cyber Monday out of the way, non-profits across the world are looking ahead to Giving Tuesday today.
Giving Tuesday was founded in New York and is now a global non-profit, inspiring people all over to make a difference and give.
The Michigan Non-Profit Association says balancing essential services in the midst of a pandemic, when securing food and shelter is of the utmost importance, many 401C3's have been forced to cancel key fundraising campaigns while changing protocols to meet new health and safety standards.
The hope is that who can, will step up and give generously to help non-profits continue the important work of helping others.
2. A committee of lawmakers met in Lansing on Tuesday morning to review rules for online sports betting.
It's been nearly a year since sports gambling was first legalized in Michigan. Since last spring, sports gamblers have been able to wager on games in-person at casinos, but doing it online or from a phone is the next step, and it could come by the new year.
Online betting could bring in some much need revenue for casinos impacted by the pandemic, plus missions in tax dollars for the state.
3. The Mackinac Bridge Authority is reminding those who travel to the U.P. to make sure and upgrade their MacPass to a windshield sticker.
After December 31st, toll cards will no longer be accepted as a form of payment. Funds left on the card will be transferred over when you make the switch and existing accounts will remain the same.
The sticker system was introduced in September of last year as part of the new toll system which automatically scans as you drive through.
4. Potter Park Zoo in Lansing is spreading holiday cheer with its Wonderland of Lights event. It's open Thursday to Sunday nights from 5 to 8.
The zoo currently has COVID-19 precautions in place, including reserved times and strategically-placed paw prints and markings to encourage social distancing.
Masks are also required. If you don't have one, you'll be asked to buy one at admissions.
For tickets and other info, head to potterparkzoo.org.
5. The word of the year is "pandemic." That's basically been the case all around the world since the coronavirus hit, but Dictionary.com just made it official.
It announced "pandemic" as the 2020 Word of the Year on Monday.
Dictionary.com's official definition of the word is "a disease prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world."
COVID-19's unprecedented impact on the globe made "pandemic" the obvious choice for first place.
It also gave rise to new phrases related to the virus's impact like the pandemic economy, pandemic schooling, and pandemic dating.
