Broadcast and newspaper members of the Associated Press voted on the top news stories in Michigan for 1993 as follows:[1]
School finance. After the Kalkaska school system was forced to close 40 days early, Governor Engler and the Michigan Legislature put Proposal A (a school finance and property cut proposal) on the June 2 ballot. After Proposal A was defeated, Governor Engler and the Legislature ended the use of property taxes to fund schools.
Jack Kevorkian. After Kevorkian attended three assisted suicides in one month, the Legislature adopted an immediate ban on assisted suicide. Kevorkian attended five suicides after the ban, was jailed, and staged two hunger strikes, the second one lasting 17 days. Two courts then ruled the suicide ban to be unconstitutional.
Baby Jessica case. Jan and Roberta DeBoer took their custody fight for their two-and-a-half year old daughter to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jessica was ultimately returned to her biological parents in Iowa.
Malice Green murder case. Two Detroit police officers were tried and convicted the December 1992 beating death of Malice Green.
Coleman Young. Young announced his retirement after 20 years as Mayor of Detroit. Dennis Archer was elected to replace him.
Donald Riegle. Riegle announced that he would retire at the end of his term in the U.S. Senate.
Base closings. Wurtsmith Air Force Base was decommissioned after 70 years, but several companies announce plans to open operations on the site. Plans were also finalized to close K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base.
House Fiscal Agency. Michigan and federal officials investigated $1.8 million in alleged misspending by the agency, including thousands spent on bonuses from a petty cash account.
NAFTA. Michigan Congressman and House Majority Whip David Bonior led an effort to defeat NAFTA. Michigan's 10 House Democrats and both U.S. Senators (both Democrats) voted against NAFTA. The state's five House Republicans voted for NAFTA.
Recovery of U.S. automobile industry.
In separate balloting by Michigan AP newspapers and broadcast stations, the state's top sports stories were selected as follows:[2]
Fab Five in Final Four. Chris Webber's illegal timeout at the end of the championship game in the 1993 NCAA basketball tournament.
In the 1990 United States census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 9,295,29 persons, ranking as the eighth most populous state in the country. By 2000, the state's population had grown by 6.9% to 9,938,444 persons.
Cities
The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 50,000 based on 1990 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1980 and 2000 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.
The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 150,000 based on 1990 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1980 and 2000 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Counties that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.
1993 Detroit Lions season – Under head coach Wayne Fontes, the Lions compiled a 10–5 record and finished first in the NFC Central Division. The team's statistical leaders included Rodney Peete with 1,670 passing yards, Barry Sanders with 1,115 rushing yards and 130 points scored, and Herman Moore with 935 receiving yards.[4]
1993 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 6–6 record and lost to Louisville in the 1993 Liberty Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included Jim Miller with 2,269 passing yards, Duane Goulbourne with 973 rushing yards, Mill Coleman with 671 receiving yards, and Bill Stoyanovich with 65 points scored.[6]
July 4 - Don Dohoney, American football end at Michigan State and consensus All-American in 1953, at age 61 in Meridian, Michigan
July 31 - Paul B. Henry, U.S. Congressman, at age 51 in Grand Rapids
October 24 - Cloyce Box, Detroit Lions end/halfback (1949–1954) who broke multiple team receiving records, at age 70 in Frisco, Texas
November 4 - Doris Satterfield, outfielder for the Grand Rapids Chicks (1947–1954) in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, at age 67 in Grand Rapids