Michigan (pronounced ) is a Midwestern state of the United States. It was named after Lake Michigan, the word 'Michigan' itself being a French derivative of the Ojibwe misshikama (read "mish-ih-GAH-muh"), meaning "big lake" (compare kitchikama, meaning "Great Lake" - pronounced "gitch-ih-GAH-ma," or "Gitchee-Gumee" as rendered by Longfellow).

Bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the United States, the longest total shoreline after Alaska (including island shorelines)"Does Michigan have the longest coast line in the United States?" Michigan.gov, and more recreational boats than any other state in the union. A person in Michigan is never more than 85 miles (137 km) from open Great Lakes water and is never more than 6 miles from a natural water source.

Michigan is the only bi-peninsular state. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is sometimes dubbed "the Mitten," owing to its shape. When asked where in Michigan one comes from, a resident of the Lower Peninsula may often point to the corresponding part of his or her hand. The Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Upper Peninsula (whose residents are often called "Yoopers") is economically important for tourism and its natural resources.

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CORPORATE COMMENT: Ford: Detroit area can refocus on future
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:58:00 -0500
Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, who also heads two organizations dedicated to regional economic development, told the Free Press on Friday that metro Detroit can begin refocusing on the future now that the scandal involving Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is ending.
MCCAIN-PALIN SUPPORT: Fraternal Order of Police endorses the GOP ticket
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:56:00 -0500
The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday in Detroit. The national organization is meeting in Detroit this week, and the Republican ticket stopped at the Renaissance Center to meet with the group that represents more than 325,000 police officers.
MACOMB CO. VOTERS TARGETED: Ad tries to link Obama, Kilpatrick
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:56:00 -0500
A self-described "small government conservative" political committee based in Washington, D.C., launched an attack ad against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Macomb County on Friday, attempting to link him to disgraced and soon-to-depart Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
GOP TICKET WOOS MACOMB CO.: McCain, Palin: We need Michigan
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:53:00 -0500
Buoyant and fresh from their party's convention, presidential nominee John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin promised a crowd of more than 7,000 in Sterling Heights on Friday that they'd shake up Washington in a way Democratic rival Barack Obama can't.
PROVIDENCE PARK IN NOVI: Trek nets college fund for hospital's first baby
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:50:00 -0500
Just how far will patients go to get care at metro Detroit's first new hospital in 22 years? The parents of Wisdom Love Walker drove 35 miles from their Detroit home early Friday to deliver their baby at Providence Park Hospital in Novi, passing a half dozen other hospitals on the way.
By the numbers
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:44:00 -0500
43: Landfill-free GM plants today

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