2011 in Michigan


This article reviews the top news stories, sports stories, and cultural events occurring during the year 2011 in Michigan.

Top stories

The top news stories of 2011 in Michigan included:
  • Rick Snyder's first year as Governor, including debate over his proposed budget cuts and changes in tax law, repeal of Michigan's item pricing law, passage of a new law authorizing emergency financial managers for cities and school districts to cancel union contracts, and his proposal to build a new bridge over the Detroit River;
  • The July 7 Grand Rapids shootings in which 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler killed seven people and wounded two others in a spree killing in two homes, and including a lengthy car chase, taking of hostages, and ending with Dantzler taking his own life;
  • Detroit's financial crisis, as the city approached insolvency and city and state leaders debated whether state intervention was needed;
  • A January 23 shootout at Detroit's Northwestern District police station in which a gunman entered the station and opened fire with a pistol-grip shotgun, shooting four officers after his house was raided earlier in the day based on allegations that he kidnapped a 13-year-old girl who he chained to a toilet in a basement and assaulted for nine days;
  • The UAW's negotiation of new four-year contracts with the Big Three auto makers, including substantial signing bonuses and profit-sharing for workers.
The top sports stories in Michigan during 2011 included:
Notable cultural developments in Michigan during 2011 included: Eminem's two-minute "Imported from Detroit" Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler and promoting Detroit; Michigan artists winning five Grammy Awards; the disbanding of The White Stripes; Alice Cooper's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; President Obama's White House tribute to Motown; and the death of the "Mother of Motown", Esther Gordy Edwards.
Notable Michigan-related deaths in 2011 included former First Lady Betty Ford; assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian; Meijer founder Fred Meijer; former Congressman Howard Wolpe; former General Motors CEO Robert Stempel; and athletes Jim Northrup, Bubba Smith, Jim Mandich, Robert Traylor, and Lynn Chandnois.

Office holders

State office holders

Baseball

January

  • January 1 - Rick Snyder inaugurated as Governor of Michigan. His first 100 days included the repeal of Michigan's item pricing law and passage of a new law authorizing emergency financial managers for cities and school districts to cancel union contracts.
  • January 11 - Michigan hired Brady Hoke as its new head football coach.
  • January 14 - A Novi man, Mark Schons, killed his wife and two children and then himself.
  • January 17 - Peter Karmanos Jr. announced that he would step down as CEO of Compuware, the company he founded.
  • January 19 - Gov. Rick Snyder delivered his first State of the State address. He pushed for a second bridge over the Detrit River.
  • January 20 - Mary Barra named development chief at General Motors.
  • January 23 - A gunman entered at Detroit's Northwestern District police station and opened fire with a pistol-grip shotgun, shooting four officers. The gunman was hit by five shots and killed. The gunman's house had been raided earlier in the day after a 13-year-old girl said she had been kidnapped and assaulted. The girl had been chained to a toilet in a basement for nine days.
  • January 24 - Dearborn mosque bombing plot: A 63-year-old California man was arrested and charged with terrorism in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of America. He had powerful fireworks in his vehicle.
  • January 28 - Ford Motor Co. reported a $6.6 billion profit for FY 2010 and $5,000 bonus for workers.

    February

  • February 2 - The White Stripes announced the end of the band.
  • February 4 - Ndamukong Suh selected as the NFL's rookie of the year.
  • February 6 - Eminem starred in two-minute Super Bowl commercial that praised Detroit and pitched the Chrysler 200.
  • February 10 - Los Angeles financier Tom Gores agreed to pay Bill Davidson's widow $420 million for the Detroit Pistons, The Palace of Auburn Hills, and Pine Knob Music Theatre. After multiple delays, the deal closed in April. The NBA approved the sale at the end of May.
  • February 13 - At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, Eminem won the awards for best rap album and best rap solo performance. Other Michigan winners were BeBe & CeCe Winans and Michael Daugherty. The ceremony included a tribute to Aretha Franklin.
  • February 16 - Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol during spring training in Florida.
  • February 24 - President Barack Obama hosted a tribute to Motown at the White House. The event included performances by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Martha Reeves.

    March

  • March - Throughout the month, there was debate over Governor Snyder's proposed budget cuts and changes in tax laws.
  • March 3 - At a high school basketball game in Fennville, 16-year-old Wes Leonard scored the winning basket as time ran out to give the team its 20th consecutive win. During the post-game celebration, Leonard collapsed and died, his heart having stopped. He was found to have a rare heart disorder, and his death raise questions about screening for such conditions and the importance of proper medical equipment.
  • March 12 - Detoit schools emergency financial manager Robert Bobb announced his Renaissance Plan 2012 to convert 41 poorly performing schools into charter school academies.
  • March 14 - Detroit native Alice Cooper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was the 18th Detroit performer to be inducted, giving the city 10% of the entire hall of fame.
  • March 22 - Results of the 2010 Census showed that Detroit continued to shrink, losing 25% of its population in the decade, while Macomb County grew by 6.7%.