LSSU’s 50th Annual “Banished Words List” Declares “6-7” and “Cooked” Must Go
Lake Superior State University released its 50th annual Banished Words List on January 1, 2026.
It features tongue-in-cheek commentary on overused language from over 1,400 submissions from all 50 states and countries as far as Uzbekistan and Japan.
Topping the list is the viral phrase “6-7,” with one nominator joking there are “six or seven reasons why this phrase needs to be stopped,” and another suggesting “it’s time for ‘6-7’ to be 86’ed.
Other banished terms include “demure” (often used as “very demure, very mindful”), “cooked,” “massive,” “my bad,” and “reach out.”
The phrase “6-7” gained traction through a song by rapper Skrilla and spread like wildfire on TikTok, though its meaning remains murky and is often used by youngsters simply to frustrate adults.
Negaunee Restaurant Drops Giant Edible Meatball Instead of Ball for Third Annual New Year’s Celebration
Strega Nonna restaurant in Negaunee celebrated New Year’s Eve with its third annual Midnight Meatball Drop, lowering a real, edible meatball into a pot of boiling tomato sauce instead of the traditional ball drop.
The event featured the Flat Broke Blues Band starting at 8:30 p.m., fire pits for guests to stay warm, and after midnight, the meatball was carved up and eaten by approximately 200 attendees.
Owner Rachel Grossman wanted to bring back a tradition from when the building was Chapper’s Pub, but with her own Italian restaurant flair.
Michigan’s Hilariously Named Snowplows Go Viral with 180,000 Views in Three Days
An Instagram Reel showcasing Michigan’s cleverly named snowplows went viral, racking up more than 180,000 views, 13,000 likes, and hundreds of comments in just three days.
The viral video by Instagram creator @backlinenurse featured a curated list of Michigan snowplows actively plowing with live dashcam footage.
Highlighted names included straightforward puns like “Have Snow Will Plow” and “Just Plowning Around” to pop culture references like “Creedence Clear Road Revival” and “Bringin’ Pavement Back”.
Commenters shared their favorites, including “The Plowers That Be” and “Ctrl Salt Delete.”
Residents from Midland mentioned local winners like “Edward Blizzardhands,” “Truck Norris,” “Sleetwood Mac,” “Scoop Dogg,” “Ron Brrrgandy,” and “The Big Leplowski.
The Michigan Department of Transportation has nearly 300 snowplows with creative names chosen by the public, ranging from Star Wars references like “Snowbegone Kenobi” to Michigan pride names like “Flake Michigan.”
Saginaw Bay Ice Arena Hosts New Year’s Day 5K Skating Event to Help New Hockey Players
On January 1, 2026, Saginaw Bay Ice Arena hosted the 2026 5K Skate event in Kochville Township, where participants skated 35 laps around the rink to complete a full 5K distance.
The event raises money to help new players get into the sport of hockey, with free rental skates available, and the event kicks off at 11:30 a.m.
Harlem Globetrotters Bring 100 Year Tour to Michigan with Multiple Stops
The Harlem Globetrotters kicked off their 100 Year Tour in Michigan with a performance at Dow Event Center in Saginaw on January 2, 2026.
The “Clown Princes of Basketball” are making multiple Michigan stops, including Grand Rapids on January 4 and Detroit on January 24.
Flint Firebirds Offer Free Hockey Tickets for Food Donations on January 3 & 7
The Flint Firebirds hosted “Firebirds Fight Hunger” events benefitting the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
Attendees who brought and donated a minimum of 5 non-perishable food items received a FREE ticket to that night’s game.
Michigan Hospitals Welcome 2026’s First Babies – Including 10-Pound, 8-Ounce “On a Mission” Boy
Weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 23 inches long, Bentley Winston Adsit was “on a mission to become the first baby of 2026 at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids.”
This bouncing baby boy came into the world much sooner than his Jan. 7 due date.
Another New Year Baby is Alayna Marie Dunbar, who was born at 12:15 a.m. at Corewell Health Beaumont Troy.
She was initially supposed to arrive on Dec. 21, 2025, but she wanted to make her parents’ New Year’s Day extra special.
Alayna is named after her maternal grandfather, Allen, and she shares a middle name with her mom, both grandmas, and an aunt.
Featured image credit: @anthonylucibello via Instagram