Lions season ticket prices spike • Renter protections passed • Possible hunting, fishing license increase

FRIDAY NEWS HIT - Lions season ticket holders who are preparing to renew for next season are being met with a big price jump.

Two years ago, Lions tickets were among the lowest in the NFL, but for the second straight year, prices are spiking. The Lions say they are not trying to price people out, but longtime fans hope they won't be left out.

"My coworkers are interested in season tickets, so I was talking about what I pay now," said season ticket holder Shane Sperling. "So, I look at the invoice, and I was like ‘Whoa! That is a jump.’"

Sperling says his tickets will jump 35% next season, which is about another $1,000.

The Lions raised prices in 2023, which was the first increase in five years. According to the sports site Goal, the Lions still had the cheapest single-game tickets compared to its division rivals last year.

Also, the Lions season ticket team plans to work with customers to find another seat in the stadium to suit their price point.

A spokesperson for the Lions tells FOX 2 they’re not trying to price people out, but the move is to stabilize the market for secondary prices, which have skyrocketed.

The individual resale prices for Sunday’s game against Buffalo shows the cheapest price on StubHub and SeatGeek is $356. On Vivid Seats, it’s $374, and Ticketmaster is $335. The Lions rep says the price jump reduces the intensity of the secondary market.

Price of hunting, fishing licenses could be rising

The cost to hunt and fish in Michigan may soon be increasing after a bill to raise the prices of licenses passed committee.

The cost for state-issued licenses for all forms of hunting and fishing would increase, including deer, bear, elk, and waterfowl, under HB 6229.

Passing along a party-line vote in the Committee of Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation, it was pitched as a much-needed revision for the Department of Natural Resources to continue funding upkeep of Michigan's natural resources.

It's the first proposed increase in license fees since 2014, officials with the DNR said, which would help the agency keep up with inflation as costs for stocking fish, maintaining habitat, and other environmental resources grow. 

Though some say the increase would benefit the state, others argue that it will push people out of the hobbies.

"You don't raise prices on things and expect more of these deer to get harvested," Rep. Timmy Beson said.

How tariffs could hurt Michigan

Michigan residents could soon pay a lot more for electricity if President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs are imposed on Canada as the nation's most populous province says it would restrict electricity exports.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the government is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York State and Minnesota in a move that he said would make electricity unaffordable for Americans.

"It's a last resort," Ford said. "I don't think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the U.S. If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that."

Last month, Trump said he would impose a 25% tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada coming into the U.S unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs.

"On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders," he wrote last month while complaining that "thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before," even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.

Low-income renter protections passed 

Michigan renters will have more housing access thanks to a package of bills passed this week.

The package prevents landlords from denying housing based on lawful sources of income, including Social Security, alimony or housing assistance programs like Housing Choice Vouchers.

"All we’re saying is that you can't just say you don't like where somebody’s money is coming from as long as it’s legal," said State Representative Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). "We’re trying to level the playing field on that particular piece of the puzzle."

The plan also changes the Landlord-Tenant Act so that people who are lawfully affected can seek relief or damages in court.

"There are penalties in place under the law," Morgan said. "Landlords are absolutely still allowed to consider every other aspect of what they do currently."

Sentencing for woman who left friend to die

Kentia Monique Fearn, of Wayne, will learn her sentence Friday after leaving a friend behind in the middle of a Southfield road last year.

According to authorities, Fearn was driving on Providence Drive early June 3, 2023, after leaving a party when 23-year-old Mia Kanu fell from the vehicle. Police said Fearn left the scene instead of stopping and reporting what happened to police.

Kanu was found in the road near Coach Apartments by a passerby. She was taken to a hospital, where she died a few days later.

Fearn was arrested months later and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and operating while intoxicated. She pleaded no contest to the charges in October. 

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Daily Forecast

The cold continues, but it won't be as biting today.

What else we're watching

1. A man is due in court today for a preliminary exam after allegedly shooting into a Canton home last month. Jordon Campbell has since been charged with seven crimes, including a 10-year felony for discharging a weapon into a building.
2. A two-day warrant sweep in Detroit resulted in 140 arrests, the department said. 
3. Residents on Harsens Island are without water after a main break Thursday.
4. Lawmakers in Lansing are working to find more money to help fix our roads, but it could come at the hefty price of up to $3 billion.
5. Detroiters struggling with addiction are getting help from the Detroit Opioid Quick Response Team. The team has been working with people in need and making house calls to clients it has been helping. 

DOJ asks court to reject TikTok's bid to delay law that would ban app

The Department of Justice is asking a U.S. appeals court to deny TikTok’s bid to temporarily delay legislation that may result in the social media platform being banned.

FOX Business reports that the law would require TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S.

In an emergency motion obtained by FOX Business, the news outlet reported that TikTok and ByteDance called the law unconstitutional, and they contend that a small delay with the law would not cause serious national security concerns.

The Justice Department tells FOX Business that the TikTok ban would not prevent users from using the social media platform but over time it would be "unworkable."

In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill that required the sale of TikTok to an organization not owned or operated by Chinese entities.

Biden and other legislators were worried that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government for surveillance or to spread propaganda. ByteDance has said before that it has no intention to sell.

TikTok indicated that it plans to appeal the decision.

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