As temperatures fluctuate this winter in Michigan, one thing for sure is snowy, icy and even cold rainy days are here through March and warm winter boots and socks are still a “must have” in Michigan. Without adequate clothing, often low-income families and people experiencing homelessness have a much higher risk than the general population of developing exposure-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite.

To protect families from the cold, Toyota Motor North America through its “Toyota Walk In My Boots” community outreach project and North American International Auto Show activities, is stepping in to help area low-income and homeless families by providing new insulated boots and socks to more than 200 participants of The Salvation Army Conner Creek Corps Community Center located on Detroit’s Eastside and The Salvation Army Booth Services of Detroit, a homeless shelter for primarily women and single mothers and their children.

ION Audio has announced the introduction of three new water-resistant outdoor speakers, all with wireless Bluetooth streaming capability. Recognizing an ever-growing demand for wireless outdoor entertainment solutions, these three new ION speakers give customers the ability to choose their speaker’s size and loudness capability to perfectly match their requirements, with the added bonus of being IPX4 water-resistant. That means whether a quick spring shower pops up or someone wants to use their speaker near children splashing in a pool, any of these new ION speakers is ideal.

The Block Rocker Splash boasts an impressive 8-inch 2-way speaker system powered by a 100-watt dynamic power amplifier. Its rechargeable battery lasts for 100 hours, so the fun keeps going without missing a beat. It streams music wirelessly from any Bluetooth device and also has a built-in AM/FM radio, plus it comes with a microphone and cable so users can be the MC at their own event or even have Karaoke parties in the rain!

The Toyota exhibit at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), from January 16-24 in Detroit, provides a glimpse at this transformational change to mobility while showing off the full line of new cars, trucks and SUVs available today.
Fresh off of announcements at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which revealed Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics research plans by the new Toyota Research Institute Inc. (TRI) and the commercialization of a telematics system using SmartDeviceLink, Toyota arrives in Detroit to showcase its vision of the connected car and future mobility.
Toyota will use exhibit displays to tell its AI story. One exhibit has small moving vehicles on a table that learn how to drive in a congested environment.

Do you own a drone? If so, there are important restrictions in federal law that you should know.

Unmanned aircraft systems, popularly called drones, have become increasingly popular and less expensive in recent years. However, many people may not be aware that they are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which also controls private and commercial aircraft. FAA regulations restrict drone use within areas where they may interfere with other air traffic, such as an FAA rules also prohibit drone use over most federal land, such as national forests and parks.

A drone can annoy visitors to these public places, typically seeking peace and quiet. A drone may disturb, or even harass, wildlife. Drones may also interfere with other aerial activity such as wildfire detection and suppression. There have been several incidents in recent years in which firefighters have had to suspend the use of aircraft in fighting wildfires because of the presence of private drones.

Recent FAA regulations require the registration of drones above a certain weight or face civil and criminal penalties. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encourage the public to be aware of these regulations and the responsibility involved in flying a drone by visiting their website at: https://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/faqs/

-- Press release courtesy of Huron-Manistee National Forests

For the third consecutive year, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will open its doors for free for NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, fans will have free access to the Hall for a full day of activities, including autographs and Q&A sessions with current drivers and NASCAR Hall of Famers. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket.

However, tickets to the below autograph sessions, highlighted by 13-time Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. must be secured in advance. Vouchers for these autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 16. Each fan can secure up to two autograph session vouchers.