1. Election officials have a major task ahead of them after a federal judge ruled that a full ballot recount will start at 12 p.m. on Monday.
Originally, the recount wasn’t supposed to start until Wednesday, but the two-day waiting period was waived so the process could start immediately.
Now 4.8 million ballots will have to be hand counted. The deadline to finalize the vote count is December 13.
State officials say this process could cost up to $5 million.
2. President-elect Donald Trump has expanded his number of candidates for Secretary of State.
According to senior adviser Kelly Ann Conway, there are more than four names on the once-short list for the nation’s top diplomat.
A source from inside the transition team says former Utah governor Jon Huntsman is one candidate.
Others rumored for the job include Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Senator Bob Corker, and former general David Petraeus.
3. The Western Michigan Broncos are rowing the boat all the way to the Cotton Bowl.
At 13-0, WMU is one of the only two FBS teams to remain undefeated this year. They won the MAC Championship on December 2, and their dreams of heading to the New Year’s Six Bowl are finally coming true.
Western will take on Wisconsin at the Cotton Bowl on January 2.
4. Dozens of elementary school students got some holiday shopping done thanks to Meijer and the Rockford Police Department.
The annual Shop with a Cop event happened on Saturday. Each child was given $100 and a list of things they needed, like new pajamas or a winter coat.
The Rockford Rotary and Lions Club were also part of this year’s event.
Afterwards, the kids were given Meijer gift cards so they could “pay it forward” to others this holiday season.
5. The city of Grandville is welcoming the Christmas season with their tree lighting ceremony Monday night.
At the Grandville Library Amphitheater, local third graders will sing Christmas songs, and the city council will pass out hot chocolate, candy canes, and cookies. Then, the mayor will light the tree!
The event starts at 7 p.m. and it’s totally free.
