1946 in Michigan
Events from the year 1946 in Michigan included the emergence of anti-graft crusader Kim Sigler and his election as governor, a strike by the United Auto Workers, and supply-chain problems that slowed production in the automobile industry. The year's major sports stories included the 1946 Detroit Tigers finishing second in the American League with Hal Newhouser winning 26 games and finishing second in voting for the most valuable player award. Notable deaths in 1946 included former Michigan football coach Fielding H. Yost. Notable births in Michigan included comedienne and actress Gilda Radner and writer/director Paul Schrader Top stories The Associated Press polled editors of its member newspapers in Michigan and ranked the state's top news stories of 1946 as follows: Kim Sigler. Kim Sigler began the year as special prosecutor pursuing government corruption. After 28 months in that position, he was fired in March 1946. A former Democrat, he won the Republican nomination for governor in a four-way contest. He then won the general election in November by more than 350,000 votes, the largest margin for a Michigan governor in a non-presidential year. UAW strike. In January, Chrysler and Ford settled their part in the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike of 1945–1946. The last to settle was General Motors on March 13, ending a strike by 175,000 production workers that had lasted for 113 days since November 21, 1945. Production problems in the automobile industry. Reduced production was attributed to factors including Office of Price Administration (OPA) price controls on new automobiles (which were finally lifted in November), the UAW strike, and strikes against automobile parts suppliers and in the steel, coal, rail, and Great Lakes shipping industries. Tornadoes. Two large tornadoes in June 1946 struck Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the most devastating being the 1946 Windsor–Tecumseh tornado Bank bribery scandal. On July 20, 19 men including the president of Michigan National Bank, were indicted for conspiring to block passage of Michigan's anti-branch bank bill. Jackson Prison scandal. In April, a hearing for reinstatement of the fired warden of the Jackson State Prison revealed extensive corruption at the prison, including bribes for whisky, more favorable work assignments, and visits to a house of ill fame. Frank McKay trial. Former Republican national committeeman Frank McKay and four others were tried in January and February on charges of corrupting the state liquor control commission. After a month of trial, the judge granted a directed verdict and dismissed the charges. The case had been prosecuted by Kim Sigler. Baroda school explosion. The November 13 explosion of a water tank at a school in Baroda, killing one child and endangering 260. Cardinal Mooney. On February 18, Detroit Archbishop Edward Aloysius Mooney was elevated by the pope to the status of cardinal. He was the first cardinal in Michigan. Destruction of cottages near Bay City. On March 9, strong winds from a blizzard pushed massive ice floes from Saginaw Bay onto Killarney and Ricomo Beaches near Bay City. The ice reached heights of 40 feet