A Colorado man was fatally struck by a kayak rack when driving in the Upper Peninsula.

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day.

U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to craft a new habitat plan for the rare, snow-loving Canada lynx that could include more land in Colorado and other western states where they would be protected.

A pilot has escaped injury after his single-engine plane was forced to make an emergency landing on the ice of an Upper Peninsula lake.

U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to keep species protections in place for Canada lynx.

The Michigan DNR has confirmed 10 cougar sightings in 2021, all in the Upper Peninsula, continuing an upward trend in sightings over the last few years.

MANISTIQUE, Mich. – A Wisconsin-based fighter jet crashed in a national forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula while on a training mission and searchers were looking Wednesday for the pilot, who was the only person aboard, authorities said. The F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison crashed about 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs said in a statement. It was initially secured by local emergency responders, but military personnel and safety and security personnel from the 115th Fighter Wing have now responded, the department said. The sheriff’s office has blocked off local roads in the crash area, where he and his deputies did not see any fire or flames in the crash area overnight. An F-16 launched from Truax Field in 2011 plunged into a vacant house in Adams County, Wisconsin.

The Michigan DNR has confirmed six cougar sightings in 2020, all in the Upper Peninsula. Since 2008, the DNR has confirmed 55 cougar sightings, with only one of those coming in the Lower Peninsula, in 2017. Though originally native to Michigan, cougars were driven from the states landscape due to several factors, including habitat loss, around the early 1900s. In 2019, at least 11 cougar sightings were confirmed in the state. There have been periodic reports of cougar sightings since that time from various locations in Michigan.

LANSING, Mich. The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police, and local health departments to offer COVID-19 testing this weekend in Branch, Chippewa, Gratiot, Marquette, Muskegon, Newago, Schoolcraft, and Wayne counties. The Michigan National Guard has more than 45 trained testing teams ready to assist, of which 21 are currently assigned to support the community testing mission. All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety and to protect Michigan communities. These drive-through testing sites will feature additional resources, such as information for those interested in joining the Michigan National Guard and resources for veterans. Whitmers request to extend use of Michigan National Guard