1. On February 8, 1887, journalist and civil rights activist, William Monroe Trotter, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Trotter was a founder of the Niagara Movement, which later became the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

2. In 1934, the federal government assumed control of the Wayne County Road Commission, as part of the New Deal's efforts to improve infrastructure and create jobs during the Great Depression.

3. In 1963, Michigan State University hosted the first International Conference on Urban Problems, which brought together leaders from around the world to discuss issues facing cities, such as transportation, housing, and crime.

4. On February 8, 1971, Lake Superior State University launched its annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-use, Over-use, and General Uselessness. The list is still published every year and includes words and phrases that have become cliché, annoying, or meaningless.

5. In 2005, a blizzard brought record snowfall to many parts of Michigan, with some areas receiving over two feet of snow. The storm led to widespread power outages and closed schools and businesses across the state.