1978 in Michigan

← 1977 1976 1975 1978 in Michigan → 1979 1980 1981
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	History of Michigan Historical outline of Michigan List of years in Michigan 1978 in the United States

Events from the year 1978 in Michigan.

The Associated Press (AP) rated the top Michigan news stories of 1978 as follows:^[1]

1. The Great Blizzard of 1978 leaving 400,000 homes and businesses without power;
2. The passage of one of three tax proposals on the November ballot—a measure requiring voter approval for new tax increases above authorized levels;
3. The reelection of William Milliken as Governor, easily defeating challenger William Fitzgerald, and Carl Levin's defeat of Robert P. Griffin in the election for a U.S. Senate seat from Michigan;
4. The ruling of Wexford County Circuit Judge William Peterson dismissing all charges against three defendants in the first PBB lawsuit, a 14-month trial that was the longest in Michigan history;
5. The recall of 1.5 million pre-1977 Ford Pintos for modifications to the fuel tanks;
6. The passage of a ballot proposal in November increasing Michigan's legal drinking age to 21;
7. The implementation of Michigan's deposit law following the 1976 measure banning throwaway bottles and cans;
8. Disclosures of patient abuse at Michigan's state mental health facilities beginning with a series of articles published in February in the Detroit Free Press and resulting in the resignation of the state's mental health director;
9. The conviction of Congressman Charles Diggs for mail fraud and making false statements in connection with a scheme in which staffers were required to kick back a portion of their pay to Diggs; and
10. The passage of $168.5 million in transportation spending funded by an additional two cent per gallon tax on gasoline and increased vehicle registration fees.

The AP also selected the state's top sports stories as follows:^[2]

1. The 1977–78 Detroit Red Wings season which rebounded from the worst record in the NHL one year earlier and won a berth in the playoffs for the first time in a decade;
2. The 1977–78 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team led by Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser that compiled a 25–5 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and advanced to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament;
3. Michigan State's upset victory on October 14 over Michigan in football;
4. Improvements in the Detroit Lions under head coach Monte Clark;
5. The hiring of Dick Vitale as head coach of the Detroit Pistons;
6. The selection of Detroit Tigers second baseman Lou Whitaker as the American League Rookie of the Year;
7. The resignation of Ralph Houk as manager of the Detroit Tigers;
8. Rick Leach finishing his four-year career as Michigan's quarterback;
9. The Detroit Tigers' signing of Michigan State football star Kirk Gibson; and
10. Former Dearborn prep player Gary Danielson taking over as quarterback of the Detroit Lions.