Public Comments Accepted on Enhancing Rail System

Comments will be taken until Dec. 19 on plan to add trains, improve reliability and cut travel time from Detroit metro to Chicago.

Public Comments Accepted on Enhancing Rail System

Comments will be taken until Dec. 19 on plan to add trains, improve reliability and cut travel time from Detroit metro to Chicago.

Don't Get Fat This Winter; Get Outdoors Instead

It’s easy to fall into the habit of staying inside when the weather gets cold, Instead, listen to the call of Michigan’s 102 state parks.

Is the Elf on a Shelf a Friend or Foe? Patch Poll

Do you delight in the Elf on a Shelf phenomenon? Or do you think the idea of a watchdog elf is a little strange and creepy?

Facebook Says Michiganders Are Most Thankful For ...

If you’re thinking friends, family and health, you’re wrong, according to data collected by Facebook.

After a Balmy Sunday, Freezing Drizzle in Shelby-Utica 7-Day Forecast

After a near-record setting Sunday, it’s back to reality – it could be an icy one.

Rolling Stone Throws a Rock at Michigan on LGBT Issues

Four of the states on the cultural magazine’s “5 Worst States for LGBT People” are in the South. And then there’s Michigan.

Search for Lowest Gas Prices in the Shelby-Utica Area - Or Wherever You're at Thanksgiving Weekend

If you're traveling this weekend, use Patch's handy mapquest tool to find the cheapest gas, no matter where you're at.

Michiganders Are Big Spenders in Some Areas, About Average of Others: WalletHub

A new ranking by the personal finance service suggests Americans may be on the brink of overextending themselves again.

Protesters Shut Down U-M Regents Meeting, 'Ghosts' May Save Historic Home, Rape Charges Reinstated Against Ex-Tiger Evan Reed: Michigan News Digest

Also, the daughter of a dying man pens a heart-wrenching letter to the thief who stole her father’s iPhone.

Why Bill Cosby's Accusers Remained Silent: Patch Editor's Notebook

Until enough women break the code of silence, it’s too easy for society to vilify them.

100 Kids Will Get Forever Families at Michigan Adoption Day 2014

The "Giving Thanks for Families" event on Tuesday, Nov. 25, is now in its 12th year. Adoptions will be finalized in more than 30 counties.

Where to Buy a Locally Grown Turkey in Southeast Michigan, Plus Tips for a Perfect Thanksgiving Meal

Butterball’s Turkey Talk Line is open. If you’d prefer a local farm-raised turkey, we’ve started a list; add vendors we’ve missed, please.

Happy's Pizza Founder Owes IRS in $6.2 Million Tax Fraud Scheme: Jury

Happy Asker faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to defraud the government.

Southeast Michigan's Ski Slopes Open Early, Thanks to Early Winter

Slopes at Mount Brighton, Mount Holly, Alpine Early and Pine Knob get a gift from an early start to winter.

Rabbi Murdered in Jerusalem Synagogue Has Ties to Metro Detroit

Rabbi Michael Cohen of Young Israel of Oak Park said attack brings the conflict in the Middle East “to a very personal level.”

With Snow in the Forecast, Shelby-Utica Commute Could Be Messy Tuesday

With temperatures in the 20s and a wind chill index of around -2, the snow isn't going to go anywhere.

Attention, Shelby-Utica Residents: Deadline Extended for FEMA Flood Assistance

Gov. Rick Snyder asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for extension to apply for assistance to cover damage from August floods.

Live Penguin Cam: Watch How Detroit Zoo Penguins Spend Their Days

What’s an average day like for a penguin? A Detroit television station’s Penguin Cam gives you a glimpse.

From Hell to Paradise, Michigan Rules, Seal's Fate Sealed, 'Dead' Man Votes: Michigan News Digest

In case you missed them, here’s a roundup of some of the top stories from the Michigan Patch sites last week.

Michigan Green Beret, 'One of Our Nation's Finest,' Dies in Battle in Afghanistan

The highly decorated soldier received fourth Bronze Star medal and a Meritorious Service Award posthumously.

Michigan Hunters Can Help Fill Food Bank Freezers

The Sportsmen Against Hunger program collected around 30,000 pounds of venison last year.

Macomb County Residents Affected by Flood Have Until Nov. 24 to File for FEMA Assistance

The deadline is approaching for housing, home repair and other assistance from August's flood event.

From Hell to Paradise, BuzzFeed Explains Why Michigan is Best U.S. State

Michiganders can always use their hand as a map, one of the reasons you should turn thumbs up to the Mitten State.

AAA Michigan Warns Motorists, 'Don't Veer for Deer': Watch

One in five vehicle crashes in Michigan involves deer, which are especially active during the November rut, or mating season.

Killer Shrimp Poses Big Threat to Great Lakes

Michigan DNR takes aim at aggressive predator, and other invasive species that can disrupt the ecological balance of the Great Lakes.

Area Vet Says He and Millions of Others Getting Cold Shoulder from Defense Department

On Veterans Day, Americans pay tribute to those who sacrificed in wars. But millions of Cold War veterans are overlooked.

Registration Open for Dec. 6 Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis

“I can’t wait until I am just Emi. Not a kid with arthritis,” says this year’s 2014 Detroit Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis honoree.

Fill Shelby-Utica Patch with Veterans Day 2014 Tributes

Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Leave a tribute to a veteran in the comments section, or upload a photo there.

Diver Finds Previously Undiscovered Shipwrecks on Lake Michigan Floor: Watch

Diver discovers artifacts from ships that ran aground after being snared by reefs of shallow gravel shoals near the Island of Skillagalee.

Shelby-Utica, Catch Up On Patch: Shifting Views About Pot, Gay Marriage Showdown Expected, Moot Wolf Hunt Vote

Also, the remains of a World War II veteran have been identified and was buried with full military honors.

Sexting and Kids: Should Advent of 'Sexting' Prompt Legal Reform?

Prosecutor is meeting with teens across the metro to discuss the serious consequences of sexting.

Off-the-Charts Customer Service, Surf's Up and It's not for Sissies, Child Support Snafu: Michigan News Digest

Detroit Institute of Arts board returns $90,000 in bonuses paid to executives when voter-backed taxes started flowing in.

Southeast Michigan Boy is New 'Mayor' of Zoo's Amphibiville

Amphibiville is part of the National Amphibian Conservation Center, which the Wall Street Journal called “Disneyland for Toads.”

Say It Isn't Snow: Weather Outlook for the Shelby-Utica Area

Forecasters don’t expect a repeat of last winter, the snowiest and sixth-coldest on record in Michigan, but season could blow in early.

'Boycott Black Thursday' Gains Steam, Conflict Brewing Over Starbucks Bling Policy, Couple Wrongly Accused of Sexual Abuse Gets $3 Million: Michigan News Digest

Also, a Dearborn man accused of a single fatal punch in a soccer referee’s death will get a new judge.

Final Rites for WWII Vet, County Can't Prosecute Rape, Judge Accused of Affair Says He'll Resign if Elected: Michigan News Digest

Also, America’s most dangerous small city is making it more dangerous for johns and prostitutes, plus Election 2014 information.

Michigan Episcopal Church Makes Strong Gun-Control Statement

Membership is waning in the Episcopal church, the nation's largest denomination in Colonial days; some critics blame liberal social agenda.

One Dear and Another Not-So-Dear Encounter with Deer: Patch Editor's Notebook

What would you do if you happened along a deer caught in a fence? It may not have been the smartest move, but it was inspiring.

What's Your Pure Michigan Moment?

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. is accepting entries in its annual photo contest through Nov. 7.