HAZEL PARK — Mere weeks after tying the knot, Melissa Albers and her new husband, Micah, were clearing storm debris from their Hazel Park home when a branch slid the wrong way off the roof and struck her in a near-fatal blow.

ROYAL OAK — The Kirk Gibson Foundation hosted its first “Strike Out Parkinson’s” event to commemorate the 1984 Detroit Tigers and their journey to a World Series victory over the San Diego Padres.

METRO DETROIT — A lot goes into estate sales, and in addition to the planning and pricing, compassion and understanding are also important.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Five marijuana businesses in Harrison Township were brought before the Board of Trustees on Aug. 28, each one appealing various hurdles that would jeopardize their ability to renew operating licenses.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Many teens dread the thought of facing down an essay in school, but in Harrison Township, one 15-year-old approaches writing differently.

MOUNT CLEMENS — Water customers on the Mount Clemens system can expect their rates to go up soon as the City Commission approved a slate of rate increases at its Aug. 21 meeting.

The latest from the Oakland Activities Association.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Officials cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Fire Station No. 2 in Madison Heights Aug. 21.

NOVI — The Michigan State Fair will return Aug. 31-Sept. 4 to the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

NOVI — A man who once thought he would be burying people instead continues to save lives as the new chief of the Novi Fire Department.

SOUTHFIELD — “It was a total surprise, and I was shocked,” Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee said of his International Association of Fire Chiefs Great Lakes Division 2023 Chief of the Year award.

LATHRUP VILLAGE — In partnership with the city of Lathrup Village, the Lathrup Village Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Oakland County, Lathrup Village City Hall and Municipal Park are getting a much-needed makeover thanks to a grant from the Revitalization and Placemaking program.

SOUTHFIELD — On Aug. 7, Southfield announced its enrollment in DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, one of the largest renewable energy programs in the United States, with over 1,300 businesses and 90,000 residential customers.

TROY — A pharmacist, a doctor and a pharmacy technician have been charged for their alleged roles in a health care fraud scheme of more than $7 million.

DETROIT — Topics such as loss, regrets, injustice and hope are all fruitful inspiration for works of art — even more so for those who have been imprisoned.

HUNTINGTON WOODS/TROY — A group of local musicians are taking their personal passions for fiddle and Celtic music public with a performance to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

METRO DETROIT — When the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law on March 11, 2021, the federal government agreed to distribute $195.3 billion to state governments and the District of Columbia to give local communities aid in recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TROY — School is starting back up again, and while this is a good thing for many families, the ever-present threat of school shootings and other violent incidents can loom over parents’ minds.

ROYAL OAK — Due to a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, Royal Oak City Commissioner Patricia Paruch announced she will be stepping away from the commission and entering hospice care.

METRO DETROIT — There’s a dwindling pool of substitute teachers, a crisis officials say is compounded by a serious lack of public and private educators nationwide.