LANSING — On Jan. 9, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity announced 27 recipients of the $14.4 million in Barrier Removal and Employment Success Expansion Grant funding to remove barriers to employment for more Michiganders. 

TROY — Plans to establish a 70-acre protected county park on a Troy School District property are on hold after grant funding for the project could not be obtained.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A veteran member of the Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Department has earned a new badge and a new rank.

GROSSE POINTE CITY — The Grosse Pointe Public Safety Department has a new tool to fight crime.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — As far as the Michigan high school girls hockey record books date back, one thing has remained constant — Grosse Pointe South girls hockey has been a perennial powerhouse in Division 1.

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — At more than 60 years old, Grosse Pointe Shores’ Osius Park pool is in need of replacement or major repairs.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — At 93, artist and retired art educator Carol LaChiusa could easily rest on her laurels, having already amassed an impressive body of work and a slew of awards.

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Four suspects have been identified by police after they reportedly carjacked a man who was picking up a carryout in the area of Beaconsfield and Kercheval avenues at around 8:35 p.m. Dec. 12.

FERNDALE — Back in October, it was announced that Bobbie Hayes Goodrum was stepping down as superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools.

FERNDALE — The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments recently announced that it will award more than $2 million in funding for projects across five cities, including Ferndale.

SOUTHFIELD — Former MacArthur K-8 University Academy music teacher Lamar Willis is facing four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of accosting a minor for immoral purposes.

METRO DETROIT — On the brightest stage of his young career at the University of Michigan, sophomore cornerback Will Johnson showcased why he’s one of the top defensive backs in the country.

EASTPOINTE/ROSEVILLE — Now that Christmas break is over, students and staff are back in class in both Eastpointe Community Schools and Roseville Community Schools.

BERKLEY — The first woman mayor in Berkley’s history has died.

OAKLAND COUNTY — School districts in Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak will be coming together to honor Martin Luther King Jr. with their annual “A Day On, Not a Day Off” event.

METRO DETROIT — Lisa Vergos has been a nurse with Corewell Health — formerly Beaumont Hospital — for approximately 20 years.

FARMINGTON/FARMINGTON HILLS — A project that city officials said could reduce internet bills for residents of Farmington and Farmington Hills was recently launched.

STERLING HEIGHTS — Becoming a Sterling Heights Featured Artist isn’t child’s play, but at the same time, it is no longer an honor solely confined to grownups.

STERLING HEIGHTS — For a noon weekday ceremony honoring a high school football coach, it’s difficult to picture what type of audience will show up. Unless that ceremony is for Sterling Heights Stevenson’s Rick Bye, because his impact is immeasurable through not just Stevenson but Utica Schools Community.

MACOMB COUNTY — As confetti is cleared from Times Square and late-made resolutions begin to be broken, it can be easy to leave 2023 behind in favor of what 2024 will bring. But while the new year is still fresh, leaders of local governments took time to examine the past year and give some idea of what can be expected in 2024.