MADISON HEIGHTS — Civic Center Park has a shiny new playscape, made possible with a $70,000 grant, and it’s just the latest in a series of carefully considered purchases for the parks.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Cheryl Rottmann, the city clerk of Madison Heights, will now take on a dual role as the deputy city manager. The appointment follows the retirement of the previous deputy, Corey Haines, who was also the police chief.

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK — A new state law goes into effect June 30 that will make it illegal to use a cellphone with your hands while operating a vehicle, and local police agencies are ready to enforce it.

MADISON HEIGHTS/ROYAL OAK — Road construction on Interstate 75 and its northbound service drive has led to more drivers cutting through the neighborhood north of Lincoln Avenue and south of 11 Mile Road, as they try to reach John R and 11 Mile roads.

EASTPOINTE — The departure of Eastpointe’s director of public safety isn’t the only change the department is seeing to its leadership.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — An Oakland Township woman who fled to Thailand following a fatal hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Day has pleaded no contest, according to court records.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — The public can enjoy the sounds of jazz, country and classical music in two township parks this summer.

ROCHESTER — Community members of all ages showed up in droves to rally behind a grassroots effort to build Rochester’s first outdoor skate park.

ROCHESTER — Rochester is one of three cities in the state to join the Dementia Friendly America program, committing to support people living with dementia and their care partners.

ROCHESTER HILLS — The community’s first inclusive and accessible playground has some new play features for all ages and abilities to enjoy this summer at Innovation Hills Park.

CLAWSON/HUNTINGTON WOODS — Local cities will be throwing their annual Fourth of July celebrations in the lead up to, and on, the national holiday.

FERNDALE — The Ferndale City Council gave its approval for a special land use for a coffee shop to take over the home of a former Subway.

BERKLEY — The city of Berkley’s Pride Block Party will be making its return to the downtown this weekend.

NOVI — It was a historic showing for Novi High School’s doubles flights at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 State Finals at Hope College June 3.

NOVI — The Novi Police Department has been able to increase its speed and efficiency in cases where time is of the essence over the last year, thanks to Lt. Keith Wuotinen and his idea to implement drones.

NOVI — State Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, is working alongside Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, a Republican, to weed out the wrongful use of the animal tranquilizer xylazine, which is sometimes called “tranq.”

NOVI — Throughout the month of April, Novi sophomore Uli Fernsler had yet to pitch in a regular season game due to a knee injury.

SOUTHFIELD — The Autism Alliance of Michigan is calling the Michigan Department of Education to a higher standard as it pertains to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act cap on the percentage of students with disabilities allowed to take the state’s alternate assessment, the MI-Access test.

SOUTHFIELD — Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 20000 block of Charlton Square for a report of an armed robbery at 3:02 p.m. June 1.

OAKLAND/MACOMB COUNTIES — Since 1974, the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, based in Southfield, has aimed to assist older adults and people with disabilities, as well as providing support to family caregivers in Southeast Michigan.