HAZEL PARK — William Hamel first joined the Hazel Park Police Department nearly 30 years ago. Now he has been promoted to the department’s top spot, tasked with overseeing the safety and security of “The Friendly City.”

WARREN/MADISON HEIGHTS — Sixteen high school students from Warren, Sterling Heights, Detroit and Harper Woods who have worked hard academically were recently awarded scholarships from Winning Futures.

HAZEL PARK — The nonprofit Corktown Health recently broke ground in Hazel Park for its second location, set to open in the first quarter of 2025. The medical clinic will be open to all people, and specializes in services for the LGBTQ+ community, which has been historically underserved.

MADISON HEIGHTS — What began as a small gardening club at John Page Middle School in the Lamphere Public Schools district has grown into something more, with one project receiving acclaim from the country’s largest wildlife conservation group.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A millage renewal proposal for the Madison District Public Schools will be on the ballot Aug. 6, but officials say it will not affect the taxes paid by residents.

MADISON HEIGHTS — While searching for a vehicle stolen at the Red Oaks Water Park in Madison Heights, an undercover officer with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office was confronted and gunned down in Detroit by the suspects he was tracking.

MADISON HEIGHTS — If left unchecked, feral cats will multiply like rabbits. A female cat can birth 20 or more kittens in one year, and more than 420 kittens in a lifetime. And the life they face outdoors is one fraught with peril, such as starvation, freezing to death or getting hit by traffic.

HAZEL PARK — Exotic animals, edible slime, treasure hunts, and a tightrope-walking juggler are among the highlights of the 2024 summer reading program at the Hazel Park District Library.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights City Council has approved a wide-ranging update to the zoning ordinance that will diversify land uses in the city, including more housing options.

HAZEL PARK — The Hazel Park City Council recently approved a budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year that features a slightly lower city tax rate yet higher revenues due to growing property values and increased development around town.

MADISON HEIGHTS — On a breezy evening June 6, families strolling up and down the hill at Civic Center Park may have wondered why a large plot of land had been torn up by an excavator and cordoned off with orange fencing.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Since its debut in 2021, the Madison Heights Juneteenth Celebration has roughly doubled its turnout each year, with live music, food trucks, children’s activities, vendor sales and educational exhibits drawing a crowd.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A controversial proposal for a new gas station and convenience store in Madison Heights has been denied special approval by the City Council.

MADISON HEIGHTS — While the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 in Madison Heights features a lower millage rate, officials say that most residents can expect a slight increase in taxes due to rising property values.

HAZEL PARK/WARREN — On May 17, the Michigan Bureau of Elections determined former Warren Mayor James Fouts’ affidavit of identity was valid as a candidate in the newly redistricted District 14 of the Michigan House of Representatives.

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK — The 2024 Madison Heights Memorial Day Parade will take place May 25, while the city of Hazel Park's parade will take place May 27.

OAKLAND COUNTY — Corewell Health Children’s held its big Bike Day on May 11, where 100 children were fitted for adaptive bicycles.

HAZEL PARK — Free and affordably priced items await buyers at locations across the city of Hazel Park the weekend of June 7-9. For sellers, it’s also a chance to make money while decluttering the home and keeping items out of landfills.

WARREN/HAZEL PARK — James Fouts, the former mayor of Warren now running for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, has responded to a complaint made to the Michigan Bureau of Elections.

MADISON HEIGHTS — Police say two drivers struck each other head on in Madison Heights when one of them drove against traffic on Interstate 696.