Detroit News

Lansing -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm today signed a five-bill package intended to protect low-income customers and the elderly from utility shutoffs during the winter. Full Story »

University of Michigan Health System has received a $15 million gift, the largest donation ever to the health system for women's health. Full Story »

Mayors from the cities of Troy and Birmingham gathered Monday morning at Troy City Hall to express gratitude and present artist renderings of the center following Sunday's final congressional vote to approve $1.3 million to construct the center. Full Story »

Erma Henderson, the first African American woman to be elected to the Detroit City Council, as well as its first black council president, has died. She was 92. Full Story »

Detroit -- A Detroit man who allegedly used murder to facilitate his sale of millions of dollars worth of cocaine and marijuana was sentenced to life in prison in federal court Monday. Full Story »

Taylor -- Two people are dead after a car collision with a train early Sunday morning. Full Story »

Hospitals, long considered stalwarts of Western medicine, are increasingly embracing treatment options more often associated with the East, such as acupuncture, naturopathy, massage therapy and hypnosis. Full Story »

In less than a year, Saginaw's Tom Smallwood has gone from picking up unemployment checks to picking up spares and 10-pin glory, capturing the Professional Bowlers Association World Championship on Sunday in Wichita, Kan. Full Story »

School board members are scheduled to vote tonight on eliminating high school busing and laying off up to 84 employees, including 45 teachers, to help plug a $10M deficit for the remainder of the school year. Full Story »

Hazel Park -- An overpass destroyed five months ago in a fiery tanker crash on Interstate 75 near Detroit has been replaced and is set to officially reopen. Full Story »

Saginaw -- Funeral services are set for Thursday for Robert G. Heft, a Michigan native credited with designing and sewing America's first 50-star flag. Full Story »

Detroit -- A new book documents the transformation of three pieces of blighted property in Detroit into a vibrant community garden. Full Story »

Dearborn -- AAA Michigan says gasoline prices are down 4.7 cents per gallon over the past week to a statewide average of $2.54. Full Story »

Detroit is taking a giant step forward in its quest for a light rail system on Woodward with Sunday's U.S. Senate's approval of President Barack Obama's $1 trillion omnibus spending bill. Full Story »

Northville -- Two 40-foot-by-8-foot metal containers outside the Michigan State Police crime lab resemble shipping cargo awaiting loading onto some Great Lakes- or ocean-bound freighter. Full Story »

Detroit -- After being unemployed, bouncing between homes and facing unexpected debt, Brianna Washington hopes the holidays bring a special gift for her family. Full Story »

As the longtime pastor at the city's Rose of Sharon Church of God in Christ, Rev. Ronald Griffin learns firsthand about the problems affecting residents. Full Story »

Taylor --Two freeway sound barriers are under construction in Metro Detroit, despite a 2007 moratorium on spending state money to build the walls. Full Story »

Detroit -- Federal and state leaders are to convene at Wayne State University today to address what's been described as a crisis in providing public defense attorneys for criminal defendants. Full Story »

Sterling Heights Full Story »

Brighton Full Story »

Westland Full Story »

Novi Full Story »

Washington -- Michigan will receive nearly $197 million for 150 projects, plus a boost for Detroit's light rail project and embattled auto dealers, under a massive spending bill the Senate passed Sunday. Full Story »

A new state law, effective Jan. 1, requires all cigarettes sold in Michigan to be engineered to automatically extinguish when left unattended. The law is intended to reduce the number of cigarette-ignited fires. But some local smokers are going out of their way to avoid the new safer cigarettes, even scouting from store to store for the old version. Full Story »