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Nearly two years ago, their lives forever were changed by the careless actions of an intoxicated driver. On Tuesday evening, survivors of a crash that claimed the lives of five of their fellow bicycle riders took to the road once again, just hours after a jury in Kalamazoo found the driver, Charles Pickett Jr., guilty of five counts of murder. The ride was equal parts relief that the trial is over, a commemoration of friends lost and moving forward to what comes next. "(The verdict) doesn't help bring back the ones we lost but it's justice," crash survivor Paul Runnels said. "Justice has been served." MORE
► Complete Kalamazoo bike crash coverage
► Video: Jury foreman discusses murder conviction
► Jury 'very confident' in conviction

TV's 'Meet the Putnams' patriarch, son face federal gun charges

TV reality show personality William Putnam and his son, Brandon, are facing an all too real possibility of prison. The elder Putnam is charged with one count of possessing an unregistered firearm, a 10-year felony. The firearm in question is an AR-15 converted to function as a fully automatic machine gun. His son is facing three related charges. The 26-member Putnam family lives in Caseville and is the subject of the TLC show 'Meet the Putnams,' which finished its first season in the fall. MORE

Dem. candidates for governor file challenges against each other

The race to become Michigan's next governor just got a bit more chippy. Democratic candidates Shri Thanedar and Abdul El-Sayed formally are challenging the validity of the other's candidacy. Thanedar questions if El-Sayed meets the constitutional standards required to run for the office. El-Sayed suggests Thanedar did not submit enough valid signatures to appear on the primary ballot. While party-on-party politics don't provide great optics, we suggest both parties work out issues such as these in the primaries. We want to see the best two candidates on the November ballot. MORE

NCAA rules change paved way for Patterson's favorable transfer ruling

It never was a sure thing the NCAA would allow quarterback Shea Patterson to transfer to Michigan without making him sit out a year. Patterson seemed to have a good case for getting a waiver to play right away, but Mississippi State opposed the wording of his transfer papers, throwing his eligibility into question. However, a last-minute rule change helped Patterson and U-M get a favorable ruling. The NCAA updated the wording of its transfer rules, and Ole Miss dropped its objection. MORE
► Peters bigger, faster and ready to compete
► U-M in France update

Michigan ski resorts vie for longest season

Looking to cross off that "Skiing in Michigan in May" entry on your bucket list? A pair of ski resorts - one in Northern Michigan and the other in the Upper Peninsula - might be your best bet. Mount Bohemia near Copper Harbor and Boyne Mountain Resort just south of Petoskey are in a battle to see which can last the longest this season. (The loser donates $1,000 to the charity of choice of the winner.) Despite summer-like temperatures this week, Boyne fully expects to be open this weekend. Bohemia isn't as bullish yet, but isn't keen on losing the challenge. MORE