Letter from the Editor: Why a story about Iraq is important to our readers   All week we've featured a series of articles about MLive/Flint Journal reporter Zahra Ahmad's  journey to her Iraqi homeland. In his weekly column, John Hiner speaks for all of us in explaining why providing a platform for stories such as these speaks to the core of what we do as journalists: We inform. We tell people's stories. We bring understanding to complex issues. Sometimes we are able to do all three at once. MORE  The Journey Home ►Part 1: The sword ►Part 2: The Welcome Home Committee ►Part 3: Ruins of Babylon ►Part 4: Secrets of the holy city ►Part 5: Your blood runs through me - John Hiner is the vice president of content for MLive Media Group. You can share your thoughts with him at editor@mlive.com

Breaking down the opioid issue in Michigan   MLive public interest reporter Julie Mack this week has posted a series of stories about the opioid crisis in Michigan. The in-depth pieces cover the practices of aggressive suppliers, which pharmacies sold the most opioids and Michigan counties ranked by opioid distribution. Her latest story covers the success some hospitals are experiencing with reducing opioid prescriptions. MORE ►Opioids in Michigan: Billions of pills and aggressive suppliers ►85 pharmacies that sold the most opioid pills in 2006-12 ►Counties ranked by opioid pill distribution, 2006-12

Recruiting classes, draft classes and where our football teams are now hat  As we stand directly in the path of another football season barreling toward us, let's take a moment to reflect on the hype that was. Every recruiting class at our beloved Michigan and Michigan State universities, along with every draft class for our beleaguered Detroit Lions, comes with its fair share of hoopla. Well, where has that hoopla left our teams? Lets find out, shall we? ►Breaking down 10 years of Lions drafts from 2009-2018 ►U-M's past 5 recruiting classes are where they stand now ►MSU's past 4 recruiting classes and where they stand now

  

Michigan sunflower field  welcoming visitors this weekend   Looking for a special photo op? Or just interested in feeling more connected to Mother Nature? May we suggest a stroll among the sunflowers? At Gull Meadow Farms, near Kalamazoo, visitors can buy tickets to spend time in the multi-colored sunflower field and enjoy other activities this weekend. Heading to the Upper Peninsula? Check out 440,000 photogenic sunflowers at no cost. MORE ►Festival features walk through 14 acres of sunflowers