| July 12, 2021 
 The Michigan Supreme Court is will soon hear arguments in what could be a landmark case for LGBTQ rights. The high court announced it will hear an appeal of a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Civil Rights filed by two businesses that denied service to LGTBQ people based on their religious beliefs. The case could bring a definitive answer to a long-running argument over whether Michigan’s 1976 civil rights law should ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act guarantees protections for people based on religion, race, color, nationality, age, sex, height, weight, family and marital status. LGBTQ advocates argue protections under “sex” should broadly apply to gay, bisexual and transgender people. READ MORE  Garrett Finkbeiner, 22, was at the point of planning his own funeral and preparing to give away his belongings during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t the coronavirus that directly threatened his life -- rather, it was severe heart failure likely brought on by another viral infection -- but the quickly-spreading coronavirus did create obstacles in route to securing a life-saving organ transplant. “I couldn’t imagine it being any worse; it was very chaotic for a while,” Finkbeiner said. “It made just about all aspects -- personally, emotionally, medically -- very challenging. And nobody had gone through something like that, so it was a lot of learning as you go.” READ  Two life-long Jackson residents didn’t just get to see every National Park in America, they received a bunch of brochures, bear safety training and many memories along the journey. Teresa and Larry Graetz finished their dream of traveling to all the national parks on June 14. Their 21-trip journey started in 2013, but they were forced to take a year off in 2020 due to COVID-19. “We just both thought it was an amazing journey through this beautiful country we live in,” Larry said. “Right now, we’re just relishing that we accomplished it.” READ MORE ►50 chili dogs in 22 minutes: Woman shatters eating records across Michigan
 The Detroit Tigers selected Oklahoma prep pitcher Jackson Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday night. The Tigers had been closely linked to Jobe for months, so the move wasn’t an overwhelming surprise. But it was notable that the Tigers bypassed several high-profile prep shortstops, including Marcelo Mayer, who few expected to be available with the No. 3 spot. The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the draft with a stunner, taking Louisville catcher Henry Davis at No. 1. The Texas Rangers followed by selecting Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter with the second pick. READ MORE  If you think the mosquito attack on you is about the worst it’s ever been, you might be correct. Mosquito experts say a strange combination of weather has led to a massive mosquito population. Right now, the areas of southern Michigan that received heavy rain in late June are experiencing a mosquito population the size of which has not been seen for a few years. The mosquitoes that are biting us now are called “Summer Flood Water Mosquitoes,” according to Ned Walker, a Michigan State University professor in entomology and microbiology. Walker says this particular batch of mosquitoes is very dependent on rainfall. READ Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
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