Mortgage lending rebounds in Kent County but not for minorities   Mortgage lending is on the rise in Kent County. The Grand Rapids area housing market is on the rise. The market seems to have righted itself since the housing crash a decade ago. However, minorities are not sharing in the rebound equally. The percentage of mortgages approved for blacks remains stagnant at 4 percent of all home mortgages in the county. That's the same rate it was a decade ago. Hispanic residents have lost ground in that time span, going from 6 to 4 percent of home mortgage loans. White residents, meanwhile have gone from 87 to 89 percent. MORE ►Racial disparity in mortgages hits home in some neighborhoods ►Video: Pushing for inner-city home ownership ►Video: Resident speaks about pride in home ownership

Look up 2017 shoplifting, retail theft arrests in your Michigan county   The holiday shopping season is in full swing. (It is less than three weeks as the crow flies to Christmas Day, people!) Not to dampen your holiday spirit, but nearly 17,000 Michigan residents in 2017 were arrested on shoplifting related charges. We've compiled a database to search retail theft/fraud numbers by county. Granted this "naughty" list is a bit of a humbug. But at least you don't have to use a five-finger discount to access this info.    MORE

Mourning the loss of a son, a star athlete, a junkie turned warrior hat Christopher Risner was a champion of those with an opioid addiction. He was an addict himself, and wanted more than anything to help others in his situation. He spoke at the Jackson County Drug Summit in 2016, telling his raw and real story from the side of the user. He spoke at schools with an honesty that endeared him to students. He had been sober for months when he died the day before Thanksgiving. MORE ►Personal stories of addiction ►Video: Christopher Risner remembered by family and friends