He's been collecting trash for decades. Grand Rapids wants him to stop hat  Bill Peterson says collecting trash is his "calling." The city of Grand Rapids wants to stop calling him about it. This a tough issue to call. On the one side is an avid recycler who tries to get every bit of use out of discarded items. On the other side are city rules that clearly state you can't run a recycling business and collect piles of junk on your residential property. MORE ►Video: Trash hauler, Grand Rapids at odds

  

Signatures? A shutdown? All the places Michigan budgets could go   The Michigan legislature approved a series of 16 budgets Tuesday. We aren't out of the budgetary woods quite yet, though, as a government shutdown remains a possibility. So now what? Well, the budgets first need to get to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk. Then? Who knows? Here's a breakdown of what could happen as we barrel toward the Oct. 1 deadline. MORE ►Michigan lawmakers pass $59.9 billion budget plan

Michigan State embracing lofty preseason expectations hat  Michigan and Michigan State are off to uneven starts in football. (Yeah, both are ranked in the top 25, but we expect more. The rest of the country knows this, so we might as well embrace it!) As we give our teams time to figure things out on the football field, we can take a moment to sneak a peek at the upcoming action on the hardcourt. MSU already is a men's basketball title contender, while U-M has lots to look forward to with a new coach. MORE ►5 things to watch as Michigan State starts preseason practice ►What to know about Michigan basketball on first day of practice

  

Michigan elk-viewing carriage ride named top U.S. attraction   Have you taken advantage of the fact that Michigan is home to a majestic elk herd? If you want to see the mighty animals up close, Thunder Bay Resort in Hillman offers a four-hour tour allowing guests to do just that. The tour also involves a horse-drawn carriage, a gourmet dinner and wine. The activity is so beloved that it was just named one of the country's top attractions. MORE ►Also in the northeast Lower Peninsula: 6 reasons to visit Alpena