FBI data shows crime rates dropped again in Michigan    And now for some good news. Michigan crime rates continued on their downward trend in 2017, according to new data recently released by the FBI. We've got searchable databases and handy graphs to peruse and ponder, but here are a few takeaways:  - Armed robberies and burglaries are at their lowest point in six decades. - Vehicle thefts have dropped by two-thirds over the past 20 years. - The state's 2017 homicide rate is lower than it was in 1967. MORE ► Michigan crime data broken down by city, township, college campus

Just a friendly reminder: Winter, literally, is coming   We've had a fairly pleasant September across most of Michigan with above-normal temperatures. But as the cool nights of October loom, MLive chief meteorologist Mark Torregrossa points out just how close we are to winter weather. In fact, Torregrossa even provided us a way-too-early winter weather forecast. And here we just got our Northern Michigan color tour planned. Not today, snow! We are good until Christmas. MORE ►Video: Michigan winter weather forecast 2019

MSU, U-M open preseason practice for 2018-19 hoops season hat College basketball is back. Well, practice at least. A year removed from Michigan overachieving to reach the national title game, and Michigan State falling short of its usual sky-high expectations, the two programs opened their respective preseason practices with rosters chock full of experience and a fair number of questions. MORE ►U-M holds first practice ►Crisler Center alive with sights, sounds of U-M's first practice ►Izzo comfortable in trading talent for experience ►Preview mags like MSU to repeat as Big Ten champs