Michigan's recycling rate reached a record 23% in 2023, with residents recycling over 703,000 tons of materials. Efforts to expand access, including distributing new bins, contributed to this surge.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan initiates the city's first solar neighborhoods to fight blight and climate change, with plans to power municipal buildings using clean energy.

Cannon Township introduces "Youth, Summer Lingo, Bingo," offering free ice cream for kids completing activities and exploring the community this summer.

Michigan's MDHHS and MSP offer free gun locks to families for child safety and to meet legal storage requirements, funded with $500,000 from the state's budget.

Three Michigan men saved a choking raccoon, which they later named "Rocket," by tapping its back until it expelled a piece of cheese. The animal's rescue video has gone viral.

Ann Arbor bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers during summer to meet sustainability goals and will eventually prohibit them completely by 2028, encouraging residents to adopt quieter, less polluting electric alternatives.

Dearborn opens two public pools for free to help residents cool off during an extreme heat wave, urging them to stay vigilant about heat-related illnesses.

The Summer Discovery Cruise program is returning to Lake St. Clair in 2024, offering educational tours focused on Great Lakes literacy and ecosystem understanding.

Episcopal leaders in Metro Detroit are launching a campaign to turn guns into artwork, offering gift cards for surrendered firearms at events in six churches.

Flint is introducing new trash and recycling carts to increase recycling rates and improve waste management efficiency with a $4.3 million investment in partnership with local industries and Priority Waste.

The Meijer LPGA Classic raised $2 million for Midwest food pantries, cumulatively contributing over $12 million. Lilia Vu won the tournament after a back injury, marking her fifth LPGA Tour win.

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is appointed as a visiting professor at the University of Michigan, teaching public policy consulting alongside graduate students.

Renowned Detroit businessman and philanthropist William Pickard has died at age 83, with notable achievements in various sectors and a legacy of supporting Black communities and education.