State begins taking applications for marijuana businesses Friday hat  Michigan's Marijuana Regulatory Agency is getting ready to sort through applications. Starting Friday, those who want to run a recreational marijuana business in the state can start sending in their paperwork. From marijuana shops to delivery services to smoking lounges, experts say the first round of businesses could open to the public as soon as four months from now. MORE ►Michigan's biggest weed company plans to harvest 30,000 pounds a year

  

First big blast of cold (and snow) coming to Michigan later this week   We apologize for the inconvenience, trick-or-treaters and other interested parties, but you might be in for a cold, wet Halloween. According to the forecast from MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa, the entire state is going to get chilly sometime between now and the weekend. Plus, many of us could be seeing snow. And, no, not just the U.P. They have already started their snowy ride. MORE ►Halloween cold snap set to hit much of U.S.

Michigan Democrats back bills to treat abortion like other health care hat  Legislative Democrats are hoping to repeal a number of laws that restrict access to abortion in Michigan. Joined in support by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democrats announced plans to introduce a group of bills that they say would make sure reproductive health decisions are "based on medical facts, not political ideology." Right to Life Michigan responded to the announcement, saying the planned bills are "radical" and would repeal "a lot of common-sense laws." MORE ►Michigan House joins Senate in voting to ban abortion procedure

  

Lovely fall colors paint these 13 parks in Southeast Michigan     It's like an anonymous artist took a paintbrush to the 13 Metroparks in Southeast Michigan. If you head to any of these gems soon enough, you can take in the color before the trees shed their foliage. If you can't make it, you should at least catch a glimpse through the lenses of our photographers, who spent time traveling to this beautiful baker's dozen of green spaces, temporarily turned red, yellow and orange. MORE ►Photos: Fall color pops around Jackson County