Community meals will be held next week at a number of Traverse City churches. Not all regular meals will be held because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Swine flu continues to hospitalize area residents, but health officials haven't recorded a confirmed local death from the disease.

Former Soviet Republics in Central Asia are worth watching, a former U.S. ambassador thinks. Michael Wygant, 73, will discuss Russia and the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia tonight during an evening lecture at Northwestern Michigan College.

Bill Wiesner bought more than 250 copies of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" this month. But he disagrees with the theory of evolution.

Some community colleges may soon be free to offer bachelor's degrees, eliminating the need for students to transfer to a four-year university.

The government's Cash for Clunkers program offered a lot of Americans great deals on new cars. Now, those falling prices have shifted into reverse.

A man faces felony charges for alleged drunken driving in Grand Traverse County.

More than $2.2 million in federal funds is headed to the Manistee County community of Onekama for improving its wastewater treatment system.

College students ditched class, employees skipped work and some huddled in the cold overnight just to make sure they get an orange wristband Wednesday that would let them meet Sarah Palin.

Michigan's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 15.1 percent in October as total employment grew in the state for the first time since mid-2007, according to a state report released Wednesday.

An FBI agent testified Wednesday that an ongoing federal financial investigation led him to interview a person at a real estate office who worked with former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his wife to find a leased mansion where they live.

A 37-year-old father irate over hearing his 15-year-old son had sexual contact with a 3-year-old girl made the teen strip at gunpoint, marched him to a vacant lot and shot him to death despite pleas from the boy and his mother, a relative said.

Ford, the only member of the Detroit Three to decline a federal bailout, recently reported a surprising $1 billion profit. That's right, ... an automaker turned a profit in the worst economy in a generation. GM, meanwhile, is still trying to find its footing after taking billions in federal aid.

Feeling pressure from the American public on the size of the U.S. deficit and runaway spending, the Obama administration has begun to formulate a deficit reduction plan.

The United States Senate has been described as the world's greatest deliberative body. The term is based on the notion that senators can -- in a collegial atmosphere -- sit down and discuss differences in a way that produces compromises on contentious issues. The Senate, however, is not immune to America's growing ideological rift.

Gov. Granholm has been urging people to beat on the Republican-controlled state senate to adopt "narrowly targeted" revenue increases. And Senator Bishop has been busily saying "No, no, no, no." Until now, I've been content to watch as this spat played out.

Time to be careful; Here for you all

Laura Spencer is a Patriot. The Traverse City Central senior signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at George Mason University on Wednesday. She had verbally committed Tuesday night.

A year ago, Pellston made the journey to Battle Creek for its first semifinal appearance in five years. The trip was a short one. Pellston is looking for a longer stay this time around.

Three out of the area's six first-team all-state selections hail from Division 2 runner-up Petoskey.

Calvin senior libero Kelsey Sears (Traverse City) has been named a third-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. (Plus more on college athletes from the region.)

The Penn State women's volleyball squad, playing in quaint but stuffy Rec Hall, has won 92 straight games -- tied for the second-longest streak in NCAA Division I team sports.

The budding economic recovery isn't getting much help from the home-building industry, which normally creates jobs and drives growth when a recession ends.

A foreclosure action is pending against dormant LochenHeath golf and housing development in Acme, where work ground to a halt more than a year ago.

Another fee is coming in the new year for airline and hotel customers -- this time from your credit card company.

Dear Kellogg: Leggo my Eggo! Kellogg Co. says there will be a nationwide shortage of its popular Eggo frozen waffles until next summer because of interruptions in production at two of the four plants that make them.

If you've tossed all night because you were hot, restless or uncomfortable, read on. Manufacturers are developing new ways to combat insomnia, including some technologies introduced at this fall's Las Vegas Furniture Market and High Point Market, two of the country's largest trade shows.

Tom Dougherty jokes that he takes "get-lost walks." To his wife, Cleo, it's a constant fear: When will his Alzheimer's get bad enough that she has to end his 4-mile daily strolls? The woman is about to watch her husband's neighborhood meandering via computer.

The Health calendar is published weekly. Information to be included can be mailed to the Record-Eagle, 120 W. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684; faxed to 946-8632; e-mailed to sbeach@record-eagle.com or delivered to: 120 W. Front St. Traverse City.

Michigan Community Blood Centers has changed its name to Michigan Blood. The new name is meant to emphasize that blood collected by Michigan Blod stays in the state.

Monthly study group offered at CMH; Former Fr. Fred volunteers honored; Workplace smoking regulation in effect; Donors sought to make holidays bright; Sign up teams for women's basketball; plus more.

Toys for Tots kicks off its annual drive Saturday at Great Wolf Lodge.