CONCORD

We’re for an official mandate: make this the season of long weekends. To help you out, we found the most fun new summer adventures. The best long weekend summer getaways

Two years after accusing her former therapist of sexual abuse, she plugged his address into an online directory and came across an unfamiliar alias. New Hampshire is one of 10 states that allow people to change their names while incarcerated, but the public has no way of knowing someone’s earlier identity unless they go to the courthouse where the change was approved, or do some serious sleuthing. It was the latter that led to the discovery that Peter Stone was once Peter Dushame, a drunken driver convicted of manslaughter more than 30 years ago.

JACKSON – We have come to the end of the track season, and between state meets, the Selby Classic at East Jackson and the Hillsdale County meet at Hillsdale College, there were plenty of rewrites to the leaderboard in the final week. That was especially evident in the relays, where it seemed every team was peaking at the end of the season. Each athlete puts up their best marks in each event over the course of the season and we keep track of the best so far. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

ANN ARBOR – There are multiple Ann Arbor-area spring sports teams who will compete for district titles this weekend. Below is a schedule for baseball, softball and soccer teams from the area who will compete on Friday and Saturday. --BASEBALLFRIDAY, JUNE 3DIVISION 4DISTRICT 118 HOSTED BY CONCORD12 p.m. - Vandercook Lake vs. Concord2 p.m. - East Jackson vs. Whitmore Lake4 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Concord regional--SATURDAY, JUNE 4DIVISION 1DISTRICT 12 HOSTED BY DEXTER10 a.m. - Ann Arbor Skyline vs. Ann Arbor Huron12:30 p.m. - Ann Arbor Pioneer vs. Dexter3 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Coldwater regional--DISTRICT 13 HOSTED BY YPSILANTI LINCOLN10 a.m. - Temperance Bedford vs. Ypsilanti12:30 p.m. - Monroe vs. Ypsilanti Lincoln3 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Ypsilanti Lincoln regional--DIVISON 2DISTRICT 50 HOSTED BY FGR (At Oestrike Stadium)10 a.m. - Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard vs. Milan12 p.m. - Dundee vs. Pinckney2 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to EMU regional--DIVISION 3DISTRICT 86 HOSTED BY MANCHESTER10 a.m. - Clinton vs. Grass Lake12 p.m. - Manchester vs. Ann Arbor Greenhills2 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Jackson Lumen Christi regional--Chelsea’s Andi Evers (24) reacts after a base hit during Dexter’s game against Chelsea at Chelsea High School on Thursday, May 18 2022.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor NewsSOFTBALLFRIDAY, JUNE 3DIVISION 2DISTRICT 49 HOSTED BY MILAN6 p.m. - Milan vs. Father Gabriel Richard-GreenhillsWinner advances to Carleton Airport regionalSATURDAY, JUNE 4DIVISION 1DISTRICT 15 HOSTED BY ANN ARBOR SKYLINE10 a.m. - Dexter vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer12 p.m. - Ypsilanti vs. Ann Arbor Skyline3 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Northville regionalDISTRICT 16 HOSTED BY YPSILANTI LINCOLN10 a.m. - Ypsilanti Lincoln vs. Monroe12:30 p.m. - Belleville vs. Saline3 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Northville regional--DIVISION 2DISTRICT 48 HOSTED BY ADRIAN10 a.m. - Chelsea vs. Tecumseh12 p.m. - Fowlerville vs. Pinckney2 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances to Chelsea regional--DIVISION 4DISTRICT 117 HOSTED BY WEBBERVILLE10 a.m. - Whitmore Lake vs. Dansville12 p.m. - Morrice vs. Webberville2 p.m. - ChampionshipWinner advances Dansville regional--Skyline’s Sophia Morgan (2) kicks off the ball to start Saline’s game against Skyline at Saline High School on Tuesday, May 10 2022.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor NewsGIRLS SOCCERFIRDAY, JUNE 3DIVISION 3DISTRICT 39 HOSTED BY CLAWSON6 p.m. - Father Gabriel Richard vs. Pontiac Notre Dame PrepWinner advances to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep regional--SATURDAY, JUNE 4DIVISION 1DISTRICT 9 HOSTED BY DEXTER3:30 p.m. - Ann Arbor Skyline vs. Ann Arbor HuronWinner advances to Dearborn regional--If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.

In the 110 hurdles it’s been with Napoleon’s Holden Van Poppel. Van Poppel and Raczkowski both beat Easterday on Tuesday, Van Poppel winning the 110 hurdles in 15.00 and Raczkowski winning the 300 hurdles in 40.66. Hanover-Horton’s Graham Gumper has been at the same meet as Van Poppel, including the conference meet last week, but until Tuesday had not faced him in the 100. Harvey was second in 11.59 and Van Poppel third in 11.72. Western won the team title with 123 points to beat out Jackson, which had 112.

JACKSON – Conference championships were the focus of the past week, producing several new top marks. Out of the Cascades Conference meet at Napoleon, Addison’s Noah Springer reached 12′0. Each athlete puts up their best marks in each event over the course of the season and we keep track of the best so far. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 was many things.

Denny Hamlin held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch in overtime to win the longest — and perhaps wildest — Coca-Cola 600 in history.

Armando Barron, 32, was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Barron was accused of assaulting his wife after discovering she had been texting with her co-worker, 25-year-old Jonathan Amerault, in September 2020. Barron's lawyers argued that his wife shot Amerault, which she denied.

JACKSON – Last week we mentioned that pole vaulting leaders were sharing the leaderboard with teammates. The exception was over at Western, where Lucas Inosencio was in the 10-foot club but was the only Panther there. Well, Adam Carlson evidently felt Inosencio needed company because he vaulted his was into the 10-foot club at Coldwater on May 16. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

The home improvement retailer's profit topped Wall Street estimates for the quarter, even as sales missed the mark.

JACKSON – Pole vault takes on the look of a team sport in this week’s leaderboard. Addison’s Noah Springer takes the top spot for his 11′6 at East Jackson on Friday, but he isn’t the only Panther in the 10-foot club. Addison’s Isiah Stephens went 10′0 earlier in the week at Grass Lake. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

A former Trump administration official running for Congress in New Hampshire did not violate state law by voting twice during the 2016 primary election season, the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said Thursday without taking a position on whether federal law was broken. The Associated Press reported in April that Matt Mowers cast ballots in both the Feb. 9, 2016, New Hampshire presidential primary and the New Jersey primary four months later. Legal experts said Mowers could have a violated federal law that prohibits “voting more than once” in “any general, special, or primary election.”

Friday’s Stockbridge Invitational was the latest, and the two continue to be neck-and-neck in that event, but both putting up season bests, but with Raczkowski getting the edge that night and in our updated leaderboard. Each athlete puts up their best marks in each event over the course of the season and we keep track of the best so far. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. We are going off information available on athletic.net, so coaches, if we’ve missed someone, email results to eingles@mlive.com. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

STOCKBRIDGE -- The Western boys track team had a strong relay showing to open the night, and a strong relay showing to close it to win the 42nd Annual Stockbridge Invitational on Friday. Western got a 4x800 win from Palmer, Samuel Miller, Cooper Singleton and Jacob Singleton, also beating Concord after Concord had gotten off to a strong start." Jacob Singleton won the 1600 in 4:37.27 and the 3200 in 9:59.25." Concord took second in all four relays, with Tyler Carpenter, Mekhi Wingfield, Connor Keefer and Boyd second to Fowlerville in the 4x100 and Carpenter, Wingfield, Boyd and Tyreke Brown second to Fowlerville in the 4x200. Ovid-Elsie freshman Tryce Tokar cleared 12′0 to win the pole vault, beating Western’s Lucas Inosencio who cleared 11′0.

A $100 million fund to settle sexual and physical abuse claims at New Hampshire’s state-run youth detention center is headed to the governor’s desk.

CONCORD, MI - Concord Community Schools voters have approved a $9.5-million bond toward the construction of a multi-grade-level STEM facility. Funds from the bond could also be used for renovations to the elementary/middle school and high school buildings, purchasing school buses and making playground upgrades. The passing of the bond allows the district to complete a phase in its long-term facilities plan that balances the school needs with taxpayer resources to ensure that district facilities are up to date, Superintendent Rebecca Hutchinson said. The district described the bond as “a critical portion of the long term facilities plan” in bond materials provided on its website. In 2017 voters in the Concord community supported a $5-million bond proposal to take care of infrastructure and program needs identified in a buildings assessment.

Our leaderboard goes five deep, but that’s not to say the sixth-best times aren’t terrible. In fact, in many cases those times were good enough for the leaderboard in previous weeks before getting bumped by a better time. Take for instance the hurdles, where Jonesville’s Damion Scharer got bumped from the leaderboard twice. If someone comes along with a better time, distance or height, that spot on the leaderboard changes hands. Each athlete’s best time so far this season counts and we figure out whose best is the best so far.

John Force won the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway for his 155th Funny Car victory.

John Force won the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on Sunday at zMAX Dragway for his 155th Funny Car victory. The 72-year-old Force beat Robert Hight, Ron Capps and Mike McIntire Jr. in the final with a 3.914-second run at 328.66 mph in a Chevrolet Camaro SS. Mike Salinas won in Top Fuel and Steve Johnson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

JACKSON -- The Northwest baseball team beat Harper Creek 9-1 on Tuesday in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader. The second game was suspended by darkness in the sixth inning tied 3-3. Morrow, Ethan Anspaugh and Douglas Putnam each had a hit in the second game. Concord, Springport split: Concord and Springport split a doubleheader. Springport won the other game 4-2 as Kaden Dickinson had two hits and drove in two runs.

Stephen and Wendy Reid were found shot to death on a walking trail near their apartment complex.

The Grass Lake baseball team split a doubleheader with Quincy on Thursday, winning the first game 11-2 before dropping the second 7-1. But Quincy responded with five runs in the sixth to put the game away. Concord sweeps Hillsdale: The Yellowjackets were scoring runs by the bunches in a sweep of Hillsdale, winning 32-14 and 8-6. Sturgill homered in the second game. Hillsdale, Concord split: Concord won the first game of a doubleheader 6-3 but Hillsdale took the second 15-10.

A wild race to the finish led to a tie atop the Big 8 boys basketball race this season, which has in turn led to a tie for the title of league MVP. Concord’s Graeley Sprague and Jonesville’s Brady Wright shared the honor, just as their teams shared the league championship. Here is the full all-conference team. ALL-CONFERENCEAden Hathaway, Jr., BronsonReagan Mayer, Sr., BronsonGraeley Sprague, Sr., ConcordOmarion Culliver, Sr., ConcordChase Bryant, Jr., HomerKyle Landis, Sr., HomerBrady Wright, Jr., JonesvilleColton Wiler, Jr., ReadingEli Irelan, Sr., ReadingKyle Johnson, Sr., Union CityHONORABLE MENTIONBronson: Kamrom BrackettConcord: Isaac WaldronHomer: Davey MohnJonesville: Kaden Playford, Curtis Knapp, Tyler ScholfieldQuincy: Ashtyn Morris, Sam SawyerReading: Maverick MessengerSpringport: Kaleb Hawes, Caleb KregalUnion City: Terrance Morgan Jr. FINAL STANDINGSConcord 11-3Jonesville 11-3Homer 10-4Reading 9-5Bronson 8-6Union City 5-9Quincy 2-12Springport 0-14

Pamela Smart, a former high school employee convicted of recruiting her teenage lover to kill her husband, was denied a sentence reduction hearing Wednesday, more than 30 years after a sensational trial that inspired books and a Nicole Kidman movie. Smart was 22 and working as a high school media coordinator when she began an affair with the 15-year-old student who shot and killed her husband, Gregory Smart, in 1990. The student, William Flynn, and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors, served shorter sentences and have been released.

The Homer boys basketball team won a district title in Leslie with a 40-36 win over Concord on Friday. Diego Lebron had 11 points for the Trojans with Kyle Landis adding nine. Graeley Sprague had 18 points for the Yellowjackets. Clinton 50, Columbia Central 45: The Golden Eagles saw their season come to an end with a district final loss to the Redwolves. Jordan Pewsey led Columbia Central with 15 points.

LESLIE -- Strong defense led Concord to a 44-34 district semifinal win over Leslie on Wednesday. The Yellowjackets held Leslie to 11 points in the first half, held the Blackhawks without a field goal in the second quarter, and kept the pressure on late even when Leslie rallied to get within 10. We love it.”Another Concord defender with a string of stops was Mehki Wingfield, who in the second quarter came away with steals on three straight possessions“He’s super athletic. But I’m proud of our kids.”It was a 12-9 game after one quarter before Concord outscored Leslie 11-2 in the second. “We were finally hitting shots,” Sprague said.

LESLIE, MI -- Four teams battled in the boys basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, March 9 at Leslie High School. Leslie’s Billy Niblock shoots a basket during a boys basketball game at Leslie High School on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comConcord’s Anthony Evans dribbles the ball during a boys basketball game at Leslie High School on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comConcord’s Graeley Sprague shoots a basket during a boys basketball game at Leslie High School on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comHomer’s Kyle Landis shoots a basket during a boys basketball game at Leslie High School on Wednesday, Mar.

The district semifinal will be a tough one, however, facing host Holt. Another matchup with Hudson is coming up in Wednesday’s district semifinal. Vandercook Lake (18-2). Napoleon’s Javen Tumey-Patterson (middle) drives the ball during a high school boys basketball game at Vandercook Lake High School on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. East Jackson is the Pirates’ semifinal opponent for district week, with a potential third game against Vandercook Lake looming in the final on Friday.

HOMER, MI -- Four teams battled in the girls basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, Mar. Concord’s Maddy Connelly (left) and Springport’s Saige Patterson (right) wrestle over the ball during the girls basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comSpringport’s Brenna Crittenden shoots a basket during the girls basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comLeslie’s Emma Smieska reaches for the rebound during the girls basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, Mar. Meg Potter | MLive.comLeslie’s Reece DeRose reaches for the ball during the girls basketball district semifinals on Wednesday, Mar.

JACKSON -- As the girls basketball postseason rolls into the district semifinals, here are the scores from Wednesday’s games from districts involving Jackson-area teams. DIVISION 1at MasonWestern 59, Northwest 42Holt 37, Mason 27DIVISION 2at AdrianChelsea 66, Hillsdale 20DIVISION 3at HomerSpringport 77, Concord 42Leslie 50, Homer 44at Lumen ChristiEast Jackson 51, Michigan Center 43Grass Lake 53, Napoleon 31at ManchesterColumbia Central 44, Hudson 24Jonesville 48, Clinton 24---------------SEE ALSOSpringport cruises past Concord

HOMER – Despite Concord sticking close early in the girls basketball district semifinal Wednesday at Homer, Springport was able to put together several runs to take a 77-42 win over the Yellowjackets. Steals from Locke and Brenna Crittenden keyed the run in the second quarter. Overweg led the Spartans with 29 points and hit four of the team’s six 3-pointers on the night. Later in the run, steals by Locke and Overweg led to back-to-back layups for Locke. Meanwhile Springport got a layup from Mackenzie Williamson to spark the run, off a feed from Locke.

JACKSON -- The matchups are set for the boys basketball Big 8/Cascades Crossovers. It took a while to figure out how things would sort out with the Big 8 title race coming down to the wire between Jonesville, Concord, Homer and Reading, with Concord and Jonesville ultimately sharing the title, but things were sorted out Wednesday. Games will be played Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Big 8 school. Concord players cheer for their teammates during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022. Vandercook Lake at ConcordNapoleon at JonesvilleMichigan Center at HomerHanover-Horton at ReadingManchester at SpringportEast Jackson at QuincyGrass Lake at Union City

In addition to Concord, NC, a South Carolina city was also featured. Road trip, anyone?

Reading beat Concord 60-57 on Friday to knot up the Big 8 boys basketball race with two games to play. The teams are now both 9-3 in conference with Concord still to play Quincy and Union City and the Rangers closing the regular season with Bronson and Jonesville. Jonesville 56, Union City 35: The Comets are the third team in the three-way tie for first following their win over Union City. Kyle Johnson led Union City with 18 points. Brynn Mericle had 16 points for East Jackson.

Lowe's said Wednesday that sales rose 5% and surpassed Wall Street's estimates in the fiscal fourth quarter.

JACKSON -- A tightening of conference races in a couple of different conferences complicates matters as we take a look at the new batch of boys basketball rankings in the Jackson area, no more so than in the Big 8 which stays chaotic following Jonesville’s win over Concord and Homer’s loss to Bronson. Meanwhile in the Cascades, Vandercook Lake and Napoleon are up to their usual form, and Michigan Center is not far behind them.

Kennedy Miller had 12 rebounds. Mackenzie Baker led Jonesville with 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and three assists. Concord led 21-20 at halftime but the Spartans outscored the Yellowjackets 14-2 in the third quarter to take the lead. Ryann Locke had 18 points, 10 rebounds and six steals for the Spartans. Brayden Lape added 12.

While some conference races have been settled heading down the stretch run of the season, the Big 8 is anything but. With Jonesville, Concord, Reading and Homer bunched up in the standings with each having three league games to play over the next eight days, the league title picture is no clearer now than it was when the season began.

JONESVILLE – A strong Comets defense helped slow league-leading Concord for a 52-43 Jonesville win Friday, keeping the Big 8 race close as teams head down the stretch run of the season. The Jonesville defense pestered Concord for much of the first half, swiping five steals, taking two charges and holding the Yellowjackets to 5-of-14 shooting from the field. The Comets were also able to keep Concord star Graeley Sprague quiet for much of the first half. It’s shown game after game and it was nothing different tonight.”The Yellowjackets star who averages 22 points per game finished with 11. A basket in the paint from Sprague got Concord within eight, but Playford answered with another 3-pointer.

JACKSON -- Here are the scores from around the Jackson area for Friday, February 18. BOYS BASKETBALLJonesville 52, Concord 43Bronson 70, Homer 58Reading 77, Union City 49Vandercook Lake 65, Hanover-Horton 55Napoleon 57, Michigan Center 41Leslie 65, Maple Valley 35Olivet 65, Stockbridge 40Western 54, Hastings 46Coldwater 41, Northwest 31Marshall 79, Lumen Christi 37GIRLS BASKETBALLJonesville 57, Springport 48Stockbridge 53, Olivet 41East Jackson 57, Manchester 20Michigan Center 39, Napoleon 32Marshall 61, Lumen Christi 30Northwest 47, Coldwater 38Western 68, Hastings 28

Bedford and Dundee wrestling both won Regional championships Wednesday.

CONCORD, MI -- Concord and Springport high school battled in boys basketball at Concord High School with Concord coming out on top, 68-34, on Friday, Feb. 11. Concord’s Mekhi Wingfield dunks the ball during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022. Concord won over Springport, 68-34.Meg Potter | MLive.comConcord’s Graeley Sprague shoots a basket during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022. Concord won over Springport, 68-34.Meg Potter | MLive.comConcord’s band plays in-between periods during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022. Concord won over Springport, 68-34.Meg Potter | MLive.comConcord’s Mekhi Wingfield shoots a basket during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022.

Springport’s Talan Collier looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during a high school basketball game at Concord High School on Feb. 11, 2022. Concord won over Springport, 68-34.Meg Potter | MLive.com

CONCORD – Hot shooting, a balanced offense and strong defense led the Concord boys basketball team to a 68-34 win over Springport on Friday. The Yellowjackets shot 24-for-53 from the field in the game, got double-digit scoring from three players, and got at least one point from 10 players, but where Concord coach Marcus Gill trained his eye was on the Yellowjackets defense. Concord held Springport to 14 points in the first half and the Spartans turned the ball over 21 times in the game. That defensive focus on Sprague opened things up for the rest of the Yellowjackets, as Concord also got 18 from Mehki Wingfield and 10 from Omarion Culliver. Kaleb Hawes led Springport with 17 points.

JACKSON -- Here are scores from around the Jackson area for February 10. BOYS BASKETBALLLakewood 47, Leslie 37Manchester 34, Whitmore Lake 33GIRLS BASKETBALLStockbridge 53, Leslie 35Bronson 61, Homer 36Jonesville 60, Concord 30Springport 53, Quincy 34East Jackson 65, Addison 14Columbia Central 53, Hillsdale 20Michigan Center 50, Manchester 36Reading 52, Union City 25--------------------SEE ALSOStockbridge girls beat Leslie in GLAC battle

The Concord boys basketball team remained in sole possession of first place in the Big 8 with a 45-32 win over Homer on Tuesday. With the win, the Yellowjackets are 8-1 in conference, a game ahead of Reading and two ahead of Jonesville and Homer. Brady Wright led the way with 14 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Springport 61, Union City 34: The Spartans picked up their 10th win of the season by cruising past Union City. Ryann Locke had 21 points, nine rebounds, eight steals and two assists for the Spartans.

JACKSON -- Here are the scores from games around the Jackson area for Tuesday, February 8. BOYS BASKETBALLChelsea 63, Jackson 43Eaton Rapids 49, Lumen Christi 31Columbia Central 62, Adrian Lenawee Christian 58Stockbridge 55, Perry 52Concord 45, Homer 32Reading 58, Springport 43Jonesville 62, Bronson 48GIRLS BASKETBALLChelsea 63, Jackson 17Northwest 49, Grand Ledge 43Stockbridge 55, Perry 26Leslie 65, Lumen Christi 38Morenci 64, Hillsdale 22Onsted 67, Manchester 36East Jackson 49, Hanover-Horton 26Springport 61, Union City 34

Michigan Center (8-4). Vandercook Lake’s Tyrell Showers shoots a basket during a boys basketball game at Vandercook Lake High School on Feb. 4, 2022, in Jackson. Michigan center won over Vandercook Lake, 68-66. Vandercook Lake (11-1). The rematch with Vandercook lake is coming up Friday, but first a trip to Addison on Wednesday.

READING -- A second half which saw seven lead changes on Saturday ended with the Reading boys basketball team pulling out a 43-42 win over Concord. After missing one shot, the Yellowjackets got the ball back when a Reading player accidently stepped on the sideline while grabbing a pass. That run was fueled with three straight steals at the other end from Hamilton, Affholter and Eli Irelan, and turned what had been an 18-17 Concord lead at the half into a 23-18 Reading lead. “Two of our league losses have been to Jonesville and Homer, and we’re all kind of bottled up there at the top, including Concord,” Reading coach Brett Kerspilo said. Concord answered with a 10-0 run, getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Sprague in the process, and retook the lead 30-26.

JACKSON -- After two days of snowfall, basketball teams were finally able to get back on the court on Friday. Here are the scores for boys and girls basketball games from the Jackson area. BOYS BASKETBALLMichigan Center 68, Vandercook Lake 66Concord 59, Bronson 44Reading 55, Quincy 30Homer 49, Jonesville 46, OTGrass Lake 63, East Jackson 43Leslie 48, Stockbridge 47Pennfield 68, Lumen Christi 45GIRLS BASKETBALLGrass Lake 61, Detroit Renaissance 57Lumen Christi 53, Pennfield 49Western 56, Northwest 37Pinckney 50, Jackson 42Leslie 49, Stockbridge 40

Members of two top-secret World War II military units referred to as the “Ghost Army” will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal more than 75 years after their service, under legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Ghost Army refers to two units that used inflatable equipment, sound effects, radio trickery, and other deceptions in Europe to draw enemy forces away from American units, saving an estimated 30,000 lives. “Through their courageous, creative, and innovative tactics, the top-secret Ghost Army outmaneuvered and deceived the Nazis, saving thousands of Allied lives during World War II,” said U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, a Democrat who sponsored the bill in the House.

JACKSON -- With snow continuing to fall through the day on Wednesday, several high school sports teams in the Jackson area had to make changes to schedules as games have been cancelled or postponed. Here are the games which have been called off today. BOYS BASKETBALLConcord at Reading, make-up date to be determinedNapoleon at ManchesterGIRLS BASKETBALLMaple Valley at LeslieWRESTLINGat Concord, make-up date to be determinedat JacksonHOCKEYMid-Michigan Marauders at Jackson United

This week will be a bit more of a challenge with a Friday trip to face Vandercook Lake. Vandercook’s Tyrell Showers (middle) dives for the ball during a high school boys basketball game at Vandercook Lake High School on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Vandercook Lake won the game over Napoleon, 61-54. Vandercook Lake (11-0). East Jackson gave the Jayhawks fits, but Vandercook Lake is still unbeaten and still atop the Cascades Conference by half a game over Napoleon.

Prosecutors and retailers are pushing back on assertions by California’s governor and attorney general that they have enough tools to combat shoplifting and other retail thefts.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has denounced a conservative group’s offer to pay $500 to the first person who “catches” a public school teacher violating New Hampshire’s new limits on the discussion of systemic racism and other topics.

Chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen have been awarded a prestigious Spanish prize for their international relief work promoting healthy food.

Vice President Kamala Harris is making the case before United Nations members that now is the time for global leaders to begin working on how they will respond to the next global pandemic.

Vice President Kamala Harris will make the case before United Nations members on Monday that now is the time for global leaders to begin putting the serious work into how they will respond to the next global pandemic.

The world's once-insatiable demand for gasoline is unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report Wednesday, March 17, 2021 from the International Energy Agency. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)NEW YORK – The world's once-insatiable demand for gasoline is unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report Wednesday from the International Energy Agency. Oil demand, meanwhile, is expected to continue rising as developing countries with growing populations use more of the fuel. But it is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, according to the Paris-based intergovernmental agency. Gasoline demand is unlikely to fully return because increased demand in the developing world will be offset by consumers shifting to electric vehicles, manufacturers improving fuel efficiency and businesses increasing telework while decreasing travel, the report said.

Elliott won the race. The path to the championship finale begins Sunday at Kansas Speedway, the first of three races in the title-setting third round. It's a fairly straightforward series with ensuing stops at Texas Motor Speedway, like Kansas a 1.5-mile intermediate oval, then half-mile Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR's shortest and oldest active track. Hamlin has won NASCAR's last two visits to Kansas, a turnaround after several so-so races. “If you fast-forward to Kansas and Texas, it’s a mile-and-a-half, so everything is just pointing in our direction right now,” he said.

Chase Elliott won on the hybrid road course-oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Busch and three others were trimmed from title contention. Elliott, meanwhile, won for the second consecutive year at “The Roval” and third time this season. “Best way to get into the next round is to win,” Elliott said. Bowman battled anxiety through the race as he worried Kyle Busch would win and bump him from the playoffs. When Busch didn't pit, Bowman nervously asked his Hendrick Motorsports team if he was about to be eliminated.

Busch doesn't need to win on the “Roval” to advance, but there's only five races remaining for him to improve his season. The Sunday forecast calls for an 80% chance for rain and the road course portion of the Roval permits NASCAR to race in wet conditions. The Cup drivers have never before used rain tires in competition. NASCAR stopped the Xfinity Series race for about 40 minutes Saturday so its track dryers could push water off the racing surface. "What is the drainage like at that racetrack through the infield road course?

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)Team Penske found a one-year solution for Matt DiBenedetto while building a long-term plan to move Austin Cindric to the Cup Series. Cindric, currently competing in the Xfinity Series for Penske, will take over the seat in 2022. Cindric will compete in both Xfinity Series next season as well as select Cup races. Cindric, meanwhile, was the Xfinity Series regular season champion and is currently racing for the championship. "Another season of experience in the Xfinity Series will be beneficial and I’m looking forward to competing in some Cup Series races in 2021 to prepare for a full season in 2022.”

Mrs. Trump, who has focused many of her public efforts on health issues such as the nation’s opioid crisis, tweeted earlier in the day that the appearance was a nod to Recovery Month. Trump lost the state to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by fewer than 3,000 votes in 2016. “Be Best encourages the creation of a safer, healthier and more hopeful world for our children,” Mrs. Trump said. '”Melania Trump also delivered 20 fleece “Be Best” blankets to the hospital’s special case nursery. The first lady also made a stop at the Manchester Fire Department Central Station, where she and the president visited in 2018.

Chase Elliott does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR's grueling return to racing finally ended with a Cup victory for Chase Elliott. The event, postponed Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17. Man this is a tough week, we've had some tough losses," Elliott said from the frontstretch. Elliott reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott's victory was the first for a Chevrolet driver in NASCAR's return to Cup racing.

A man walks through the infield as rain falls before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. Rain washed out the Cup Series race Wednesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway a slight break for NASCAR teams taxed by a grueling return to racing. The race was rescheduled for Thursday night at 7 p.m., which in turn forced NASCAR to move the Xfinity Series race scheduled for Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Xfinity Series race will instead be run Monday night, a day after the Cup Series. The second consecutive Wednesday night race would have been the fourth for the elite Cup Series since May 17. The starting order for the second Cup race at Charlotte this week was set based on the finishing order of the Coca-Cola 600 but with an inversion.

Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Gander RV & Outdoors, which sponsors the Truck Series, agreed to match Harvicks pledge, bringing the total to $100,000 for pandemic relief. Elliott rubbed a little salt in the wound after the race, borrowing Buschs celebratory bow after the race. That is all.It was the first Truck Series race since Feb. 21 when Busch won at Las Vegas. Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole were the three full-time Cup drivers eligible to collect the $100,000 bounty. He followed up a fourth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday by winning the Xfinity Series race on Monday in overtime after passing Austin Cindric on the final lap.

The tungsten is required to meet minimum weight requirements on the car and the NASCAR rule book states if it is separated at any point it is an automatic four-race suspension for the crew chief, car chief and engineer. Chris Gabehart, the crew chief, was suspended along with car chief Brandon Griffeth and engineer Scott Simmons. Sam McAulay will be the crew chief, while Eric Phillips will be car chief and Scott Eldridge the engineer. NASCAR's next four races are at Charlotte, Bristol, Atlanta and Martinsville between Wednesday night and June 10, when the suspension ends. Hamlin won not only the season-opening Daytona 500 but also won last Wednesday night at Darlington Raceway.

The only people to see the race were those working it and those who live in the turn one condominiums at the track. But there were 33 motorhomes on his properties, with race fans traveling from as far away as New York, Texas and Maine. Like many around the country, Little has taken a financial hit due to fans being shut out of sports, but the third-generation owner of the campground said, honestly, I feel just terrible for the race fans." The Coca-Cola 600 promotional signs that normally adorn from the front of restaurants during race week were non-existent. Usually we would be packed out with NASCAR fans," said Mindy Segovia, the general manager of Iron Thunder Saloon, about a mile from the track.

The most celebrated day in motorsports has been whittled down to the third course, 600 miles around Charlotte Motor Speedway in NASCAR's longest race of the year. What began as the World 600 in 1959 became the nightcap to a spectacular day of automobile racing treasured annually by fans. It means NASCAR is alone in the spotlight Sunday night, just as NASCAR has been for the last week. Were right there and James is doing an awesome job.BUSCH VS. ELLIOTTChase Elliott flipped Busch the bird after Busch wrecked Elliott racing for the win Wednesday night. Busch went on to finish second in a 1-2 with Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing; Elliott was 38th.

CONCORD, N.H. A mail carrier from New Hampshire found a unique way to honor graduating students along his route. Josh Crowell is delivering congratulatory handwritten notes to Class of 2020 students -- who are unable to celebrate graduation with traditional ceremonies and parties due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. MORE: Coronavirus in Michigan: Heres where we stand as of SundayCrowell says his daughter graduated high school in 2018, so he knows commencements are an important rite of passage. As he saw graduation signs along his work route, he wanted to congratulate the students who cant walk across a stage this year. Crowell delivers Dunkin Donuts gift cards along with the notes, which he signs, Your mailman, Josh.

But experts warn that the anti-government boogaloo movement has attracted a dangerous element of far-right extremists. The signature look for the “boogaloo” anti-government movement is designed to get attention. In March, a Missouri man with ties to neo-Nazis was shot and killed when FBI agents tried to arrest him. While the anti-lockdown protests have provided the spotlight on the “boogaloo” movement, a police shooting in Maryland has galvanized its supporters. Harts, 27, says “boogaloo” started as a funny meme but has evolved into a deeper symbol for the “liberty movement."

Morris, 30, of Barre, Vermont, had been shot at least six times in the head. “When you’re looking at a finger that’s been in the ground since 1969, the epidermal layer of skin is gone. When I did it myself, I knew what I was looking at.”The attorney general's Cold Case Unit had been trying to identify the remains for years. They told investigators Morris had been released from the Vermont State Prison on May 9, 1969, and spent time in Boston the following month and in Glastonbury, Connecticut, that July. “It definitely gave our Cold Case Unit at the attorney general’s office help in their investigation and hopefully solving this someday.”The Cold Case Unit was created in 2009.

CONCORD, NH – Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said Tuesday that he would enact federal drinking water standards for a group of toxic chemicals that have caused widespread contamination in New Hampshire and other states. Sanders, a Vermont senator, said instead of spending millions on lawsuits to gut clean water rules, such companies should be paying to clean up contamination. He said as president, he will create national clean water standards for PFAS and other chemicals in an effort to guarantee clean drinking water “as a human right.”“Corporate greed is threatening one of the most basic necessities of life: clean water,” he said in a statement. “Not only will we support state efforts to enforce stronger clean water laws, we are going to create federal clean water standards that force these companies to clean up their mess.”More than 700 homes in New Hampshire whose drinking water was contaminated by PFAS have been connected to new water, and the state estimates that more than 100,000 other people eventually could be affected. 3M Co., based in St. Paul, Minnesota, said in a statement Tuesday that it “supports appropriate science-based regulations of PFAS” and therefore backs “consideration of an enforceable, science-based national drinking water standard" for the toxic chemicals.

Republican presidential candidate former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., files to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Concord, N.H. At left is New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner and at right is his wife Helene Walsh. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh has filed for the New Hampshire presidential primary, officially giving President Donald Trump two major Republican primary challengers in the early voting state. Hes become a vocal critic of the president, saying Trump is unfit for the office. Bill Weld has also filed to challenge Trump in the New Hampshire primary. Both Walsh and Weld have struggled so far to have largescale fundraising success.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks with supporters after filing to have her name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Elizabeth Warren has once again scorned big moneys influence in politics as she signed up for New Hampshire's presidential primary. The Massachusetts senator said Wednesday, "We really shouldn't have elections that are about billionaires calling all the shots, whether they're reaching in their pockets to fund their own elections or whether they're counting on getting other people to run.Warrens comments came as billionaire Michael Bloomberg considers making a late run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer is also competing with Warren in the primary. Warren is among the last of the 2020 Democrats to file for the New Hampshire primary. Candidates have until Friday to file.

Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, right, hands paperwork to Secretary of State Bill Gardner as he files to have his name listed on the New Hampshire primary ballot, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Republican Bill Weld has filed for the New Hampshire presidential primary and is now the first major GOP challenger to officially challenge President Donald Trump in the state. The filing by the former Massachusetts governor came on the same day as the House began public impeachment hearings of Trump in Washington. Weld says if Trump were to be reelected, I think that would be a tragedy for the country.Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor and congressman, dropped out of the Republican primary race on Tuesday, leaving Weld and former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh as the remaining major Trump primary challengers. Walsh is scheduled to file for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary Thursday.

(CNN) - The United States Mint is to memorialize Christa McAuliffe, the teacher and astronaut who died in the Challenger disaster in 1986, with a commemorative silver dollar coin. The Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 was passed by Congress, and the bill will go to the President to be signed into law. The act calls for the Department of Treasury to "issue not more than 350,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Christa McAuliffe." If the President signs the act, the coins will be minted in 2021 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. FIRST uses robotic competitions to encourage children to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.