Officials considering state-wide fireworks ban this year

Our recent string of dry weather could have an impact on the way we celebrate the Fourth of July. The State Fire Marshal says the dry weather conditions could make fireworks even more dangerous this season, and is considering a state-wide ban on consumer fireworks.

Several communities in Michigan have already banned them, though none of the bans are in the immediate metro Detroit area.

On average, June is usually our wettest month. But this month, we're about two inches behind on our rainfall. Looking back. Memorial Day weekend was the last time metro Detroit saw good rain.

The FOX 2 Weather Authority team says the last time it was this dry was in June of 2012. This month, we've had 1.30" total rain, but our normal rainfall for this month is typically around 3.30".

Legally, the days to fire these off are the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday coming up. We spoke with Tiffany, who works at a fireworks tent on Telegraph in Southfield who offered some simple tips regardless of if there's a ban or not.

"The best thing to do is just try to put yourself in an open area, away from trees, grass, things like that," she says. "If for some reason you can't and you're in a neighborhood, just be aware of your surroundings."

She suggests moistening your ground with a sprinkler or hose during the day so it won't be as dry come nighttime when you light the fireworks off.

While she may take a hit in profits this season, she still believes she'll be selling plenty of fireworks.

"People are pretty comfortable with fireworks nowadays; it's not a brand new thing," she says.

FOX 2's Roop Raj spoke with the governor's office, who says as of this hour the ban on consumer fireworks has not been passed. The State Fire Marshal will have the final say.

Read more at: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/167299011-story

MDOT halting construction projects to minimize holiday weekend traffic - FULL LIST

The Michigan Department of Transportation is lifting most lane restrictions for the Fourth of July weekend.

More than half of road and bridge projects will be on hold to ease traffic delays for holiday travelers.

MDOT said Fourth of July traffic is expected to hit its highest mark in more than a decade.

Those lane restrictions will be lifted from 3 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Tuesday on 102 of MDOT's 144 projects across the state.

However, equipment and certain traffic configurations, like temporary shifts, may remain in place, so drivers should stay alert.

MDOT has provided a list of current project updates:

Upper Peninsula

- I-75, Chippewa County, has one lane closed in each direction under the Dafter Road bridge with a temporary concrete barrier wall.

- M-28, Gogebic County, has one lane of alternating traffic open over the Presque Isle River with a temporary traffic signal.

- M-94 in Manistique, Schoolcraft County, has a posted detour at US-2.

- US-41 in Hancock, Houghton County, has a posted detour for northbound traffic.

- US-41 in Ishpeming, Marquette County, has one lane open in each direction with a traffic shift between Third Street and Second Street.

For more information, contact MDOT Superior Region Communications Representative Dan Weingarten at 906-250-4809. Follow the Superior Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_UP.

Northern Lower Peninsula

- M-27, Cheboygan County, has northbound traffic detoured on I-75 and M-68.

- US-23 in Cheboygan, Cheboygan County, has one lane open with a temporary traffic signal.

For more information, contact MDOT North Region Communications Representative James Lake at 906-250-0993. Follow the North Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Traverse.

West Michigan

- Cascade Road in Grand Rapids has one lane closed over I-96 with a traffic shift.

- I-196 in Grandville, Kent County, has the westbound ramp to M-11 (28th Street/Wilson Avenue) closed.

- M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) in Walker, Kent County, will have lane closures in each direction between Kinney and Sunset Hills avenues.

- M-66, Ionia County, has the southbound bridge over I-96 closed with traffic shifted onto the northbound bridge.

- US-31, Ottawa County, has two lanes open in each direction between Ransom Street and Lakewood Boulevard with a traffic shift. The southbound US-31 entrance and exit ramps at I-196 Business Loop (Chicago Drive) are closed with a detour posted.

- US-131 in Grand Rapids has one southbound lane closed between Ann Street and Leonard Street. Also, the Ann Street ramp to southbound US-131 is closed, as well as the southbound US-131 exit ramp to Leonard Street.

For more information, contact MDOT Grand Region Communications Representative John Richard at 616-262-1565. Follow the Grand Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_West.

Southwest Michigan

- I-94, Berrien County, has one lane closed in each direction between Stevensville and Bridgman. Also, the Red Arrow Highway ramp to westbound I-94 (Exit 16) in Bridgman is closed with a detour posted.

- I-94, Kalamazoo County, has a traffic shift in place at 40th Street. All ramps at the interchange are closed with a detour posted.

- US-12, Cass County, has a lane shift at Old M-205 for roundabout construction. Old M-205 and Five Points Road are closed with a posted detour.

- US-31, Berrien County, has one lane closed in each direction over the St. Joseph River between Niles Buchanan Road and Walton Road.

- US-131, Kalamazoo County, has one lane closed in each direction between U Avenue and I-94 in Portage. Also, the Centre Avenue ramp to northbound US-131 is closed with a detour posted.

For more information, contact MDOT Southwest Region Communications Representative Nick Schirripa at 269-208-7829. Follow the Southwest Region on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDOT_Southwest.

Central Michigan and Thumb

- Taylor Road, St. Clair County, has the bridge over I-69 closed.

- I-69, Genesee County, has one lane closed in each direction under Belsay Road.

- I-69, Lapeer County, has one lane closed in each direction between Clark Road and Lake Pleasant Road.

- I-75, Saginaw County, will have traffic shifted between Dixie Highway and Hess Road.

- M-18 in Beaverton, Midland County, has southbound traffic detoured.

- M-19, Sanilac County, has one lane of alternating traffic open at the South Fork of the Cass River with a temporary traffic signal.

- M-57 in Chesaning, Saginaw County, has one lane open over the Shiawassee River with a temporary signal.

- US-10, Clare County, has one lane open over Chippewa Creek with a temporary bridge.

- US-10 Business Route/M-20, Midland County, has one lane open in each direction over Saginaw Road and Waldo Road.

Southern Michigan

- I-75, Monroe County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift between I-275 and Dixie Highway.

- I-96 in Lansing, Ingham County, has two lanes open in each direction with a traffic shift between US-127 and M-99.

- M-14 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, is closed between Main Street and the Miller Road/Maple Road interchange. A detour is posted.

- M-50/US-127 Business Route (West Avenue) in Jackson, Jackson County, is closed between Ganson Street and North Street with a detour posted.

- M-52, Washtenaw County, will have one lane maintained at Werkner Road with a temporary signal just north of Chelsea.

- M-100 north of Potterville, Eaton County, has one lane open with a temporary signal near Billwood Highway.

- US-12 in Saline, Washtenaw County, has one westbound lane open between Maple Street and Monroe Street with eastbound traffic detoured.

- US-127 in Lansing, Ingham County, has the northbound auxiliary lane closed between Grand River Avenue and Lake Lansing Road.

Metro Detroit

- Evergreen Road, Wayne County, will have one lane open in each direction over I-96.

- Larned Street in downtown Detroit will have one lane closed over I-375 for bridge work.

- I-94, Wayne County, has all ramps at Trumbull Avenue, including the eastbound service drive, closed.

- I-275, Wayne County, has all southbound lanes closed between the I-96/I-696 interchange and I-96/M-14.

- M-1 Rail work in downtown Detroit continues, with lane and shoulder closures in each direction on M-1 (Woodward Avenue), I-75, and I-94.

- M-24, Oakland County, will have lane shifts at Silver Bell and Clarkston roads.

- M-53 (Van Dyke Avenue), Macomb County, has lane closures in each direction at 16 Mile and 18 Mile roads.

Read more at: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/167688444-story

How to protect your lawn during our dry, hot summer

We're getting plenty of sun and plenty of heat but we're seriously lacking in rain.

It's great for enjoying the outdoors but not so great for our lawns. Homeowners all over metro Detroit are frustrated with dry, crusty, brown grass.

So what can you do, without racking up a huge water bill? Under the hot blazing sun Tom Miller is doing his best to keep his lawn looking good.

But Miller admits so far it's a struggle thanks to a recent span of high temperatures and little to no rain.

"It's terrible in Royal Oak, water prices are out of sight, you can't water it like you should," said Miller.

Miller is not alone, drive down any street around Metro Detroit and you see more brown than green grass and vibrant flowers growing from the soil.

"Put a little bit of lawn food on it not sure it that will help or not," Miller said.

But lawn care experts say there is a prescription for helping to resuscitate your lawn.

First rule of thumb - turn the sprinkler system on more often but when you turn it on is key.

"You want to water in morning because it's less heat," said Kristin Eisbrenner, from Lawn Doctor. "If you water at noon, it is so hot it would be very difficult and it's just going to burn the grass. All the moisture and the heat is going to cause more damage."

Turning your sprinkler on when the sun goes down in the evening can also cause damage.

"If you water in the evening it can cause fungus to grow," Eisbrenner said.

Cutting your lawn when the soil is dry also requires a change in technique. Experts say start by using a different blade so you don't cut the grass too short.

"You want to make sure when you have someone mowing your lawn to make sure they're cutting it longer," she said. "(Keep it) maybe two or three inches. Mulching also helps to keep moister in the soil."

And be careful if you do any weed whipping

"If they weed whip along edge of lawn be careful not to scalp it, it will burn and your lawn will just be gone," she said.

If you can't afford to run your sprinkler system or even hire a lawn service experts say do the following:

"Try to make sure you give it some fertilizer so that it has a supportive system for its roots and it will come back," Eisbrenner said.

And that's good news for people who want green grass over hay.

Read more at: http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/166698941-story

2016 Jeep Renegade

There was some skepticism regarding whether or not the rugged Jeep styling and trail-blazing performance could translate to a subcompact car, and it was silenced with one test drive in the 2016 Jeep Renegade. With its off-roading capabilities, bold styling, and its comfortable and compelling interior, the Renegade is something to get excited about.

Whether you’re cruising down I-275 on your daily commute or heading to Lake St. Clair for some beach fun, the 2016 Jeep Renegade has all the power you need. The standard powertrain is the 1.4L MultiAir® Turbo engine, which gives drivers 160 horsepower, 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and a fuel rating of 31 MPG hwy1. For even more power, the 2.4L Tigershark® moves you with 180 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque from the class-exclusive2 9-speed transmission. Despite its surplus of power, it still delivers a fuel rating of 31 MPG hwy3, plus a 2,000-lb. tow rating4. Jeep engineers silenced the critics by giving the 2016 Jeep Renegade one of two 4x4 systems for best-in-class5 capability. Sport, Latitude, and Limited models have Jeep Active Drive, while Trailhawk® trims exclusively are paired with Jeep Active Drive Low. Both offer a rear axle disconnect system to switch from two to four-wheel drive, but only Jeep Active Drive Low has a 20:1 crawl ratio. No matter which 4x4 system you have, both come with the class-exclusive2 Selec-Terrain® dial. With a simple turn, select from Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, or Rock settings.

One look at the 2016 Renegade and the iconic Jeep brand styling is made clear. Not only is the exterior stylish, but with functional features like fog lamps and heated side mirrors, your visibility is never compromised. Even more impressive is the windshield wiper de-icer. The heating elements keep the blades free of ice so you always have a clear view of the road ahead. Another dynamic feature is the available My Sky® open-air dual-panel roof6. The panels can retract, or you can remove them completely, and can be easily stored inside the rear cargo area.

Beyond feeling a warm breeze throughout the cabin, you’ll also have available leather-trimmed seats for a luxury feel, or standard cloth seats made from heavy-duty mesh fabric. You can easily fill the Jeep Renegade with tons of gear thanks to the second-row seats with either a 60/40 split or a 40/20/40 split. In any case, leave them in place for 18.5 cubic ft. of storage space7, or fold them down for an impressive 50.8 cubic ft. of cargo room7. There’s also the height-adjustable rear floor to conceal the MySky® roof panels6, or any other types of belongings. And to always remain comfortable, you’ll enjoy features like the available dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. No matter how far you travel, the Renegade makes it easy to stay connected with the available Uconnect® 6.5 NAV infotainment system. This bundles a 6.5-inch full-color touchscreen, GPS Navigation, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio8, a USB port9 with iPod® compatibility, Uconnect® Voice Command, hands-free phone10 and voice texting11, and more. And to make the most out of your music, opt for the BeatsAudio™ 9-speaker sound system with 506 watts of power.

All this, and so much more, can be yours today when you’re behind the wheel of the 2016 Jeep Renegade.

How to Protect Your Car’s Interior

Try to add up the hours you spend in your car. It’s a lot, isn’t it? Commutes, errand runs and road trips can have you sitting in those bucket seats for hours on end, and during that time, you and your passengers are actually living in the interior. That means smudges on the windows, scratches on the dash and food in the seat crevices accumulate and leave you wondering what happened to the spotless interior you swear it had when you first bought the car.

A Quick Clean

Luckily, it’s not that difficult to keep a car’s cabin from looking a little too, well, lived in. First things first, get something to stuff your trash into. Just use a plastic bag or a container you don’t use around the house and throw it in the backseat. You can even affix a temporary hook to the door or seat to keep things even neater. Every once and awhile, take it out and relish in the fact that you haven’t spent an hour cleaning up. Keeping trash off the floor also preserves your carpets, which can get stained from any number of items.

The idea of taking a rag to your dash and leather seats is made easier if you have them on-hand. The key here is to just use a little bit of soapy water to wipe the surfaces of your car – some cleaning products contain alcohols that prematurely dry and age the materials by reducing the flexibility in the vinyl. Store a small spray bottle of your homemade cleaning fluid and a rag under your seat or in a storage bin for access when you’re waiting for your kids to get out of school or sitting in that crazy-long drive-through line. This will also come in handy when an emergency spill happens. Lastly, keep your car smelling like roses (or at least a laundromat) by adding dryer sheets under the seats.

Weather Resistant

You can’t discount the impact weather has on your vehicle either. In summer, sandy feet can quickly make a mess of an interior, and dare we mention the destruction caused by mud and snow? If you spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place.

The sun’s rays can also wreak havoc on your car’s surfaces, causing vinyl to crack over time and materials to fade. A simple solution is to regularly put a sunshade on the windshield. They’re inexpensive and help to keep your interior looking new.

Saving money on repair work and cleaning comes more easily when you take the time to make preventative care a priority. Not only will these tricks make your car a nicer place to be, keeping grime out of your ride will cut down on large maintenance costs in the future and will help to retain its value over time.

Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/2015/10/how-to-protect-your-cars-interior/