Today's News Fast: July 1

Happy pre-Fourth of July weekend! For those of you planning on heading Up North later today, you'll be pleased to note the weather looks great. Temperatures will remain in the low 80s in the Thumb and 70s as you approach the UP. There is a chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday nights, but all-in-all, this Fourth looks fantastic.

• As we head into Fourth of July weekend, the weather looks b-e-a-utiful. We'll have partly sunny skies, with a high near 87 degrees, so keep the sunscreen handy. It will be a bit windy, gusts as high as 23 mph, and we can count on clouds moving into the area during the evening hours. However, there is only a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and with a low temperature around 71 degrees, tonight is a night best enjoyed outdoors, according to the National Weather Service.

• In honor of America's Independence Day, instead of learning a German word, we're going to go back a few decades to the Roaring 20s and catch up on the Jazz Age slang of our forebears. Now don't get balled up, we're not just chewing gum here. On the level this is the bee's knee's and we know our onions. Don't be grungy, get hip to the jive! Now you're on the trolley! [Translation: Don't get confused, we're not just talking ambiguously. Honest, this is great and we know what we're talking about. Don't be envious, get trendy. Now you've got it!]

• The Mount Clemens Stars and Stripes Festival starts today and continues through July 4. There is live entertainment all weekend, but festivities really get underway tonight with a fireworks display at dusk over the river. For a full schedule of events, click here.

• To aid would-be Macomb Township residents in moving to our town, we've created "Moving to Macomb: A Newcomers Guide to the Township." The purpose of this guide is to give prospective township residents an inside look at the township's schools, government, taxes, entertainment options and more. We're sure we forgot a few things, so tell us in the comments what we need to add!
• As you head Up North or across the state, MDOT is helping your travel time by easing up on road projects. We have a complete list here.
• Happy Canada Day to our northern neighbors! Canada Day is celebrated on July 1 and marks the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada. In honor of Canada's celebration, here is a rousing rendition of "O Canada!"