Police are investigating the murder of a West Michigan native, whose body was found in parts in Texas. Authorities said they found the dismembered body of Laura Ackerson, 27, near Richmond, Texas - hundreds of miles from her current home in Kinston, N.C. Ackerson's family still lives in Ionia County, where she grew up.

Cameron McNeil grew up sailing butterflies at the Spring Lake and White Lake yacht clubs, and has made a name for himself in sailing circles as one of the top MC Class sailors in the nation. This past weekend, McNeil, a 2000 Spring Lake High School graduate, got a chance to go up against the top sailors from across the country in an entirely different boat - the Laser. McNeil was one of 22 sailors invited to participate in the U.S. Sailing Singlehanded Championships, an annual regatta that pits the top sailors of singlehanded boats from across the country.

A painting with watercolors class will be held Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Spring Lake District Library, 123 E. Exchange St. Local artist Mary Sundstrom will demonstrate basic skills and techniques during this hands-on class. Participants will paint a still life and learn techniques like wax, leaf printing and resist. The class is open to those age 16 and older. Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. Call the library at 846-5770 to register. A $10 materials fee is payable at the time of the workshop.

UPDATE (8:18 a.m.) A left lane closure today for road maintenance for northbound U.S. 31, between Buchanan and Warner streets in Grand Haven Township, has been canceled. For up-to-date information on this project and others, go to the list of statewide lane closures at www.michigan.gov/drive.

Today: A 50-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southwest wind at 5 to 9 mph. Tonight: A 40-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Calm wind becoming northeast at 4 to 7 mph. Friday: A 20-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west-northwest at 5 to 8 mph.

The forecast for the Grand Haven for the rest of this afternoon calls for more showers and thunderstorms. Steady temperature around 77 and a south wind at around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

For the second consecutive year, the 9th Coast Guard District is observing "Paddles Up Great Lakes' - an educational outreach campaign aimed at raising safe boating awareness among the region's paddlesport enthusiasts. The campaign began Saturday and culminates with the annual "Paddles Up Niagara' event on July 30 at Beaver Creek State Park in Grand Island, N.Y.

The 1-year-old daughter of Michigan's Lt. Gov. Brian Calley went into cardiac arrest while being prepared for a heart procedure at a hospital. Ken Silfven, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder, said in an e-mail this morning that Kara last was reported in stable condition Tuesday evening. She has undergone past surgery to address a heart defect, and was at an Ann Arbor hospital for a cardiac catheterization. Silfven said Calley and his family have received an outpouring of prayers and support following word of Kara's hospitalization.