TheRepublic.com - Grand Rapids News

Body on Thornapple River ID'd as missing man, 30

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:49:08 -0400

THORNAPPLE TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Officials in western Michigan say they've identified a body found on the shore of the Thornapple River as that of a 30-year-old man who disappeared 11 weeks ago.

Grand Rapids helicopter patrols prompt complaints

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:53:54 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Some residents say state police helicopter patrols meant to help curb violent crime in Grand Rapids and its surrounding communities should be halted because they are so loud and obnoxious.

Saginaw police: 14-year-olds shot, sitting in car

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:48:17 -0400

SAGINAW, Michigan - Saginaw police say two 14-year-olds were shot while sitting in a car. They're expected to live.

Plane flips, pilot unhurt in crash near airfield

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:20:20 -0400

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Authorities in western Michigan say a pilot escaped without injury after a single engine plane crashed and overturned near a rural airfield.

Rockford field for children with disabilities

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:18:10 -0400

ROCKFORD, Michigan - A groundbreaking has been held for a ball field in Rockford that will hold games for children with physical and mental disabilities.

Grand Rapids club closes stairwell where 3 died

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:44:04 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - A Grand Rapids nightclub has closed a staircase where three fatal falls have occurred since 2009.

Kent County boosts flood damage estimate to $10.6M

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:41:59 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Officials are boosting the estimate for spring flooding property damage in Kent County to $10.6 million.

Man sentenced in drunken driving death of girl, 8

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:27:41 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - A Grand Rapids man will spend up to 15 years in prison for the drunken driving death of an 8-year-old Detroit girl.

George W. Bush event raises $400,000 for school

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:56:08 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - An event featuring President George W. Bush has raised $400,000 to support the West Michigan Aviation Academy.

Michigan's Brady Hoke: Notre Dame 'chickening out'

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:37:25 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Michigan coach Brady Hoke has taken the Notre Dame rivalry up a notch.

Historic Manistee church undergoing restoration

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:14:09 -0400

MANISTEE, Michigan - A historic church designed by a Chicago architect famous for his invention of the modern steel skyscraper is getting some much-needed restoration work in Manistee.

Mich. Historical Commission approves 4 new markers

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:31:05 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - The Michigan Historical Commission has approved historical markers for four sites, including one in Grand Rapids to recognize accomplishments of the Meijer retail chain.

Increased security doesn't damper W Mich. run

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:54:37 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Everything was running smoothly Saturday for the Fifth Third River Bank Run in western Michigan despite increased security following the Boston Marathon bombings, according to authorities and others in attendance.

EPA, other US agencies expand urban waters effort

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:08:27 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - The Environmental Protection Agency, the White House and other federal departments announced Friday that they are expanding a program for restoring and improving urban waterways nationwide.

Efforts to restore rapids to Grand River get boost

Fri, 10 May 2013 07:52:21 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - The expansion of a program for restoring and improving urban waterways nationwide is expected to boost efforts to restore rapids to the Grand River in Grand Rapids.

Hotel in Grand Rapids may reopen this weekend

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:43:24 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Grand Rapids may reopen this weekend after being closed due to flooding since last month.

Grand Rapids Symphony effort aims to raise $40M

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:31:24 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - The Grand Rapids Symphony says it has secured $32 million of a new $40 million endowment campaign to provide long-term support for the orchestra.

Authorities: Tourist train apparently sparks fires

Thu, 09 May 2013 05:28:05 -0400

MARNE, Michigan - Authorities say a tourist train out for an inspection run apparently sparked a series of small brush fires along Interstate 96 in West Michigan.

Worker, 43, killed in fall at W. Michigan foundry

Wed, 08 May 2013 20:28:23 -0400

ROTHBURY, Michigan - Authorities say a 43-year-old man has died after falling through a skylight at West Michigan foundry where he was working.

Man charged in disappearance of Grand Rapids woman

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:09:49 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Authorities say a 25-year-old ex-con has been arraigned on open murder, perjury and evidence-tampering charges in the disappearance of a 26-year-old Grand Rapids woman.

Religion: Questions surround religious ministries, health...

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:53:04 -0400

By TERRY MATTINGLY - When describing how his disciples should serve the needy, Jesus told a parable about a good Samaritan who rescued a traveler who had been robbed and left for dead.

Court backs sentence in W. Mich. kidnapping

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:55:26 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Federal prosecutors in Grand Rapids have struck out in their bid to increase the sentence of a man who's in prison for decades for kidnapping.

Woman dead inside burning Kalamazoo apartment

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:17:52 -0400

KALAMAZOO, Michigan - Authorities in western Michigan say a woman has been found dead inside a burning apartment across the street from a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety office.

Woman used Facebook to harass herself, cops say

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:20:51 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - A western Michigan woman is accused of creating a Facebook account to stalk herself.

US housing perks up, but too few homes for sale

Sat, 04 May 2013 10:59:47 -0400

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - Beth Heinen Bell and her husband, Christian - like a rising number of Americans - are ready to jump into the real estate market and become homeowners. Yet they're running into an obstacle that's keeping the national housing recovery in check: There aren't enough homes for sale.