LANSING, Mich. (AP/WZZM) -- Former presidential candidate Herman Cain is joining Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra during stops in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Troy.

Hoekstra and Cain will make their Grand Rapids appearance from 9-10 a.m. Thursday at the Kent...more County Republican Party headquarters in the 700 Lake Michigan Dr. NW.

The Thursday campaign swing is intended to boost Hoekstra with tea partiers. Cain suspended his campaign Dec. 3 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, but remains popular with those voters.

Hoekstra currently leads seven other Republicans vying to take on Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow. But he may have a ways to go to catch his Democratic opponent.

An NBC News/Marist Poll released Wednesday showed 53% of 3,149 registered voters in Michigan backed Stabenow, compared with 32% for Hoekstra. Fifteen percent were undecided. Other candidates weren't included.

The telephone poll was

I just heard from a good source at Kenowa Hills High School that Comstock Park High School was the winner in the Paczki Eating Contest at Plumb’s Supermarket yesterday after school.

Comstock Park School gets the $300 donation while Kenowa Hills and West Catholic each got a $200 school...more donation.

Great job everyone! I’m sure some of these students won’t care to see another Paczki for some time.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The federal government is renewing a program in Grand Rapids to make sure students eat well during the summer. 

Last year Grand Rapids Public Schools received a $700,000 grant which was divided among 2,500 low income students.  The money is placed on electronic...more cards and used to buy pre-approved items at local grocery stores.

Tuesday GRPS announced the government is rewewing the program so more students have access to healthy food during the summer months when school lunches are not available.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - It's the doughiest, sugariest day of the year. You know what we're talking about.  Fat Tuesday, which is better known as Paczki Day in our area.

But, even though I'm Polish, I had never heard of them.

I grew up in northern Minnesota, where there's a...more healthy population of Polish people, and the fish fry is a mainstay, but paczki are hard to come by.

I stopped into Sandy's on Fat Tuesday to try one.

Sandy's opened an hour earlier this year, at 4 a.m., and they had a steady crowd of people right from the beginning.

Owner Mike Hoezee says they expect to sell 18,000 to 19,000 paczki over the next two days.

Customers say it's become a tradition; many aren't Polish but say they were hooked the moment they tried one.

Lynn Strodtbeck, who's Norwegian, explained, "It is different. It's a little richer, probably not the best thing for you."

"I'd recommend any one of them, because it doesn't

Here's a running list of the 2012 Lenten Fish Frys around West Michigan.  If you have a Fish Fry to tell everyone about, click HERE.

 
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Got a great West Michigan Fish Fry for the 2012 Lenten season? Let everyone know about it!

See the complete list HERE.
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Last year we did Pizza and Burgers. Now we want to know who has the best Happy Hour. Please voice your opinion by completing our poll.

This is not just about alcohol, but the environment.  We want to know what restaurant has the best food, servers, specials, and even customers.  The...more kind of place where "everybody knows your name."

Throughout the week of March 5th, WZZM13 will reveal each of the top five restaurants in an on air segment.

Support your community by placing your vote below!Who has the best HAPPY HOUR?Ada/Cascade - Riverbend Bar and GrillComstock Park/Alpine - Vitale's Sports and LoungeCoopersville - Champs Bar and GrillEast Grand Rapids - Big Bob's PizzaGR Central - Brewery VivantGR North - SazeracGR South - Log CabinGR West - Joe V's Sports BarGrand Haven/Spring Lake - Stan's BarGrandville/Jenison/Hudsonville - Vitale's HudsonvilleGreenville/Belding - Winter InnHolland/Zeeland - BoatwerksKalamazoo - O'Duffy'sKentwood - Quaker Steak and

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - Grand Rapids Magazine is awarding their annual dining awards this week...via Facebook.

The announcements for the 32nd Annual Grand Rapids Magazine Dining Awards began today, with El Granjero Mexican Grill winning the award in the "Mexican/Latin...more American/Caribbean" category.

The announcements are being made at facebook.com/grmag through Wednesday.  Nine total awards will be given, including Restaurant of the Year on Wednesday.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)-  The West Catholic High School football team will travel to Indianapolis to open the 2012 season. The team will compete against Indianapolis Brebeuf Jesuit Academy in the first game of a triple header to be played on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Warren Central High School in...more Northwest Indianapolis. Two other schools confirmed for the event are Warren Central and Indianapolis Cathedral High School. Game time will be announced at a later date.

 

The team will leave West Catholic on chartered busses on Aug. 24. A highlight of the trip will be a stop in South Bend, Ind., where arrangements have been made for the team to practice on the University of Notre Dame practice field. Later, the team and their coaches will participate in a Mass celebrated by Father Peter McCormick, a 1995 graduate of West Catholic and rector at Notre Dame’s Keough Hall.

 

West Catholic Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Dan Rohn was contacted in January

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Feb. 2 was National Signing Day, and Grand Rapids West Catholic held an in-school "Signing Day” ceremony for six athletes who so far have committed to play at a college or university.

Back row: Principal Cindy Kneibel, Athletic Director & Football Coach Dan Rohn,...more Athletic Assistant Sue Armstrong Front: Kendra Meyers, Track, Central Michigan; Caleb Steil, Bowling, Aquinas; Jalin Faison, Football, Ferris State; Andy Zimmerman, Football, Wayne State; Tony Brechting, Football, Michigan Tech; Mertzie Klein. Basketball, Grand Valley State.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Grand Rapids Police are tracking two men who tried to rob the Westside Party Store tonight.

Police were called to the business at 900 Walker Ave. NW just before 9 p.m. after one of the men hit the clerk with a bottle during the attempted robbery.  The injured...more clerk then pulled a golf club on the men, hitting them.  Police are tracking the two men at this time.

The clerk's injuries are minor.

Stay with WZZM13.com for updates on this developing story.

Is spring really on the way to Michigan?

Today David Pomper came into work reporting a Robin singing away in the shrubs just outside the front doors here at WZZM13.

Shortly after that Lucas Meschke arrived at work, so I asked him to go out and take a picture of the bird but...more the Robin just would not co-operate, instead, turning its’ back to Lucas. He got a shot but not as good as the picture I found to paste to this article.

This Robin gives us hope that spring cannot be far away.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. announces a second location opening for its newest retail concept – blue, a Goodwill boutique. Goodwill plans to open both blue boutiques in mid-April. The boutiques will be located at 974 Cherry in East Hills and in MoDiv at 40 Monroe Center...more in downtown Grand Rapids.

“The blue boutiques will offer new and upcycled merchandise in a hip eclectic setting,” says Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Jill Wallace. “Shoppers will enjoy a different Goodwill retail experience when finding unique items at the boutique locations.”

Both boutiques will be similar in the new design, features, and merchandise. New and gently used designer apparel, accessories, and home décor will be offered at the blue boutiques. Revenues from the boutiques will help fund job training, placement, and retention programs for individuals with barriers to employment in the Greater Grand Rapids area.

“If you’re shopping for the

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - All after school and evening events and activities at Union High School canceled due to water main break.

Grand Rapids Public Schools sent out the message at about 1:15pm.

We'll have more details if they become available.