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GM workers get big bonus checks
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Feb 17, 2012 at 3:34 PM

WYOMING, Mich. (WZZM)- General Motors hourly workers will be receiving $7,000 profit sharing checks in a few weeks and stores will be ready.  ArtVan has a special promotion planned, cutting prices 65% and eliminating sales tax for GM employees.  Auto dealers are also expecting a boost, thanks...more to existing employee discount pricing.

In Wyoming,  DeVier Bryant says he'll probably take his family on vacation.  Penny Averill says her husband "has lots of plans" for the money.  They are two of the 427 hourly workers at the GM Components Holding plant on Burlingame.  It manufactures precise engine parts to improve fuel efficiency.

"Working hard to keep the plant open, keep the company viable - now we're reaping the benefits of all that," Bryant told WZZM 13 Friday near the end of his shift.  GM has invested $15 million in the plant over the past year, and added 16 jobs.  The nearly 70 year old plant has a bright future - it ships to 100 other plants all over the
Wyoming

Political Polling 101
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Feb 14, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Experts say the key to a good poll is acquiring a large random sample of likely voters who are willing to tell the truth.

Snyder budget details and reaction
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Feb 9, 2012 at 3:37 AM
The governor will take residents' questions just after he presents his 2012-13 budget proposal to lawmakers on Thursday.

State's most Republican county has no yard signs
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Feb 8, 2012 at 2:07 PM

HOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM)- No Michigan county is more Republican -- or turns out voters in greater percentages -- than Ottawa County. Yet, as the national Republican presidential spotlight turns to Michigan, candidate supporters have little ways to show their support.

At GOP headquarters...more in Holland, there were five Ron Paul yard signs and a few for Mitt Romney, without the stakes. It's the same situation in Kent and Allegan Counties.

"Now that we're relevant - it'll be easier for us to get stuff...I've made that request (from the campaigns)" said Faith Steketee, executive director of the Ottawa County Republicans.

No candidate visits have been announced for West Michigan, and none of the GOP contenders has aired TV commercials in the market.

At Russ' in Holland, Roger Lemmen, who's leaning toward Santorum, was happy that Michigan's presidential primary may matter after all. "I'm eager to have them come into Michigan - to hear them, to see
Holland / Zeeland

GR Fire Dept. to save money with smaller vehicles
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Feb 7, 2012 at 1:51 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- You've heard of the SUV.  Later this year, the Grand Rapids Fire Department will have QRV's - three of them.  They are Quick Response Vehicles, smaller, more agile equipment that require fewer people and will help the department save money.

Grand Rapids city...more commissioners Tuesday approved spending about $873,000 for the new equipment that Fire Chief Laura Knapp will pay for themselves in just over two years, with $21 million savings projected over the next 15 years.

The machines use two firefighters instead of three or four on traditional sized trucks.  Knapp says they are more flexible, and will allow the department to meet it's mandate of reducing it's budget by 10 percent.

The department is preparing for the year 2015, when a special public safety millage and a firefighting federal grant come to an end.

That will reduce the firefighting staff by 12 positions, Knapp said.
Grand Rapids Central, Grand Rapids North, Grand Rapids South, Grand Rapids West

New details emerge in pastor embezzlement case
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Feb 3, 2012 at 1:58 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Testimony began in Kent County District Court Friday in the embezzlement case against Reverend Arthur Pearson.

The preliminary examination revealed new details into charges against the West Michigan pastor who is accused of embezzling up to $100,000 from his...more church, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church.

The hearing will continue at another date after a full day of testimony.

The first person to take the stand was the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the church, Stephon Blackwell.

On Friday afternoon, Blackwell testified Pearson told him "that he took $20,000 dollars in 2010 for himself and $25,000 in 2011 for himself - that's what he told us what he took."

Blackwell says he and the board first noticed something was wrong when they sat down to do Reverend Pearson's annual evaluation in April 2010.

They noticed certain dates and signatures on Pearson's contract were whited out.

Blackwell says
Grand Rapids South

Local newspaper deliveries reduced this week
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Feb 2, 2012 at 4:38 AM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Subscribers to the Grand Rapids Press, Muskegon Chronicle and Kalamazoo Gazette will notice big changes this week.  

Friday will mark the first day the newspapers will go to a reduced home delivery schedule, delivered on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only.  ...more Daily printed editions will be available on newsstands and in vending machines.

Booth Newspapers, which publishes all three, is switching its focuses to delivering news on digital devices like cellphones, iPads and computers.  Booth has restructured into the MLive Media Group.  

Dan Gaydou, MLive Media Group's president, told WZZM 13 Wednesday, "This is exactly what we need to do today if we're going to respond to what the consumer wants, if we're to respond to what the public demands. These are the kind of steps we have to take because we have to be responsive on every platform."

Gaydou conceded he's received lots of calls and questions about the reduction in
Muskegon, Kalamazoo

WZZM 13's competitive eater takes on Crack Fry challenge
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Jan 28, 2012 at 8:02 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)-The Hopcat celebrated its fourth anniversary Saturday by issuing a challenge to patrons: finish as man of the restaurant's signature Crack Fries for a chance to win $500.

The previous record was nearly two pounds in less than six minutes. Dozens of people tried to...more break that record Saturday, including WZZM 13's own competitive eater, Peter Ross, who polished off two plates.

WZZM 13 caught up with Peter after the final fry was finished.

"Well it looks like we didn't win, place or show," he said. "It was harder than I thought it was going to be, but what the heck, we gave it a good shot. We had about 30 eaters here. I've never done the Crack Fries. I imagine they're good, but I certainly didn't taste them," he said with a laugh.

A new record holder did emerge from Saturday's contest. Patrick finished 1.975 pounds of Crack Fries.

The Hopcat's owners say they've served up 194,000 pounds of Crack Fries since the
Grand Rapids Central

Should employers be more felon friendly?
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Jan 26, 2012 at 1:00 PM

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- Jahuan McKinley has worked at Cascade Engineering for the past 18 months.  For 18 years before that, he was in prison, convicted of assault with intent to murder.

Many companies would not have hired him -- they would have had him check the box asking...more if he'd ever been convicted of a felony and immediately rejected him.

Cascade executives say they strive to be an Employer of Choice.   As such, they considers each candidate on their individual merits.   Applicants must disclose felonies, but it doesn't stop their job application like it would at many other employers.   It's a voluntary effort -- one it hopes other employers adopt.  

In Michigan, there's a movement afoot called the 'Fair Chance Coalition to Ban the Box.'   They hope the state will adopt a policy that removes criminal record disclosures on state employment application forms.

Miriam Aukerman of the American Civil Liberties Union is part of the
Ada / Cascade

Indian Trails Golf Course future considered
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Jan 24, 2012 at 12:47 PM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A consultant says it would take $500,000 to bring the city-owned Indian Trails golf course up to par.

That's the kind of money the cash-strapped city can't afford, so the consultant has offered some suggestions:

- partner with Kent County to operate the...more course

- cut it back to nine holes and establish a driving range

City commissioners took no action after hearing the report Tuesday, but city manager Greg Sundstrom said the ideas will be considered in the future.

The consultant showed pictures that showed how bad a shape the course is in, including a bridge at the 12th hole that has nearly washed away.

Citizen surveys show a majority of people want the city to be in the golf business.

Sundstrom told WZZM 13:"For whatever reason citizens highly value us having a golf course.  It's my job to make sure we can operate that golf course and not lose money."
Grand Rapids South

Grand Rapids hotels enjoy banner year
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Jan 24, 2012 at 12:45 PM


GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- The city and Kent County experienced a banner year in 2011 with continued growth in hotel performance, occupancy, and room revenue and record attendance at area attractions.

Experience Grand Rapids says Nashville, Tenn.-based Smith Travel Research, a...more leading provider of hotel performance data, reports that Kent County hotels earned $114.4 million in room revenue in 2011. Kent County hotels increased occupancy by nearly 7% and revenue per available hotel room by nearly 11%. Occupancy outpaced national and state growth in all of these categories.

"In an industry that has experienced its share of challenges throughout the past three years Kent County has maintained its momentum in the tourism market both nationally and statewide," said Doug Small, president of Experience Grand Rapids. "For the second consecutive year, Kent County reported double digit growth in hotel revenue and outpaced national and state growth averages in
Grand Rapids Central

Old GR schools may become apartments, parks
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Jan 24, 2012 at 2:29 AM

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) --- A developer Tuesday hopes Grand Rapids city commissioners support his plans to turn four former elementary schools into low to moderate-income apartments.

The 142 apartments would be in what used to be the Stocking, Eastern, Lexington and Oakdale elementary...more schools.  

City planners have already supported the plans. On Tuesday, city commissioners will set public hearing dates for the financing incentives required to make the project work.

A key part of the plan would also expand Grand Rapids' park space.    The playgrounds and green areas of the schools would be deeded over to the City of Grand Rapids and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.   They would maintain, operate and improve the open spaces as "public neighborhood parks in perpetuity."

They'd do so using reuse-incentives, with a part of the future tax proceeds captured in a fund dedicated to help pay for the park development.
Grand Rapids Central, Grand Rapids North, Grand Rapids South, Grand Rapids West

Obama ads to start in Michigan
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Jan 19, 2012 at 11:40 AM
President Barack Obama will began airing campaign commercials in Michigan and five other battleground states. It's the unofficial start to the full general election.

Further developments in murder case
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Jan 16, 2012 at 1:36 PM

UPDATE AT 3:45 P.M. (WZZM) -- Wyoming Police say the deadly shooting of a 28-year-old man actually occurred in Kentwood, and that the attack was not random.

Wyoming Police issued a news release Monday afternoon, stating that they determined the crime was not "a random act of...more violence," and that led them to discover the actual crime scene in the city of Kentwood.

Wyoming Police say they are now assisting Kentwood Police in the investigation.

Late Monday, Kentwood Chief of Police Richard Mattice told reporters,"I don't know that it was a premeditated case but it was a case that did involve criminal activity to begin with, meaning there was potential drug sale occurring at the time of the homicide."

Mattice would not say where the crime scene was.

Mattice noted the last murder to occur in Kentwood was two years ago this month.

Police have not released the victim's identity until all family members have been notified. They
Wyoming

West Michigan enjoys the first snow
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Jan 13, 2012 at 12:47 PM
At mid-day, there was still plenty of untracked powder at one of Grand Rapids' most popular sledding hills, Richmond Park.