KENT COUNTY

KENT COUNTY, MI — At EB Coffee & Pub, customers can unwind with a beer, coffee, tea or late, and enjoy a selection of house-made bake goods, breakfast sandwiches, and baked oatmeal. Containing four 12-ounce lattes, the flight offers coffee lovers an opportunity to sample a variety of coffee creations. “But it’s kinda meant to share.”EB Coffee & Pub, 8980 N. Rodgers Ct. That includes a Keto Egg Stack, Baked Oatmeal, Breakfast Quesadilla, a Breakfast Bagel, a Breakfast Burger, a Breakfast BLT, a Signature BLT, a turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich, and a signature BLT sandwich. Read more:“A major step forward:’ Proposed Grand Rapids amphitheater gets $30M in state budget deal‘We must do better:’ Hundreds gather in Grand Rapids to discuss neighborhood safety, other topics20-foot-tall Holocaust memorial sculpture dedicated at Meijer Gardens

KENT COUNTY, MI – A motorcyclist was critically injured Wednesday, June 29, in a collision with a sport-utility vehicle that pulled into his path. The crash happened around 6 p.m. on Lincoln Lake Avenue NE and Old 14 Mile Road in Kent County’s Oakfield Township. Police said the driver of a Jeep had stopped at the intersection before pulling out in front of the motorcycle, which was going south on Lincoln Lake Avenue. The motorcyclist could not avoid crashing into the Jeep, Kent County sheriff’s deputies said. Read more:Letter from the Editor: Every problem has solutions – even something as weighty as mental illnessBike belonging to Mackinac Island’s police chief stolen, found at party spot1 dead, 1 critically injured in head-on crash in Kent County

KENT COUNTY, MI – A man was killed and another critically injured Wednesday, June 29, in a head-on crash on Kalamazoo Avenue SE north of 76th Avenue. A 42-year-old Caledonia man died while a 29-year-old Alto man suffered life-threatening injuries. The crash was reported just after 8:30 p.m. on Kalamazoo Avenue at Crystal Springs Boulevard in Gaines Township, Kent County sheriff’s deputies said. The Caledonia man died at the scene. Kalamazoo Avenue was closed from 68th Street to 76th Street while police investigated and removed debris.

“If a case is brought in front of our clients, at least, they’ve indicated to us and the media that they’ll look at it,” said David Kallman, a lawyer with the conservative Great Lakes Justice Center. “And if the facts are there, they’ll charge, because the law is the law and it’s in effect.”

A Michigan man says he was “relieving frustration” by driving around at night and shooting into vacant fields when he illegally shot and abandoned several deer, a Michigan DNR investigation found.

Despite injunction declaring abortion still legal in Michigan, Christopher Becker is taking us back 100 years

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker says he will enforce the state’s 1931 law criminalizing abortion providers despite a court-ordered pause on doing so. And, he said, he would abide by whatever laws the state Legislature or voters pass later on. In the meantime, though, the 1931 law on the books is valid, he said. Michigan’s 1931 abortion law came under intense scrutiny and started to draw legal challenges in May when a draft majority opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court showing they would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked. On Friday, June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 5-4 measure, overturned Roe v. Wade.

He has also been charged with illegally taking snapping turtles, the DNR said. By Feb. 13, officers investigated 13 deer that had been shot and abandoned in the two townships. The tipster reported local rumors of Trout driving around over two to three nights, shooting deer from his vehicle. Additionally, Trout has been seen spearing and leaving snapping turtles on the shore. In Michigan, snapping turtles can be harvested from July 15-Sept. 15 using a trap or a hook and line.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Matthew Joling was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison Thursday for fatally stabbing Cody VanHouten at Appletree Estates mobile home park in Walker in November 2020. Speaking before Kent County Circuit Court Judge Curt Benson, members of VanHouten’s family said Joling forever damaged their family, taking a loving father away from his four children.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A family-owned flour mill in West Michigan announced $42 million expansion Wednesday that will add new jobs and increase production levels by nearly 45%. As those businesses have grown in recent years, the demand for King Milling’s flour has also grown, Patrick Doyle said. City leaders said the expansion will solidify King Milling’s presence in Lowell, where the company was founded in 1890. The expansion will increase King Milling’s production levels by 750,000 pounds of flour a day, from 1.7 million pounds to more than 2.5 million pounds a day. “This project – made possible in part by MDARD’s Food and Agriculture Investment Program – underscores King Milling’s commitment to Michigan.

State officials have determined that a 3-foot-deep military-style bunker surrounded by sand bags in a western Michigan game area was built by kids.

KENT COUNTY, MI - A nonprofit in Wyoming has received additional funding to keep providing musical therapy programs to West Michigan seniors. The nonprofit recently got a $6,000 grant from The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) that will help expand its Life Enrichment and Music Therapy program by increasing live performances and opportunities for engagement. Music has been shown to improve quality of life as well as mood, cognition and longevity for seniors, the nonprofit said. Sarah Dwortz, development director for Senior Sing-A-Long, said she and her colleagues work with about 60 senior living communities in West Michigan and nearly 70 musicians. When called on, the musicians are sent out to the respective senior communities to bring entertainment.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A woman died and four other people were hospitalized after they overdosed at a Cascade Township hotel, police said. A 32-year-old Florida woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Kent County sheriff’s deputies responded Monday, June 20, to Candlewood Suites Grand Rapids Airport, at 5401 28th St. Court SE, where five people were found unresponsive people in a room. Several of those involved were from out of state and in the Grand Rapids area for business, sheriff’s deputies said. Related:Device found along West Michigan road was homemade bomb, police sayHot spell length: There’s a reason why Michigan has country’s best weather this time of yearEx-police officer’s attorney ‘very confident’ jury will acquit in Patrick Lyoya murder case

Beer lovers now have a chance to celebrate the anniversary every Wednesday from June 29 to August 31. Those interested can enter the Experience Grand Rapids 10 years of Beer City USA contest. Winnings include a Grand Rapids beer experience, an overnight stay in a Grand Rapids hotel, two culture passes and a visa gift card.

A hiker warned officials about a mysterious bunker hidden about a mile hike into the Rogue River State Game Area in Kent County.

KENT COUNTY, MI - A pregnant woman and a man were listed in stable condition after a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-196 Sunday morning. The vehicle was exiting eastbound on Lake Michigan Drive but drove too fast and rolled into the curve, said Michigan State Police spokesperson Lt. Michelle Robinson. The pregnant woman was thrown from the passenger seat, but was conscious and alert at the scene, Robinson said. Both are stable, and injuries are not life-threatening, Robinson said. Lanes of eastbound I-196 after M-45 were closed after the crash and as MSP cleared the scene, but have since reopened.

KENT COUNTY, MI — Multiple underground natural gas leaks have prompted an evacuation request for residents and businesses in Oakfield Township, along 14 Mile Road NE, between Lappley Avenue and Wabasis Avenue. The evacuation was requested by the fire department after two houses caught fire, sparked when lightning struck a gas line, according to a statement from Kent County Emergency Management. DTE is on scene, and 14 Mile Road remains closed in the area. More on MLiveMichigan’s Father’s Day weekend weather goes from cool to perfect temps, one shot of rainStolen vehicles found in apparent chop shop operation in Calhoun CountyMichigan family heading to Pictured Rocks drives 200 millionth vehicle across Mackinac Bridge

KENT COUNTY, MI — Two houses in Kent County’s Oakfield Township caught fire after a gas line was struck by lightning on June 16. A stretch of 14 Mile Road, from Lappley Avenue to Wabasis Avenue, is closed due to the fire, according to the Oakfield Township Fire Department. The stretch or road will be reopened once the fire is resolved. Oakfield Township Supervisor Greg Dean said a lighting strike hit a tracer wire on a gas line, which caused the fire. The fire was reported at 5:07 a.m. and no injuries have been reported at this time, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Michigan’s attorney general is a job traditionally reserved for law enforcement, but Republican AG candidate Matthew DePerno says the office has a place in public education if he is elected. “They want control of their children’s education, and they want to have a say in their kids’ education. And state law gives them that right,” DePerno told reporters after meeting with the handful of parents. But at least three of the seven coalition members are also current or former Republican candidates in West Michigan. Boone is running for Kent County Commissioner this year.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A longtime Grand Rapids Public Schools administrator has been selected to serve as the new head of instructional services for the Kent Intermediate School District. Kent ISD supports 20 traditional school districts, 26 charter schools, and three non-public districts in Kent County, serving nearly 120,000 students. As assistant superintendent of instructional services, Gorman will oversee Kent ISD’s Early Childhood, School Improvement, and Teaching and Learning programs. “Ron Gorman truly believes in the great work happening at Kent ISD and has the background, community connections and vision necessary to help us continue and grow that work to lead us into the future,” Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Koehler said in a prepared statement. The Kent ISD also named Dave Rodgers, a school administrator from Northville Public Schools, as the ISD’s new assistant superintendent of human resources.

LANSING, MI -- A trip out for dinner led to a unbelievable lottery win for a 70-year-old Kent County woman who brought home a $349,733 Lucky 7′s Fast Cash jackpot recently. “I thought I was reading the ticket wrong when I saw I’d matched the number 55 to win the jackpot. For the latest on Michigan Lottery, check out the official Michigan Lottery site, which also offers more information on instant tickets, raffles and other lottery games. The last players from Michigan to win a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot is the Wolverine FLL lottery club which claimed a $1.05 billion jackpot in March 2021. If you’d like to be the next player from Michigan to win a huge lottery prize, take a look at these tips from lottery expert Richard Lustig.

KENT COUNTY, MI – With West Michigan under a heat advisory through late Wednesday, a number of cooling centers have opened in Kent and Ottawa counties. However, heat indexes for the region will make the temperature feel as hot as 100 to 104 degrees, weather officials say. Related: 3 levels of heat warnings now affect over 6 million in MichiganAll three cooling centers in Kent County are located in Grand Rapids. Matt Groesser, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said there likely would’ve been more cooling centers added to the list if last night’s storms knocked out power across the area. Degage Ministries, located at 144 S Division Ave., will keep its community center open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as a cooling center so long as temperatures remain above 90 degrees.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A teen’s bright orange hoodie and shoelaces helped lead to his arrest in a shootout after a graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High School. The shoelaces matched those Abdulwahab wore in a photo on his Facebook page, Kent County sheriff’s Detective Dustin Cook testified on Monday, June 13. Cook said anonymous tipsters suspected Abdulwahab’s involvement in the May 19 incident after Crossroads Alternative High School’s graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High’s football field. A 40-year-old woman who attended the graduation ceremony was seriously injured by gunfire. Related:One week after shooting outside East Kentwood High School, graduation goes smoothlyTeens allegedly tied to shooting outside high school graduation held on $100K bondShooter leaned from car window in ‘brazen’ gunfight after high school graduation

KENT COUNTY, MI - A 94-year-old Kentwood man died after a collision with another vehicle Sunday, June 12. The crash occurred at 9:08 a.m. at the intersection of Shaffer Avenue SE and Pfeiffer Woods Drive SE in Kentwood. Kentwood Police said the 94-year-old motorist was turning left onto northbound onto Shaffer Avenue from Pfeiffer Woods Drive, when he collided with a full-sized SUV traveling southbound on Shaffer. Kentwood fire personnel extricated the victim from his vehicle following the crash, police said. A 43-year-old man from Kentwood, who was driving the SUV, did not seek medical treatment at the scene, police said.

The Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head during a traffic stop on April 4 was arraigned Friday at 1:30 p.m. on a second-degree murder charge.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said Thursday, June 9, that his decision to charge a Grand Rapids police officer in the killing of Patrick Lyoya was not intended as a message to police or the community. It’s where the facts led, he said.

The Grand Rapids officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya in the back of the head during a traffic stop in April has been charged with second-degree murder.

Video of the encounter, in which an officer shot Lyoya in the head after a struggle during a traffic stop, sparked national outrage and calls for the officer to be charged.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County prosecutors have authorized a charge of second-degree murder against a Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed a motorist during a struggle. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker’s decision came more than two months after the April 4 shooting along a Southeast Grand Rapids street that put a national spotlight on Grand Rapids. BeIt involved a white Grand Rapids police officer, 31-year-old Christopher Schurr, and Black motorist, 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya. Related: Grand Rapids pastors call for federal investigation into Patrick Lyoya killingThe two fought over control of the Taser, which had been fired twice during the altercation. Related MLive stories:Black man’s fatal shooting by Grand Rapids police ‘very sad day for our city’Patrick Lyoya was working to turn around his life before police officer killed himOfficer Christopher Schurr went from college athlete to cop before killing Patrick LyoyaAt funeral for Patrick Lyoya, Rev.

Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker gave no hints Wednesday, saying only that he would disclose his “charging decision” at an afternoon news conference in Grand Rapids.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A new psychiatric hospital that would be able to accommodate up to 96 beds for patients suffering from a behavioral health crisis in Kent County has been given the go-ahead by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The new Southridge Behavioral Hospital, slated to open in Byron Center in 2023, received a certificate of need approval from the state this week, the last step needed before beginning construction, hospital officials announced this week.

The event will take place at the Michigan State Police sixth district headquarters in Grand Rapids. RELATED: Prosecutor to announce decision Thursday in officer’s fatal shooting of Patrick LyoyaThe case has been in Becker’s hands since late April, when state police submitted its investigation findings to the prosecutor. The traffic stop happened at 8:11 a.m. on Nelson Avenue SE north of Griggs Street. Once he had hold of Lyoya, Schurr told him to put his hands behind his back and to stop resisting. Protesters, including those who have disrupted Grand Rapids City Commission meetings, have also called for charges.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kent County is eyeing a host of changes to its animal control and animal shelter units, including potentially setting up a foundation for the shelter that people could donate to. The proposed changes recommended by county staff include:Moving operations and supervision of animal control from the Kent County Health Department to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Making the Kent County Animal Shelter a standalone department reporting to the county administrator, rather than the health department. “We are proud of the successes and quality services provided through our animal shelter and animal control functions,” Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg said in a memo to the Kent County Board of Commissioners on the recommendation changes. There will still be civilian animal control officers, and the animal shelter and animal control units, under the proposed arrangement, would still work collaboratively together.

We’re less than 24 hours away from the Kent County Prosecutor announcing whether they’ll charge the Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya after a traffic stop. The information in the case came in waves.

The Kent County Prosecutor is expected to announce whether the Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya was justified or whether charges are warranted.

KENT COUNTY, MI – State police continue to investigate a crash that killed two drivers on U.S. 131. The names of the victims have not been released. State police said that three vehicles were involved in a collision around noon Monday, June 6, on southbound U.S. 131 near 68th Street SE, south of Grand Rapids. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Related: Southbound U.S. 131 closed for fatal crashThe expressway was closed at 54th Street SE for several hours while police investigated and debris was removed.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Southbound U.S. 131 is closed south of M-6 after a fatal crash, state police said. The crash happened around noon Monday, June 6. Traffic on southbound U.S. 131 is closed at 68th Street SW, the Michigan Department of Transportation said. The southbound lanes are expected to be closed for some time. State police urged motorists to avoid the area.

Shannon Dale Verhage was just 11 months old when she disappeared.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Educators from across Kent County gathered this week for the Kent Immediate School District’s inaugural THRIVE! The May 30, Memorial Day event, focused on the health and well-being of teachers and other school staff, drew more than 100 people to the Kent ISD campus, 2950 Knapp St. NE, to celebrate their service to children in the community. According to Kent ISD, 134 school employees from Kent ISD and beyond participated in the free activities offered throughout May. Network 180, the county’s mental health authority, was among the many area organizations that supported THRIVE! wellness events making them free for educators and school staff.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kent County voters on Aug. 2 are being asked to renew the property tax that has provided seniors with additional services for the past 24 years. Voters will decide on renewing the Kent County Senior Millage for eight years, from 2023 to 2030, at the current millage rate of 0.50 mills. Using the county’s median property value of $201,500, Kent County Senior Millage Committee officials say the tax translates to a little less than $8.40 a month, or about $100.75 a year, for the average homeowner. Lody Zwarensteyn, co-chair of the Senior Millage Committee, detailed some of those services. About 130,000 seniors live in Kent County, according to the millage committee.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police on Wednesday, June 1, identified a Wyoming woman and her two children who were allegedly shot and killed by her boyfriend who then killed himself. Liliana Landa-Sanchez, 33, and daughters, Joelin Hernandez-Landa, 13, and Ayzy Hernandez-Landa, 11, were found slain early Tuesday in their home on Godfrey Avenue SE, just south of Burton Street. Police believe that Oscar Moran-Hernandez, 43, who had two children with Landa-Sanchez, shot the woman and her daughters. Related: 2 children among 4 dead in suspected murder-suicide in Kent CountyThree other children, ages 2, 5, and 9, were in the house but not physically harmed, police said. The couple were parents to the younger two.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Kent County prosecutors have authorized a “careless discharge” count against a 13-year-old boy who police say accidentally fired a gun and killed another 13-year-old. Gabriel Hojnacki, a student at Kenowa Hills Middle School, died in the shooting. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker on Tuesday said he had authorized a juvenile charge of careless discharge of a weapon causing death against the 13-year-old who fired the shot. Grand Rapids police, in a brief statement, said that “detectives believe the shooting to be accidental.”Kenowa Hills schools Superintendent Gerald Hopkins issued a letter to middle school parents about the incident. In the evening hours of May 28th, 2022, one of our middle school students, Gabe Hojnacki, died due to injuries resulting from the accidental discharge of a firearm,” he wrote.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A man suspected of fatally shooting his girlfriend and two of her children called a family member before shooting himself, police said. Wyoming Police Chief Kim Koster talks about a murder-suicide in which a man allegedly killed his girlfriend and two of her daughters. (John Agar| MLive.com)A family member of the suspect contacted authorities around 3:50 a.m. Tuesday after the suspect called, police said. The man and woman were parents of the two younger children, while the woman was the mother of the 9-year-old. The victims have been identified as Dawn Gillard, 40, and her children: Katelynn Gillard, 6, Ronald Gillard, 4, and Joshua Gillard, 3.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A man, woman and two girls were fatally shot early Tuesday, May 31, in a suspected murder-suicide in Wyoming, police said. The killings happened after a shooting in Mecosta County on Friday, May 27, in which police say that a 51-year-old shot and killed his wife and three children. The victims have been identified as Dawn Gillard, 40, and her children: Katelynn Gillard, 6, Ronald Gillard, 4, and Joshua Gillard, 3. The father is in critical condition after shooting himself, Mecosta County sheriff’s deputies said. Those killings happened on 180th Avenue south of Johnson Road in Mecosta County’s Austin Township.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Memorial Day weekend kicked off in Grand Rapids with the Baxter neighborhood’s mixer on a mild late May afternoon at Joe Taylor Park on Saturday. The Baxter Neighborhood Mixer was organized by Habitat for Humanity, the Urban League of West Michigan, Grand Rapids Cure Violence and Kenneth Cortez Productions. “We’re out here getting our new homebuyers to meet their new neighbors and just kick back and start off the summer,” said Jesenia Camacho, Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator of Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. This weekend’s event is the first of what is hoped to be an annual celebration at Joe Taylor Park. The Baxter Neighborhood Mixer is the first of three free events in the Baxter United Community Summer Series at Joe Taylor Park.

Frankie Regina McGraw has been missing for 48 years after escaping prison twice.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – At age 17, George David Payne was the youngest of seven U.S. Navy sailors from Kent County who were serving on the USS Indianapolis. They went missing and were presumed dead after the USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine in July 1945.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Investigators think that two men who crashed a stolen vehicle during a police chase are responsible for the killing of a man at a Byron Township ATM. Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young said the men, ages 20 and 22, are suspected in an overnight crime spree that includes the killing of Joseph Wilder, 50, of Kentwood. Grand Rapids police responded to a report of an armed robber, with shots fired, at a business on Leonard Street NW, near Seward Street. About an hour later, an Audi sport-utility vehicle was stolen from South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids. She said that the suspects are held at the Kent County Correctional Facility pending prosecutors’ review for charges.

KENT COUNTY, MI – The killing of a Kentwood man during an apparent robbery at an ATM was among a series of violent crimes overnight in Kent County. 10:36 p.m.: Kent County sheriff’s deputies respond to the fatal shooting in Byron Township. 11:35 p.m. An Audi sport-utility vehicle is stolen from the 700 block of South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids. 2:15 a.m. Grand Rapids police spot the stolen Audi and begin pursuit. Two Grand Rapids men – ages 20 and 22 – fled on foot but were captured by police.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Police identified Joseph Wilder, 50, of Kentwood, as the victim of fatal shooting during a suspected robbery at a bank’s ATM in Byron Township. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. near the Huntington National Bank automated-teller machine on South Division Avenue near M-6. Related: Man killed in apparent attempted robbery near ATM in Kent County, police sayA motorist reported hearing a gunshot and called police. Police have worked overnight on the investigation and asked anyone with information to call sheriff’s detectives at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer anonymously at 616-774-2345. Read more:Pair charged with homicide in shooting deaths of acquaintances, 16 and 19Dozens of road, sidewalk repair projects taking place this year in Grand Rapids‘No, bro, you’re dead,’ woman allegedly told boyfriend before fatal shooting

KENT COUNTY, MI –Kwan Winston Jr. was pleading for his life before his girlfriend said he was going to die, a witnesses said. Muhammad told police that he choked her in both previous incidents, the latest in mid-January. He heard Winston say twice, “‘Please, let me leave.’”Then, he heard “just the boom.”Everything went quiet. Wyoming police Detective April Kroschel testified that police interviewed Muhammad, with attorney Anthony Greene present, at the Kent County Correctional Facility after Muhammad turned herself in. Muhammad told police that she believed Winston was trying to kill her, the detective said.

The home, located at 8842 Beech Hill Court NE, is just minutes away from Ada village and listed for $1,695,000. (Photo provided by Lisa VanderLoo)Lisa VanderLooThe basement entertainment area inside 8842 Beech Hill Court NE listed for $1,695,000 in Ada, Michigan. (Photo provided by Lisa VanderLoo)Lisa VanderLooThe basement entertainment area inside 8842 Beech Hill Court NE listed for $1,695,000 in Ada, Michigan. (Photo provided by Lisa VanderLoo)Lisa VanderLooThe basement entertainment area inside 8842 Beech Hill Court NE listed for $1,695,000 in Ada, Michigan. (Photo provided by Lisa VanderLoo)Lisa VanderLooThe basement entertainment area inside 8842 Beech Hill Court NE listed for $1,695,000 in Ada, Michigan.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A Kentwood man was shot and killed late Tuesday, May 24, possibly after an attempted robbery at an ATM, sheriff’s deputies said. A motorist reported hearing a gunshot around 10:30 p.m. on South Division Avenue, south of M-6, in Byron Township. Kent County sheriff’s deputies found a 50-year-old man who was deceased in a pickup truck. Early investigation suggested the man was fatally shot after an attempted holdup at an automated-teller machine, police said. Read more:One person shot and killed near downtown Grand RapidsMab stabbed multiple times near Holland, critically injuredMemorial Day events planned in West Michigan for 2022

Two teens were arrested in Livonia on Friday and were in court on Monday, facing charges in a shooting outside of a graduation ceremony in Kent County that left two people injured.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Two teens allegedly tied to a shooting outside a graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High School were arraigned Monday, May 23, on felony charges. Kent County sheriff’s detectives on Monday released a screenshot of a surveillance video of those allegedly involved in the incident. The violent episode happened around 7:20 p.m. Thursday, May 19, after a graduation ceremony for 75 students of Crossroads Alternative High School, sheriff’s deputies said. East Kentwood High was closed the next day because it was a crime scene. Related:Two teens suspected in shooting outside high school graduation detained in Southeast MichiganShooter leaned from car window in ‘brazen’ gunfight after high school graduationGun battle between cars outside high school graduation ceremony injures teen and womanTwo people shot outside East Kentwood High School after alternative school graduationKentwood closes several schools after shooting outside graduation ceremony

KENT COUNTY, MI – A woman accused is set to spend years in prison after being sentenced for identity theft. Christina Marie Elder, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced to two to three-and-a-half years in prison last week by U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan Judge Jane Beckering. Elder pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of financial institution fraud. Related: Woman, 36, accused of stealing mail from Kalamazoo County addresses pleads guiltyTen other felony charges were dismissed as part of her plea agreement. Elder was accused of stealing outgoing mail from mailboxes in Kalamazoo County.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a young man who walked away from an adult-care home in Cedar Springs. Terry Sims, 19, left early Monday, May 23, from a home in the 400 block of East Muskegon Street. He was last seen wearing red plaid pajama pants and a T-shirt with no shoes. He is non-verbal and has the mentality of a young child, Kent County sheriff’s deputies said. Read more:Michigan House passes bill to reform state’s nursing home inspection requirementsPfizer says 3 COVID shots are needed to protect children under 5Shooting in Muskegon sends hospital into lockdown

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kent County officials want to hear from residents on how they should spend some of the $127.6 million in federal stimulus dollars they received last year. “Clearly this is a transformational moment in Kent County history and we want you to be a part of it,” said Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg. The first will take place Thursday, June 2, at the Kent County Health Department, 700 Fuller Ave. NE in Grand Rapids. Infrastructure: Investments in the infrastructure of Kent County and its future such as broadband internet, stormwater flooding mitigation (drains) and countywide mobility. Throughout June, July and August, county staff will review all proposals and ideas submitted and then forward them to the county board for review and consideration.

KENT COUNTY, MI – Surveillance video showed a gunman leaning out of vehicle in a “brazen” shooting outside of a high-school graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High School’s football stadium. Police released screenshots of video footage showing people rushing from the chaotic shooting scene, some dropping to the ground to avoid gunfire. She said the total number of shots fired was still under investigation but said there were “many, many, many.”Seniors at East Kentwood High School lost their last day of classes. The ceremony, for students of Crossroads Alternative High School, began at 6 p.m. and lasted 50 minutes. Related:Gun battle between cars outside high school graduation ceremony injures teen and womanTwo people shot outside East Kentwood High School after alternative school graduationKentwood closes several schools after shooting outside graduation ceremony

KENT COUNTY, MI – Several Kentwood Public Schools are closed Friday, May 20, after a shooting left two injured following a graduation ceremony at East Kentwood High School. These schools are closed Friday: Pinewood Middle School, East Kentwood High School Freshman Campus, East Kentwood High School, and Crossroads Alternative High School. All other Kentwood schools will be open. Related: Gun battle between cars outside high school graduation ceremony injures teen and womanSuperintendent Kevin Polston cited the ongoing investigation and active crime scene for closing the schools. A 16-year-old Texas boy suffered a wrist injury while a 40-year-old Grand Rapids woman suffered wrist and abdomen injuries.

Deputies with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a 16-year-old boy and 40-year-old woman were shot in a high school parking lot in Gaines Township just as a graduation ceremony was finishing.

The body of a toddler reported missing Sunday morning has been found in a western Michigan creek.

Police have found the body of a 1-year-old boy who went missing over the weekend in Kent County.

Police are searching for a 1-year-old boy who went missing Sunday in Kent County.

Patrick Lyoya, 26, died after being shot in the back of the head by a Grand Rapids officer on April 4.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy for Patrick Lyoya, the 26-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by a Grand Rapids police officer.

Former Detroit police chief Ike McKinnon has spent a lifetime in law enforcement. He walked Local 4 through the actions of that Grand Rapids police officer.

Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in the back of the head by a Grand Rapids police officer on April 4.

Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, was fatally shot in the back of the head by a Grand Rapids police officer on April 4.

The Grand Rapids Police Department released four videos that show one of its officers shooting and killing Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, during a confrontation earlier this month.

The Grand Rapids Police Department released four videos on Wednesday that show one of its officers shooting and killing Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Black man, during a confrontation earlier this month.

A jury in the trial against four men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer returned a mixed verdict.

A jury in the trial against four men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has returned a mixed verdict.

The jury is in deliberations in the case against four Michigan men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Prosecution gave closing arguments in the trial against four men accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The defense rested on Thursday in the trial of the four men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Top Michigan Republicans on Tuesday denounced a state House candidate over his remarks about rape, the latest in a number of controversial comments from the man who narrowly won a special GOP primary a week ago.

Tuesday is an election day in Michigan -- that is, if you’re a voter in one of four Michigan House districts with a special election race.

The latest COVID-19 variant omicron has now been identified in five counties across the state of Michigan, officials said Friday.

A teenager who told investigators that he mistook his brother for a deer has been charged with a gun crime.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a major toll on healthcare workers across Michigan and across the globe. The battle has been brutal and exhausting.

Michigan health officials have identified the state’s first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Kent County.

The following charts show confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in Kent County, Michigan dating back to January 2020.

Here is the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths per Michigan county since the pandemic started in March 2020.

Getting through the COVID pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone. One Michigan couple saw their dancing careers halted, but they managed to get through it together.

A health official in West Michigan said people have threatened his life because he issued a school mask mandate.

The wall has come tumbling down and you’ll hear a new word in amateur sports: NIL which stands for name, image, and likeness.

An invasive bug that could threaten Michigan’s Christmas tree industry has been discovered in the western part of the state.

The first local level data for the 2020 US Census was released this week, showing population growth and decline at the county level from 2010 to 2020.

Far right and controversial group, the Proud Boys, are expected to gather in west Michigan on Saturday.

First Lady Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Michigan on Thursday to promote the progress of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Livonia has been ranked in the top 15 of the most livable small cities in the nation. On the list of top 35, Livonia ranked No. The city of Wyoming in Kent County was ranked No. A study by SmartAsset compared nearly 300 cities with populations between 65,000 and 100,000 people across 11 metrics related to home affordability, job opportunity, healthcare accessibility, income equality and entertainment options. Earlier this year, the city of Detroit was recognized for Campus Maritus (USA Today’s 10Best Top Public Squares) and Detroit Riverfront (USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Spectrum Health launched an investigation into photos posted on Instagram from inside an operating room. It appears the photos were posted by a group of residents training at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Spectrum Health released the following statement to WOODTV:The privacy of patients and the confidentiality of their medical information is a priority at Spectrum Health. We were disappointed to learn that surgical images were posted on an Instagram account used by a group of residents and are taking steps to resolve this issue. The Instagram account has been closed and a full investigation is underway.

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. – A father has been charged in western Michigan after his 16-year-old son allegedly set off explosives Monday at Newaygo High School. According to WOODTV, Saylor was charged Tuesday in a White Cloud courtroom. His 16-year-old son brought explosive materials to school, which detonated. Michigan State Police troopers found explosive materials inside Saylor’s home and that his son told investigators that he had made explosives with his father and detonated them several times. More: Western Michigan News

A lot of the evidence in the trial was provided by key FBI informants. READ: How a post office worker became FBI’s inside man into terrorism plot against Gov. WhitmerAdThe FBI has named one of their key informants as Steven Robeson from Wisconsin. Attorneys for the men will argue the men were just talking about the plot and the FBI’s own informants helped train the men, allegedly pushing the plot forward. AdREAD: 19 details inside Whitmer kidnapping defendant’s guilty plea

ALPENA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Michigan man used a debit card with his name on it to break into a home, then left the card inside and was later arrested, police said. When troopers got to the woman’s house, they found the door had been forced open using a debit card. They said a damaged debit card with Tanner’s name on it was found at the scene. AdTanner was being held at the Kent County Jail on unrelated charges, according to police. He was arraigned from the Kent County Jail on Thursday (March 4) and charged with second-degree home invasion.

JACKSON, Mich. – Defense attorneys for Pete Musico, his son-in-law Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar -- who are accused of being involved in a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap or kill Gov. READ: Who are the Wolverine Watchmen? Thursday was day two of the hearing for the three members of the Wolverine Watchmen. AdThe defense attorneys used a series of different arguments Thursday. READ: Defense attorneys rebut FBI claims in alleged plot against Gov.

JACKSON, Mich. – Defense attorneys for Pete Musico, his son-in-law Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar -- who are accused of being involved in a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap or kill Gov. READ: Who are the Wolverine Watchmen? Thursday was day two of the hearing for the three members of the Wolverine Watchmen. The defense also portrayed the violent rhetoric about Whitmer as satirical and that their activities only escalated after an FBI informant got involved. It’s a similar defense to what was used by attorneys representing members of the Hutaree group in 2012.

JACKSON, Mich. – New evidence in the domestic terrorism plot to kidnap or kill Gov. READ: 3 men charged in domestic terrorism plot against Gov. READ: Who are the Wolverine Watchmen? RELATED: A look at group texts between suspects in terrorist plot against Michigan Gov. The man wanted out, but the FBI asked him to stay with the Wolverine Watchmen, wear a wire, record everything and risk his life.

JACKSON, Mich. – Attorneys for Pete Musico, his son-in-law Joseph Morrison and Paul Bellar -- who are accused of being involved in a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap or kill Gov. The attorneys are questioning the description of the Wolverine Watchmen as a terrorist organization. READ: Who are the Wolverine Watchmen? The FBI said they never heard of the Wolverine Watchmen until one of them created a Facebook Group. RELATED: A look at group texts between suspects in terrorist plot against Michigan Gov.