Ottawa County child care provider’s license suspended following safety violations
ZEELAND, MI – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) has suspended the license of an Ottawa County child care provider following a complaint investigation. The investigation was conducted by the MiLEAP Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) at Carolyn DeBoer’s in-home daycare,...
Federal order to keep West Michigan coal plant open cost $29M in the first...
A U.S. Department of Energy order in May to keep a large coal-fired power plant along Lake Michigan operating past its planned closure date cost $29 million in the first five weeks. Consumers Energy parent company CMS Energy Corp. (NYSE: CMS), owner of the J.H. Campbell coal plant in West...
Michigan man sentenced for transporting explosives to Massachusetts
A judge on Friday sentenced the 31-year-old Grant, Michigan, man to three years in prison, according to federal officials.
Where Michigan Cities Rank on 2025’s Dirtiest Cities List
A new study aiming to determine "2025’s Dirtiest Cities in America" reveals some interesting insights into some of Michigan's biggest cities. Lawnstarter.com looked at data from the 500 biggest cities in the United States. The study considered more than a dozen factors, ranging from air and water quality to recycling...
Why Michiganders Are Hanging Detergent Bottles on Fences
Drivers in Northern Michigan may spot detergent bottles on fence posts. It turns out, there are several practical and quirky reasons behind this odd trend. Years ago, bottles on fence posts often signaled milk deliveries. Milk delivery declined in the 1970s as store-bought options became more common. I have seen...
Two hotels in Holland Township saw serious food safety violations in July
Each week, the Ottawa County Department of Public Health releases a round-up of recent safety inspections at restaurants, schools and other facilities. Adhering to proper safety practices is critical to preventing foodborne illness and promoting public health. The Holland Sentinel, in 2025, is publishing regular...
Grand Rapids firefighters help fish 2 portable toilets from Grand River
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Firefighters geared up for an unusual assignment Thursday, July 31. They were called to help fish two bright orange portable toilets from the Grand River near the Blue Bridge. It’s not clear how the toilets made it into the river, but they were near the river...
Two Dark Sky Parks Surprisingly Close To Grand Rapids
As sad as I am to say, I am not an astronomer. I did pass an astronomy class in college, if that counts for anything. But ultimately, like most people, I just really like looking at the stars. I grew up in the country, and we'd spend nights around the bonfire finding different constellations and watching for shooting...
Housing developments among 4 projects reviewed by Grand Rapids-area planners in July
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A housing development planned for a former school property in Grand Rapids is one of several projects that went before local planning commissioners in the area this month. The proposals went before Grand Rapids-area planning commissions and city leaders for various stages of planning and...
Road crews move tons of dirt to make hill with history of crashes safer
The Kent County Road Commission is on a tight timetable to finish a major project near Rockford, working to make a steep hill with a history of deadly crashes less attractive to thrill-seekers.
