7:12 AM Jul 22, 2011
Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south-southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Tonight: A 40-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. West-northwest wind at around 4 mph.
7:10 AM Jul 22, 2011
NFL owners have voted in favor of a tentative agreement to end the lockout, pending player approval. Thursday's ratification came after a full day of meetings at an Atlanta-area hotel, where team executives pored over the terms of the deal. Players still have to sign off on the deal. They didn't vote on a full pact Wednesday because there were issues that had not been resolved. They plan to have a conference call later Thursday. The four-month lockout is the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987.
7:09 AM Jul 22, 2011
The Detroit Pistons will offer Lawrence Frank their coaching position within two days, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the team isn't commenting on its search. The offer was first reported by Yahoo! Sports. The Pistons fired John Kuester on June 5 after the team missed the playoffs each of his two seasons as coach.
5:32 PM Jul 21, 2011
The state appeals court has ruled in favor of a man who accidentally struck a young Muskegon County girl in the face with a softball during practice. Emily French lost at least four teeth and had her jaw wired shut after being hit by a line drive while on the pitcher's mound in 2008. She was 10 at the time. John MacArthur was a parent volunteering at practice. He was trying to hit the ball to the outfield, but hit Emily instead.
2:00 PM Jul 21, 2011
Pastor Dawn Jones says she knows the pain and shame of being sexually abused, and she wants to share her story with those who may have a loved one who has been there. Jones and author Cecil Murphey will present "When Someone You Love Was Abused: A Conference About Healing and Hope' from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Resurrection Life Church. The church is at the northeast corner of U.S. 31 and Lincoln Street. The event is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. A continental breakfast and snacks will be served.
1:56 PM Jul 21, 2011
The eastern corner of Beechtree Street and Fulton Avenue will soon have a new look. Permits have been issued for the demolition of the old Eagle Ottawa Leather Co. facility, and crews have begun the process of bringing heavy equipment to the site to begin work, Grand Haven City Planner Kristin Keery said. "They got the go-ahead and clearance from the city,' Keery said. Spring Lake-based Wachter Excavating is the company handling the demolition of the facility.
1:00 PM Jul 21, 2011
A collaborative agreement to study fleet maintenance service among five Northwest Ottawa County communities will be sent to the Michigan Municipal League for possible grant approval. However, an agreement for police/fire collaboration remains on hold, as it has not received complete support.
12:10 PM Jul 21, 2011
Thirty-eight-year-old Walter Wojahn left his grandfather's house in the Grant area about 11 a.m. Saturday to drive to his job at Sintel Inc. in Spring Lake Township. Family members in the area said they have not heard from him since. "He didn't show up for work Saturday,' said his step-brother, Harry Wojahn of Nunica. "He didn't call his daughter. He didn't call his grandfather, or his mother who he helps care for.'
11:22 AM Jul 21, 2011
For a 17th year, young dancers are spending two weeks at Hope College to advance their artistic talent through the International Summer School of the Cecchetti Council of America. The summer school will culminate with two concerts on Saturday - at 10:30 a.m. and noon - at the Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 E. Eighth St. in downtown Holland. The public is invited to the concerts and admission is free.
11:16 AM Jul 21, 2011
Authorities said a Muskegon County man who bought the contents of a storage unit found that his purchase included a live hand grenade. The man found the grenade inside a handgun case and promptly took it Wednesday afternoon to the Egelston Township Fire Department. A bomb squad was called to dispose of the grenade. No injuries were reported. Deputy Fire Chief Dan Willea said the man had the grenade in his car, and showed it to firefighters after telling them he had something they were going to want to see.
11:08 AM Jul 21, 2011
A Hudsonville man was injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning on Adams Street, west of 60th Avenue, according to Sgt. Steve Austin of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. Kevin Lakowski, 33, was in critical condition with severe lower extremity injuries following the 7 a.m. accident, Austin said. He was airlifted by West Michigan Aircare to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Lakowski was in serious condition today, a hospital spokesperson said.
11:02 AM Jul 21, 2011
The Tri-Cities community can come celebrate the history and heritage of the U.S. Coast Guard this weekend during an annual picnic at Coast Guard Park in Ferrysburg. The Coast Guard Community Picnic celebrates 221 years of U.S. Coast Guard service. It will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the park, located off North Shore Drive, and concludes at midnight. Ferrysburg City Clerk Debbie Wierenga said there was a rain storm during the morning portion of the 2010 picnic.
10:56 AM Jul 21, 2011
A new vocal talent show mirrored after the hit TV show "American Idol' will kick off a week of entertainment during the 2011 Coast Guard Festival. "Hometown Idol' will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Waterfront Stadium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the stadium's gate. The event gives local residents an opportunity to compete in three age categories as they sing "crowd-appropriate' tunes for cash prizes, said Coast Guard Festival Executive Director Mike Smith.
10:54 AM Jul 21, 2011
A basic fundamental drill in soccer has proven to be a beneifical fundraiser for the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital - thanks tot he Tri-Cities Strikers U-10 girls soccer team.
10:42 AM Jul 21, 2011
The Berlin Fair opened Monday and runs through Saturday. The fairgrounds are at 2008 Berlin Fair Drive in Marne, off exit 23 of Interstate 96 between Grand Rapids and Muskegon. For more information, call 616-677-1140 or visit www.berlinfair.org. Here is the schedule for the rest of the week, subject to change: TODAY, JULY 21