US Supreme Court won't hear Lake Michigan beach case

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from Indiana residents who want to extend their property rights to the state's Lake Michigan shoreline.

Today at 7:00 AM

Black Labrador retriever Griffin celebrates his first birthday in Holland's 58th District Court on Wednesday. Griffin is a court advocate and calms children who have to testify when they're victims of a crime. Feb. 13, 2019

courts

Ottawa County courts' canine advocate turns 1

On Wednesday, court staff at Holland’s 58th District Court met Griffin, celebrating his first birthday (which was Feb. 6) with a party and cupcake-eating competition.

Feb 16, 2019 at 6:00 PM

courts

Ottawa County’s only juvenile lifer to be resentenced

The three-day hearing is scheduled for April.

Feb 16, 2019 at 10:30 AM

This shows some of the items recovered through the multi-agency law enforcement operation that led to the conviction of Alex Alberto Castro.

courts

Drug trafficking kingpin sentenced to 42 years

Alex Alberto Castro was the lead defendant of a 20-defendant drug conspiracy that began in 2013 and continued until all of them were arrested in 2017. He was sentenced this week in federal court in Grand Rapids.

Feb 14, 2019 at 7:05 PM

courts

Mother of murder victim wants police investigated, fired

Rosemarie Reilly was killed Nov. 6, 2016, by Jeremy Kelley, whom she had taken out a personal protection order. Her family is now suing several Ottawa County and GVSU officers.

Feb 6, 2019 at 2:00 PM

Lawyers for Bradenton Tropical Palms have threatened to file suit against Millie Frances, 85, a Bradenton, Florida, woman, over a painting of the Virgin Mary on the front of her mobile home.

Religion

Trailer park pressures resident to remove Virgin Mary painting

A legal battle is brewing over a portrait of the Virgin Mary that an 85-year-old devout Catholic woman commissioned to replace a window on her Florida mobile home.

Jan 27, 2019 at 10:00 AM

courts

Man admits to prostituting high school girl sent on 'sex dates'

A man accused of prostituting teenage girls in Kent and Muskegon counties has pleaded guilty to a federal sex trafficking charge involving a 16-year-old who was given cocaine and sent on approximately 20 “sex dates.’’

Jan 21, 2019 at 9:00 PM

Grand Haven State Park attendants enjoy the beach on July 13, 2018.

courts

US Supreme Court may decide public’s access to Great Lakes’ shorelines

As about 100 spectators gathered on a stretch of southern Lake Michigan shoreline in Long Beach, Indiana, last August to watch the Great Lakes Grand Prix boat races, they encountered something unexpected: A private security guard and a nearby lakefront property owner telling them they had to leave.

Jan 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM

courts

Holland-area man charged in West Michigan crime spree

A 40-year-old Holland-area man has been charged with a string of property thefts from vehicles in business parking lots throughout West Michigan.

Jan 15, 2019 at 8:06 PM

Providence Life Services, which owned Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Zeeland, was being sued by certified nursing assistants for racial discrimination. The lawsuit was recently dismissed.

courts

Racial discrimination case against Zeeland health care facility dismissed

The lawsuit was filed by seven black, female certified nursing assistants who claimed they were racially discriminated against while working at Providence Healthcare.

Jan 15, 2019 at 9:00 AM

courts

Robinson Township man gets 90 years for molesting children

KALAMAZOO — A former foster parent and Big Brother from Robinson Township will spend 90 years in prison for molesting three boys under his supervision, a federal judge decided Monday.

Jan 14, 2019 at 8:10 PM

courts

Ottawa County man who kidnapped, assaulted woman gets life sentence

A West Michigan man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman after burglarizing her suburban Chicago home has been sentenced to life in prison.

Jan 12, 2019 at 10:00 AM

courts

Jared Chance heads to trial for murder, dismemberment

A Kent County judge heard testimony from more than a dozen witnesses on Friday before ruling there was enough evidence to move the case to Circuit Court.

Jan 12, 2019 at 7:00 AM

Dr. David Start testifies at Friday's preliminary examination in Ottawa County District Court that the head injuries revealed in the victim's autopsy were consistent with the head "acceleration and deceleration rapidly." Jan. 11, 2019.

courts

Toppen bound over for trial on child abuse, murder charges

Cameron Toppen, 19, is accused of causing a brain injury when he shook his girlfriend’s 8-month-old child in a Grand Haven Township home Nov. 15, 2018.

Jan 11, 2019 at 4:59 PM