Grand Rapids
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at Steelcase in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Monday, May 24, 2021. It was the first day Steelcase is having many of their employees back in the office since the coronavirus pandemic started, thanks to the new MIOSHA rules that changed today, allowing non-essential workers to come back to offices. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Michigan loosens COVID-19 workplace mask, distancing rules

By David Eggert May. 24, 2021 12:10 PM EDT

Grand Rapids-area schools can make own quarantine policies

May. 07, 2021 03:58 PM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Schools in some of western Michigan's largest counties can make their own COVID-19 quarantine policies, local health departments...

Muskegon Orchard View's Barnes wins AP D2 Player of the Year

By Scott Decamp Apr. 28, 2021 08:25 AM EDT
MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) — Life has not been easy for Ke’Ontae Barnes, but the 18-year-old senior at Muskegon Orchard View has learned some virtues along such as...

This 2021 photo provided by Bridgette Griffin shows her and her daughter, Aubrey Faith Griffin, on Aubrey's third birthday at their home in Atlanta. Griffin, adopted Aubrey from foster care and been a foster parent to many other children, including teenage girls and babies. Though she thrives on being a foster mom, she sees traces of racism ingrained in the child-welfare system. "You see the difference in the courts - two kids coming in for the same type of neglect,” she said, “The judge looks at them differently, the social workers deal with them differently. There’s more sympathy for the white parents, unfortunately. ... It’s not fair.” (Bridgette Griffin via AP)
Many say now is the time to fight racial bias in foster care

By David Crary Apr. 14, 2021 12:24 PM EDT

DTE Energy Foundation grants help provide meals to families

Apr. 05, 2021 07:28 AM EDT
DETROIT (AP) — More than $100,000 in grants have been awarded by the DTE Energy Foundation to help provide meals for Michigan families facing food insecurity...

Wrestlers win court orders to compete in Michigan finals

Apr. 02, 2021 11:04 AM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — At least six Michigan high school wrestlers won court orders to compete in the state finals this weekend, a lawyer said Friday. ...

Officials: Travel numbers rising at western Michigan airport

Apr. 02, 2021 09:36 AM EDT
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The numbers of people using a western Michigan airport are approaching levels prior to the start of restrictions put in place...

In this March 8, 2021, photo, sitting on her porch, in Mankato, Minn., Jaci Lageson explains why she supports compromises President Joe Biden made with conservative Democrats to win passage of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Biden carried Blue Earth County, Minnesota, where Republican Donald Trump won in part due to heavy support for the Democrat in Lageson's precinct in this small, Midwestern city. (AP Photo/Tom Beaumont)
Democrats finding support for Biden in small-city America

By Thomas Beaumont Mar. 13, 2021 07:41 AM EST

Schools close, virus vaccinations postponed due to snowfall

Feb. 16, 2021 11:28 AM EST
DETROIT (AP) — Heavy snow has forced the closure of dozens of schools, shut down some city services and even postponed COVID-19 vaccinations in a number of...

Virus, compressed season put stress on Michigan referees

Feb. 08, 2021 12:12 PM EST
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — High schools are anticipating a shortage of men and women who blow the whistle as basketball returns to Michigan gyms after a...

'I'm like shaking': Woman gives $1,000 tips to food workers

Feb. 05, 2021 10:32 AM EST
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A woman has been handing out $1,000 tips to stunned restaurant workers in the Grand Rapids area. Inspired by a...

Students raise enough money to help a family with a home

Jan. 10, 2021 10:27 AM EST
ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Students at a Grand Rapids-area high school have raised enough money to help a family acquire a home. Forest...

FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2020, file photo, provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich. Gov. Whitmer will strongly encourage all K-12 schools in Michigan to reopen for in-person instruction by March 1, 2021, as the state starts offering the coronavirus vaccine to teachers. Two education officials briefed on the governor's planned announcement spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity ahead of a Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 afternoon news conference.(Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, File)
Whitmer: Schools should offer in-person classes by March 1

By David Eggert Jan. 08, 2021 11:57 AM EST

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Welch poses for a photo in the Supreme Court Chambers in Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 29, 2020. Justice Welch made her public debut Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, as the Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments in five cases. (Dave Trumpie via AP)
Michigan Supreme Court opens year with new justice

Jan. 06, 2021 12:27 PM EST

Whitmer vetoes Meijer tax break, deferment of property taxes

By David Eggert Jan. 05, 2021 03:20 PM EST
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pocket vetoed proposed tax breaks for retail chain Meijer and separate legislation that would have let certain...

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2020 file photo, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx speaks during a news conference in Chicago. In Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and even smaller Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Milwaukee, 2020 has been deadly not only because of the pandemic, but because gun violence is spiking. "The COVID crisis and the economic shutdown is forcing people into their homes, creating conditions where people are more volatile," said Foxx. (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
As COVID-19 ravages US, shootings, killings are also up

By Corey Williams Dec. 28, 2020 11:09 AM EST

Workers at 2 Michigan hospitals first to get virus vaccine

Dec. 14, 2020 05:10 PM EST
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Frontline health care workers at two Michigan hospitals have become the first in the state to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. ...

Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)
COVID-19 vaccine shipments begin in historic US effort

By Martha Irvine And Morry Gash Dec. 13, 2020 01:00 AM EST

Cities ask legislators to ensure non-residents pay taxes

By David Eggert Nov. 30, 2020 11:17 AM EST
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan mayors on Monday asked the Legislature to act quickly to ensure two-dozen cities collecting income taxes do not lose revenue...

Michigan's largest county suspends jury trials until January

Nov. 03, 2020 10:19 PM EST
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan's largest county is postponing jury trials until January. Coronavirus cases are on an “upward spiral,” making it...