Grand Rapids Local News - ABC News Radio

Michigan’s Oldest Lighthouse to Open to the Public Saturday

2012-05-18T17:46:48Z

(PORT HURON, Mich.) -- Michigan’s oldest lighthouse is slated to open to the public Saturday after four years and $700,000 in renovations.

The Detroit Free Press reports that the opening of the Ft. Gratiot Light, built in 1829, is expected to draw nearly 1,000 people to the mouth of the St. Clair River.

Tours of the second-oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes—behind Ohio’s Marblehead Light on Lake Erie—cost $5 per person.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

US Census: Michigan's Minority Population is Growing

2012-05-18T16:51:41Z

(DETROIT, Mich.) -- U.S. Census Bureau statistics released on Thursday show that the percentage of young minorities is increasing, The Detroit Free Press reports.

On April 1, 2010, the percentage of minority children under the age of 5 was 27.6 percent. On July 1, 2011, that number increased to 28.1 percent.

Wayne represents Michigan's only county that is mostly minority, at 50.2 percent. Saginaw comes in as the second highest minority population in the state, with 29.5 percent, according to The Free Press.

Across the country, the percentage of non-white and non-Hispanic children was 49.7, an increase from the 49 percent of the population in 2010.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Michigan's Teacher of the Year Announced

2012-05-18T12:25:48Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- The 2012-2013 Michigan Teacher of the Year was revealed on Thursday, and the winner hails from Grand Rapids.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan announced that the latest recipient of the award is Bobbi Jo Kenyon, a science and math instructor at Ottawa Hills High School. Kenyon is the first Grand Rapids public educator to be named Michigan Teacher of the Year, according to a release from the state's Department of Education.

"We honor Bobbi Jo Kenyon as Michigan Teacher of the Year for her outstanding work in the fields of math and science areas that are critically important for the technological age of today and jobs of tomorrow," Governor Rick Snyder said in a statement. "This award also highlights the tireless dedication teachers have for their students and profession, which benefits all Michiganders."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

New Survey Finds Mich. Residents More Optimistic About Finances

2012-05-17T18:31:54Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Michigan residents were reportedly more optimistc about their finances, according to a recent quarterly State of the State Survey from Michigan State University.

The Detroit Free Press reports that 54 percent of residents called their current financial situation excellent or good. The percentage is the highest recorded in the survey since 2005.

Fewer than 30 percent found their circumstances “just fair,” 10.1 percent said “not so good” and 6.6 percent said “poor.”

“The Michigan economy has added 150,000 jobs since the job market bottomed out at the end of 2009,” MSU economics professor and director of the survey, Charles Ballard, said. “The improvement in the economy is reflected in the brighter mood."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Michigan Teen Finds Piece of Finger in Arby's Sandwich

2012-05-17T17:36:53Z

(JACKSON, Mich.) -- A 14-year-old Michigan teen found a piece of a finger in his Arby's sandwich last week, according to a report in the Jackson Citizen Patriot.

Ryan Hart told the newspaper something in his sandwich tasted like rubber and was hard to chew. He spit the piece, which appeared to be the back of a finger about a quarter inch thick and an inch long.

Earlier, police said an employee at the restaurant, which is located on N. West Avenue in Jackson, had cut her finger on a meat slicer. The employee did not immediately report the incident, and Arby's kept serving food, according to the report.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Michigan's Unemployment Rate Continues to Fall

2012-05-17T12:17:42Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- According to a report released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget, the state's unemployment rate continues to decline.

The report states that in April, Michigan's unemployment rate stood at 8.3 percent, down 0.2 percent from March.

Officials say in April total employment in the state increased by 11,000, while the number of unemployed workers decreased by 8,000.

The national unemployment rate for April was 8.1 percent, down from 8.2 percent the previous month.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Budget Director: Mich. Has $300 Million Extra Revenue for 2013

2012-05-16T18:10:11Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Budget Director John Nixon announced Wednesday that Michigan lawmakers will have about $300 million additional revenue to work with as they draft the 2013 budget.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan is expecting to generate $113 million more in the School Aid Fund in 2012, and about $115 million more in the fund in 2013.

Michigan also anticipates gaining about $34 million more in the general fund in 2012, but about $65 million less in the fund in 2013, according to officials at Wednesday’s revenue-estimating conference at the state Capitol.

The 2013 budget is expected to be completed by June 1.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

New Parking Ticket Laws in Effect

2012-05-16T17:26:31Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- A new law that punishes drivers with three or more unpaid parking tickets went into effect in Michigan on Wednesday, according to The Detroit News. The state is hoping it will allow them to collect millions of dollars in unpaid fines.

Under the new regulation, the state of Michigan can deny the renewal or issuance of a driver's license if the driver has three or more unpaid tickets. The previous law allowed motorists to accumulate six tickets.

The report says drivers must pay a $45 clearing fee before receiving a new license.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Snyder Signs Legislation Lifting Cap on Cyber Charter Schools

2012-05-16T12:07:23Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation aimed at expanding educational opportunities for Michigan students on Tuesday, and allows for "education without boundaries."

The legislation gives students and parents more options to choose from, as it lifts the cap on the number of cyber charter schools and broadens eligibility for dual enrollment programs.

"Michigan students can now achieve a quality education without boundaries," Snyder said in a statement. "Empowering more parents and students with the option to enroll in cyber charter schools and attend college level courses increases not only their educational opportunities, but also their potential for success."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Group Calls for Michigan to Change Juvenile Sentencing Laws

2012-05-15T18:30:35Z

(LANSING, Mich.) -- An advocacy group called for Michigan to end its practice of sentencing juveniles to life in prison with no chance for parole on Tuesday.

The Detroit Free Press reports that the group, which partners with the Michigan ACLU, offered a report that shows Michigan’s laws for juvenile sentencing are drastically different than those in other states.

“To sentence someone to die in prison…for a crime they committed as a child, no matter how heinous that crime, is immoral, unethical and a violation of the fundamental tenets of all the world’s great religions,” Rev. Joe Summers, an Episcopal priest and a member of Second Chances 4 Youth, said.

There are 370 people in Michigan serving life sentences without parole for murders committed when they were juveniles—the second highest number in the nation.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio