The WGHN Newsroom
Local/West Michigan/National
VanWoerkom Announces 2024 Re-Election Campaign
Norton Shores, Michigan - Representative Greg VanWoerkom announced his bid for re-election to the Michigan House Representatives for the 88th District. The 88th State House District encompasses Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, and Norton Shores, along with the townships of Crockery, Grand Haven, Olive, Port Sheldo...
5h ago
Stage 1 of Ferry Street Water Main Project starts Monday
Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) - The City of Grand Haven will begin Stage 1 of the Ferry Street Water Main Project will begin on Monday,April 1st, with the temporary closure of the intersection at Ferry Street and Grant Avenue. The intersection is anticipated to re-open to traffic by May 1, 2024. During this timeframe, the int...
5h ago
Detroit Tigers Unveiling Upgrades To Comerica Park
(Detroit, MI) - The Detroit Tigers will unveil a new videoboard at Comerica Park with their home opener on April 5. The board is now the second largest in Major League Baseball behind the Mets. The stadium also received an upgraded sound system in the of season and new HD TVs on the concourse. President and CEO of Ilit...
6h ago
Joseph Novak / CC
Holtec Gets $1.52 Billion Loan From Government To Restart Palisades
(Covert Township, MI) - The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding Holtec International a one-point-52-billion-dollar loan to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert Township. The announcement came during a visit to Palisades by Energy Secretary and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and current Mich...
6h ago
Nuclear Regulatory Commission / CC
Central Park Players Unveils the 2024-2025 Season
Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) - Today is World Theatre Day and Central Park Players in Grand Haven recently held their first t ever volunteer appreciation night.to celebrate the many volunteers who make what they do possible. During this event, they acknowledged the hard work from everyone who comes together to make our sho...
Mar 27, 2024
Grand Haven Man Dies of Injuries, Police Seeking Tips
Holland, MI (WGHN) - A Grand Haven man who was injured when he was thrown from the hood of a vehicle on Monday has died. The Holland Department of Public Safety have identified the man as Robert Baltazar Leon. Injuries occurred at an incident in the parking in a Wendy's restaurant on 16th St. in Holland. Police say Leo...
Mar 27, 2024
dogulove / CC
City Wants To Redevelop Chinook Pier
(Grand Haven, MI) - The City of Grand Haven is looking to redevelop the historic Chinook Pier. Those who support the redevelopment of the pier say it will benefit local residents and businesses as well as the millions of tourists who visit the area each year. The city is accepting proposals through mid-April and if app...
Mar 27, 2024
First Responders Say They Are Ready For Challenges With Closure Of US-131
(Grand Rapids, MI) - At 5 p.m. Sunday, northbound US-131 will be closing for a month at 28th Street and create issues for thousands of drivers. Among them are first responders, and firefighters are warning it could impact response times. Grand Rapids Fire Department Captain Bill Smith says drivers need to be mindful an...
Mar 27, 2024
Eric Norris / CC
Energy Secretary Granholm Tours Holland's LG Energy Solutions Plant
(Holland, MI) - U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has toured Holland's LG Energy Solutions electric vehicle battery plant. The former Michigan governor touted the Biden administration's focus on making electric vehicles affordable for people and made by American workers. LG Energy is in the middle of a three-bill...
Mar 27, 2024
Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine
Two Farms Protect their Legacy through the Farmland Preservation Program
West Olive, MI - In a great stride for the Ottawa County Farmland Preservation Program, two local farms, the Holstege and Jongekrijg farms in Zeeland Charter Township, have permanently protected the future of their land for generations to come. Their decision to create agricultural conservation easements ensure 131 acr...
Mar 26, 2024
MDOT Public Meeting on Upcoming Project for I-196
ZEELAND, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is hosting a public meeting today at 4 p.m. on this year's project to rebuild the I-196 Business Loop (BL) between US-31 and I-196. MDOT is investing approximately $17 million to rebuild 4.5 miles of eastbound and westbound I-196 BL from US-31 in Hollan...
Mar 26, 2024
Kate Ter Haar / CC
Grand Haven Man thrown from car during argument with wife
Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) - A Grand Haven man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after being thrown from the hood of a car during an argument with his wife, police say. The Holland Department of Public Safety says around 12:30 p.m. Monday first responders were called to a Wendy's parking lot off of 16th Stree...
Mar 26, 2024
Raffi Asdourian / CC
Severe Weather Spotter Training
WEST OLIVE, MI (WGHN) - Ottawa County Emergency Management, in partnership with the National Weather Service and Kent County Emergency Management, will be hosting a severe weather spotter training on March 28, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30p.m. at the Hudsonville High School Auditorium located at 5155 32nd Ave., in Huds...
Mar 26, 2024
Muskegon Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting 13-Year-Old Girl
(Ottawa County, MI) - A Muskegon man is facing federal charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Ottawa County girl. Brandon Lee Chase was arrested January 16th and the girl reportedly told police the abuse started when she was eleven and continued until last September. She said the abuse had happened at ...
Mar 26, 2024
Douglas Palmer / CC
Ski Businesses Suffer Very Short Season
(Grand Rapids, MI) - The warm winter caused west Michigan ski businesses to have a very short season this year. Cannonsburg Ski Area in Cannon Township was only open for 43 days, and Danielle Musto says they lost over a million dollars and had to let go 15 to 20 full-time employees. "It was just really hard in gen...
Mar 26, 2024
bigbirdz / CC
Tickets Difficult For NCAA Hockey Tournament
(Kalamazoo, MI) - College hockey fans of Western Michigan, Michigan State, and the University of Michigan are having a tough time getting tickets. The three schools are playing in the NCAA tournament regional in suburban St. Louis, Missouri at an arena with just 25-hundred permanent seats and three-thousand-148 capacit...
Mar 26, 2024
Storms Today Have Chance For Tornado
(Lansing, MI) - Storms today have the chance of producing tornadoes in the Lower Peninsula. The National Weather Service says possible severe storms could pop up from noon to 7 p.m. and wind gusts could be up to 60-miles-per-hour. NWS meteorologists say the chance for tornadoes remains low, but is still there. Get the ...
Mar 26, 2024
rbeard113 / CC
MDHHS launches application tracker to allow Michiganders to easily monitor benefits status in MI Bridges
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is announcing the release of a new function to the MI Bridges website where Michiganders apply for benefits like Medicaid, food assistance and more. The new application tracker will allow residents to follow the progress of their benefits app...
Mar 25, 2024
Rep. Scholten Announces $8.6M Grant to Gerald R. Ford International Airport
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Today, Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), a member of the prestigious House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) will receive $8.6 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund safety and efficiency improvement. This fundi...
Mar 25, 2024
Ottawa County Department of Public Health Recommends Precautions for Measles
Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) - Spring break season is here, and many of you will be traveling, possibly to locations currently experiencing measles outbreaks. There are not yet any reported cases of measles in Ottawa County, but as of March 14, 2024, 58 measles cases have been reported by 17 jurisdictions, including three ...
Mar 25, 2024
Water Quality Forum Set to Address Local Surface & Groundwater Topics
Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) - To bolster awareness and foster community engagement in safeguarding our water resources, the Ottawa County Water Resources Commissioner, Joe Bush, has announced the Eighteenth Annual Water Quality Forum. Taking place on April 12, this forum delves into critical issues surrounding groundwater...
Mar 25, 2024
Mike Steele / CC
Grand Haven Science Olympiad to Compete in State Tournament
Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) - The Michigan Science Olympiad Region 12 tournament was at GVSU yesterday. Grand Haven HS got 1st place in Division C. Lakeshore Middle School got 2nd place, and White Pines Intermediate School got third place in Division B. All three teams will compete at the state tournament at Western Michiga...
Mar 25, 2024
Gas Prices Ease Seven-Cents
(Dearborn, MI) - Filling up is a little more affordable in Michigan. Triple-A Michigan says the price at the gas pump is down seven-cents from last week to three-dollars-57-cents a gallon, 32-cents more than last month and 18-cents more than last year. Jackson has the highest prices in the state at three-68, and Traver...
Mar 25, 2024
Jason Rojas / CC
Ottawa County Population Saw Continued Growth in 2023
Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) - The US Census Bureau has released the 2023 county population estimates. With a population of 303,372, Ottawa County saw an increase of 2,454 people from 2022. The gain results from an estimated natural increase of 840 people and a positive net migration of 1,616 people. Since 2020, Ottawa Cou...
Mar 25, 2024
SurFeRGiRL30 / CC
MSRA Identifies 1886 Shipwreck Of Milwaukee Off Coast Of Holland
(Holland, MI) --The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association has positively identified a shipwreck found in June 2023 off the coast of Holland as the steamship Milwaukee. The ship was lost in 1886 and was found using side-scan sonar last year. The MSRA used cameras to confirm its identity and says it is in very good con...
Mar 25, 2024
Grand Haven Residents Say Woman Plowed Through Neighborhood
(Grand Haven Township, MI) - The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says a 38-year-old woman is hospitalized after hitting homes, mailboxes, and fire hydrants Wednesday. She hit three homes and destroyed at least four mailboxes in at least two areas of Grand Haven Township. "I heard what sounded like a garbage truck s...
Mar 22, 2024
Eric Norris / CC
9 Michigan State Blows Out #8 Mississippi State
(Charlotte, NC) - Michigan State is advancing in the NCAA men's basketball tournament after blowing out Mississippi State in the first round of the West region 69-51 in Charlotte. Tyson Walker led all scorers with 19 points for the Spartans. Jaden Akins chipped in with 15 points and seven rebounds. Number nine MSU will...
Mar 22, 2024
AG Nessel Wants Line 5 Case In State, Not Federal, Court
Cincinnati, OH) - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati to return the lawsuit over Enbridge Energy's Line 5 oil pipeline to state court from federal court. She made her case yesterday in Ohio, and says the 70-year-old pipeline needs to be shut down. Enbridge re...
Mar 22, 2024
PRSA-NY / CC
Winter Weather Advisory In Place For Part Of West Michigan
(Grand Rapids, MI) - Much of west Michigan is under a winter weather advisory today with three-to-seven inches of snow in the forecast. Grand Rapids is in the area that is projected to get the seven-inches, while Kalamazoo north of Interstate 94 can expect to see an inch to three inches. South of I-94 will get about an...
Mar 22, 2024
Lane Closures on US-31 today
Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) - The Michigan Department of Transportation will be working in the area today. Lane closures for road work are in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on northbound US-31 from M-45 (Lake Michigan Drive) to Warner Street. The work is weather dependent. Sign up for email from MDOT: Follow MDOT's Grand Re...
Mar 21, 2024