Lead
Community Updates: Friday, August 25
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 08-25-2023 under NEWS
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants Kent County, City of Grand Rapids funding for lead programs On Aug. 17, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would be dispersing...
Community Updates: Friday, June 23
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 06-23-2023 under NEWS
The City of Grand Rapids, Kent County Health Department, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to Offer Free Water Filters to Eligible Kent County Households In a press release that was sent out on Wednesday, the Kent County Health...
Community Updates: Friday, January 27
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 01-27-2023 under NEWS
Grand Rapidians Continue to Express Frustration Over Lack of Affordable Housing in the City at Tuesday's City Commission Meeting Two weeks ago, the Grand Rapids City Commission held a public hearing session for a proposed Brownfield...
Community updates: Thursday, July 22
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 07-22-2021 under NEWS
City of Grand Rapids replacing private lead service lines in Neighborhoods of Focus Grand Rapids city commissioners approved and accepted a $5.1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week, helping to replace around 1...
Community updates: Thursday, May 20
by (The Rapidian)
Submitted 05-20-2021 under NEWS
Grand Rapids leaders approve 2022 budget Grand Rapids city commissioners approved a $546 million city budget for 2021-2022 on Thursday, maintaining current service levels and aiding in economic recovery. Presented by the City of Grand Rapids as a...
Our Community's Children director retires, looks back on public service
by (Brett)
Submitted 01-14-2021 under LOCAL LIFE
After more than two decades as executive director for Our Community’s Children (OCC), Lynn Heemstra retired from her role Jan. 5, leaving behind a legacy of youth advocacy. OCC, a public-private partnership between the City of Grand Rapids,...
Screening of 'Nor Any Drop to Drink: The Flint Water Crisis' in Grand Rapids
by (Cedric Taylor)
Submitted 04-17-2018 under NONPROFITS
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan is without question one of the most serious man-made disasters in recent memory. Most of us undoubtedly have seen news reports of brown, brackish tap water, bags of hair, skin rashes, marches and protests, crowded...
Why parent voices matter more
by (Healthy Homes C...)
Submitted 03-19-2018 under PLACE-MATTERS
Two stories featuring parents who are fighting to end childhood lead poisoning were told in local news this past week. Tabitha Williams, a leader in the grassroots parent group, Parents for Healthy Homes, won an award from WMEAC’s Women...
Parents react to data showing 49507 leads state in lead poisoned children
by (Talor Musil)
Submitted 11-07-2017 under PLACE-MATTERS
After a decade of decline, the number of lead-poisoned children in Kent County is rising. Recent data shows a 40 percent increase in lead-poisoned children in the 49507 zip code during the past two years. This Grand Rapids neighborhood ranks number...
Standing ovation for Snyder in Grand Rapids shows gross disconnect with people of Flint
by (balexander)
Submitted 03-22-2016 under OPINION
Yesterday The Economic Club of Grand Rapids reminded me how thoroughly disconnected they are from the pulse of the community. Let me rephrase that. The Economic Club of Grand Rapids reminded me that they have no desire to assess a pulse, as a matter...