Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids – – October 16, 2026 -- Students who earn an associate degree at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) will be guaranteed admission to Western Michigan University (WMU) and an annual scholarship of $1,000 to $4,500 if they are eligible, under a new partnership called the Bronco Bound Guarantee.

Leaders from both schools will formalize the agreement at a signing ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at GRCC's Applied Technology Center, Secchia Piazza, on the main campus in Grand Rapids.

Admission, fee waiver and scholarship money are built in

Qualifying GRCC students will have their WMU application fee waived and will be considered for scholarships automatically. Eligible students are guaranteed the annual award of $1,000 to $4,500.

Grand Rapids – October 14, 2026 -- Eligible Medicare customers can now pay for covered over-the-counter (OTC) products at Meijer using evermore OTC spend cards, the Midwest retailer announced.

Direct integration covers plan-approved items

The new direct integration with evermore lets participating Medicare plan members use supplemental health plan benefits on eligible OTC products and other items approved under their specific plans. Meijer's Jackie Morse, Group Vice President of Pharmacy and Health, described the card as "another simple way" to use health plan benefits while shopping for everyday essentials, healthy foods, and wellness products.

Many Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits that help seniors buy approved items to support their health and well-being.

Grand Rapids – October 01, 2026 -- Homeowners planning a kitchen or bathroom overhaul often underestimate how long the process actually takes, according to insights from Grand Rapids remodeling expert Ray Runyon of Avalon Remodeling.

Planning often takes longer than homeowners expect

The upfront phase, covering layout decisions, material selections, and budgeting, frequently runs long, especially for kitchen or bathroom renovations. Custom cabinetry and the need to align with local building codes can extend the kitchen remodel timeline for Michigan homeowners before any construction begins.

Permits can delay even simple bathroom projects

Permitting requirements vary by project scope and municipality. In Grand Rapids, a straightforward bathroom renovation timeline can still slip if plan approvals take longer than expected or revisions are required.

Lansing, Michigan – September 21, 2026 -- Pure Michigan is rolling out a fall marketing push across 19 million acres of forest as the state's official tourism brand marks its 20th anniversary in 2026.

A new CTV spot targets streaming audiences on Amazon Prime and Netflix

The campaign's centerpiece, an ad called "In Vivid Color," blends nostalgia with footage of Michigan's autumn foliage. It runs on premium connected-TV placements including Amazon Prime and Netflix, alongside online video, social platforms, print, out-of-home, streaming audio, digital, and search ads that went live in August.

Grand Rapids – September 13, 2026 -- Protein Pints is expanding its Protein Pops ice cream bars into Target this week and into all of Kroger's Family of Stores starting September 13, following a summer debut that sold through its initial online inventory in under eight hours.

The bars sold more than 10 times over online projections at launch

Protein Pops launched in June as the brand's first major product beyond its original pints, offering 10 grams of protein per bar in an individually portioned format. Demand exceeded online sales projections by more than 10X within hours of release, and the bars have continued building momentum at Sprouts Farmers Market throughout the summer.

Sheboygan Falls, Wis. – September 11, 2026 -- Johnsonville is running "Sausage" as a mock candidate for "Dinner 2026," a campaign built on new Harris Poll research showing Americans are worn out by both politics and nightly meal decisions.

Survey finds political fatigue is bleeding into dinner planning

The Johnsonville-commissioned National Temperature Check found 81% of Americans believe society has become too political, and 66% expect the 2026 midterms to make news even more overwhelming. Seventy-four percent say they hate political advertising, and 84% think their communities could better use the estimated $10 billion being spent on midterm ads this year.

On the dinner side, 31% of respondents say they've forgotten to plan a meal at least once in the past year due to distraction from current events. More than half, 53%, say they hate deciding what to make for dinner, and the same share wish someone would just hand them an idea.

Grand Rapids – September 07, 2026 -- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will reopen ENLIGHTEN Presented by PNC Bank on Nov. 23, running through Jan. 10, 2027, with member ticket sales starting Sept. 1 and public sales beginning Sept. 8.

The third season of the immersive holiday light experience guides guests along a one-mile outdoor path from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on select evenings, featuring sculptures synchronized with music and lighting.

A reimagined midway stop highlights Mark di Suvero's Scarlatti sculpture

At the midpoint of the walking path, Scarlatti by Mark di Suvero returns with new lighting, music and choreography. The stop also includes a warming tent, firepits, and food and beverage options for visitors.