🌱 GRPD Policy Under Scrutiny + WMCAT Free Drop-In Classes

Happy Thursday, Grand Rapids! Here's everything you need to know going on in Grand Rapids today.

First, today's weather:

Rain; breezy in the morning. High: 58 Low: 38.

Here are the top stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. The Grand Rapids Police Department's photographing and fingerprinting policy for those without an ID is under scrutiny by the Supreme Court this week. On Tuesday, the State Supreme Court heard arguments over the legality of the practice, in which the GRPD photographs and fingerprints individuals who aren't carrying an ID during contact with the police, even when there is no probable cause. If the court finds that the GRPD's policy goes against the 4th Amendment, legal experts say the implications could be far-reaching. (Fox17)
2. The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) will be offering free drop-in classes for any high school student living in Kent County. Beginning this week, students can visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to try out different mediums like photography, fashion design, ceramics, music production, video production, and illustration. WMCAT’s Director of Arts and Technology, Casey Stratton, said the classes are a way to provide a more equitable access to arts in technology for the younger generation. (wgvunews.org)
3. On Tuesday, Grand Rapids’ iconic Blue Bridge was lighted purple to mark Epilepsy Awareness Month. (WOODTV.com)
4. Grand Rapids police and city workers seized trash and scrap metal on Tuesday from Bill Peterson, who operates a home recycling business out of his backyard at 639 Cherry St. SE, due to a violation of city rules. (MLive.com)
5. The City of Grand Rapids held a Cure Violence meet-and-greet on Wednesday night, as a way to introduce people to the community’s new violence reduction and intervention program. (WOODTV.com)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.