🌱 Roadway Reconfiguration + Community Rally + Affordable Housing

Hello, everybody! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Grand Rapids Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Sunny and beautiful. High: 74 Low: 47.
• Saturday: Warm with plenty of sunshine. High: 78 Low: 52.

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Here are the top three stories in Grand Rapids today:

1. Drivers can expect the addition of turn lanes on M-21 near Grand Rapids to cause changes in traffic patterns. Construction will be underway on Fulton Street (M-21) as part of the $5 million project that will enhance four miles of the roadway in Eastern Grand Rapids. The improvements being made to the road are a resurfacing along the four-mile stretch and new turn lanes. (MLive.com)
2. A community rally and march for Patrick Lyoya is being held this weekend. The rally will show the need for the community and the family of Lyoya to see justice after now-former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr pulled Lyoya over, then shot him in the back of the head during a struggle. Family members and community leaders will speak at the rally. Schurr's legal team has fought to push back the trial, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 24. One of the event organizers said that there would be more rallies this summer. (MLive.com)
3. The City of Grand Rapids has authorized nearly $5 million in ARPA funds for affordable housing & services. The money will go toward six projects that will create 215 housing units, 157 of which will be ARPA (American Rescue Plan dollars) eligible. 77 of the households will be reserved for households that receive 50 percent or less of the area's median income, another 25 households will be set aside for income at less than 30 percent. These projects in Grand Rapids have been in the works for some time but required more funding as inflation raised costs. (WGVU NEWS)

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Today and tomorrow in Grand Rapids:

Friday, May 26

• Amaze And Amuse Magic Show At Wealthy Theatre (6:30 PM)

Saturday, May 27

• Bop To The Top At GLC Live At 20 Monroe (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Firefighter crews responded to a barn fire in nearby Grand Rapids Township. The crews were working on 4 Mile Road near Hoag Avenue to put out the flames. The report was called in around 9:21 p.m. on Wednesday. The roads were blocked off and crews worked on the fire for more than an hour to get it out. (FOX 17 West Michigan News)
• The Grand Rapids Ballet will be performing Liar Leer King tonight at Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts. Don't miss out on this amazing performance, there are still tickets available for the show! (Grand Rapids Ballet via Instagram)
• The Kalamazoo Public Library has started its Party in the Park summer events. The first party was at Bronson Park and had a huge turnout! Families sat together around the park for storytime. (Kalamazoo Public Library via Facebook)

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• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (May 30)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.