🌱 Two New Judges In Grand Rapids + ACLU Helps To Protect Homelessness

Hello all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Grand Rapids Patch newsletter — here to explain all the most important things happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Sunny and warm. High: 87 Low: 67.
• Tuesday: A stray afternoon t-shower. High: 83 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories today in Grand Rapids:

1. Later last week, Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed two new judges who will serve in the Grand Rapids area. At the 61st District Court, Kellen Dotson and Brian Neill will now take the stand and both have more than a decade of experience to bring to the table. According to the Michigan Executive Office of the Public Defender, they're excited to welcome the new judges as they are guaranteed to uphold the rule and law and make the community a better place to live. (Fox 17 Online)
2. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is urging Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss to reject the proposed ordinances that target panhandling and unhoused people. If these ordinances go into effect would criminalize homelessness, increase the challenges faced by unhoused residents, and narrow their already limited spaces throughout the city. On Tuesday, Jul. 11, Grand Rapids City Commission is hosting a public hearing to discuss the ordinance that would essentially penalize individuals for approaching people by ATMs, as well as eating and drinking establishments. (Michigan Advance)
3. In preparation to welcome a new music venue downtown, the city of Grand Rapids might make some changes to its noise control ordinance. The brand-new downtown riverfront amphitheater could affect nearby community members who have to deal with different sounds and vibrations coming from the venue. City officials are currently discussing how to help residents avoid disruptions, but they're favoring more on the side of the amphitheater's performances. (Fox 17 News)

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Today in Grand Rapids:

Monday, July 10

• Jazz In The Park At Currie Amphitheatre (6:30 PM)
• East GR Concerts In The Park At John Collins Park (7:00 PM)

Tuesday, July 11

• An Evening With Michelle Zauner At Fountain Street Church (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Trinity Health has announced it will be closing its Life Counseling Center after serving nearly 2,000 patients. All patients of Trinity Health's Life Counseling Center will be referred to Hackley Community Care, as well as a number of nearby providers. (WZZM)
• After 16 years, the Grand Rapids Police Department is still honoring an officer who was killed during a domestic violence disturbance in 2007. Officer Kozminski served with the department for more than seven years prior to the incident and the suspect who shot him now serves life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder. (Grand Rapids Police Department via Facebook)
• The Grand Rapids Ballet is excited to welcome some new dancers to their company for the 2023-24 season. One of which is Tristan Toy, a New York City-born dancer who was raised in the Bay Area of California and attended a number of professional dance programs in San Francisco. (Grand Rapids Ballet via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Kent District Library - Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch (July 13)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.