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Talk about a political rock star. A crowd estimated at more than 1,500 already had lined up by mid-morning at a Grand Rapids, Mich., bookstore in advance of a 6 p.m. book signing by 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, whose book "Going Rogue" has already become a runaway bestseller -- one day after its release. Die-hard fans of the former Alaska governor traveled from all over the state and began setting up outside a Barnes & Noble store in the city's Woodland Mall at around 9 p.m. last night, hunkering down in 30-degree overnight temperatures to camp out...

Folks, Post here if you are going, know someone who is going, have reports on the size of the crowds, or interaction with Gov. Palin. WWJ Radio Detroit this morning @ 5:00am noted people were already getting their wrist bands that early for the book signing in the evening.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night to mourn the death of Thomas Pauli.Authorities say he died of hypothermia in January after two downtown shelters wouldn't let him inside. The shelters say they were just abiding by the law.Pauli's past criminal record kept him out, the 52 year old man was a sex offender."The law states they can't reside within 1000 feet of a school," said Rev. Ralph Collins of Mel Trotter Ministries.Marge Palmerlee of Degage Ministries says it's the wording she'd like to see changed."Staying at a mission is not actually residing, it's just...

From the makers of "No More Red Pens in School" and "Don't Call Me Washington - Call Me Slave Owner," comes the newest creation from the fabled partnership of Sensitivity and Esteem (formerly Multiculturalism and McCartney) - the latest feel-good initiative from today's fraternity of whinycrat educators, called "No More Fs."In Grand Rapids, Michigan, a new approach to handling failing high school students is being implemented - and even the Teachers union isn't sure about it. It involves the removal of the dreaded "F" grade from report cards in favor of a more accommodating (and less judgmental)"H" grade.School Superintendent Bernard...

When high school students in Grand Rapids Public Schools fail a class this fall, they won't get an "F" or an "E" -- they'll get an "H." "An 'H' is a failing grade," district spokesman John Helmholdt told 24 Hour News 8. But that new failing grade comes with second chance -- students who get an "H" will be able to re-take the class or the part of it they failed the next semester.

The Salvation Army and police are looking into the thefts of toys for the WOOD TV8/WOTV 4 Salvation Army Angel Tree Toy Drive.(Hope that the Huntington Bank has a good photo of the perp.)

Sinclair Crushes Obama Today Barack Obambi rolled up into Grand Rapids speaking and sounding like a lot of hot air. At the same time Larry Sinclair arrived with a megaphone. 80 percent of the crowd were college students with a smattering of folks in suits and some black folk. Well all of a sudden a tall big white kid asks Larry if he would like to give his view out over the airwaves. He hands Larry the cell phone and Larry starts to conduct an interview with the most popular radio station in Grand Rapids. 104.5 WSNX. Then the Grand...

09/17/2008 Grand Rapids, MI Straight Talk Town Hall Meeting on September 17th Please join John McCain and Sarah Palin for a Straight Talk Town Hall Meeting in Grand Rapids, MI. Live Video Stream http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mccain-2008-live

Grand Rapids, MI ? (WZZM) Sources close to the GOP have confirmed the three biggest names in Republican politics will visit the Grand Rapids area within the month. WZZM 13 News has learned Republican Presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Governor Sarah Palin will make a joint appearance Wednesday, September 17th. The event will take place at GRCC's Ford Fieldhouse at 4:30p.m. Ticket information will be released as soon as it becomes available. Also, President Bush is expected to attend a private fundraiser on September 30th at the Ada Township home of Dick DeVos. A source close to...

What: Grand Rapids, MI Straight Talk Town Hall Meeting on September 17th When: September 17, 2008 4:30 p.m. Where: Grand Rapids Community College: Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse 143 Bostwick Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Please join John McCain & Sarah Palin for a Straight Talk Town Hall Meeting! Wednesday, Sept. 17th Grand Rapids Community College Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse 143 Bostwick Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Doors Open at 4:30 pm Tickets will not be available until Monday September 15th To RSVP, please reserve your ticket at one of the following locations.

Christian publisher Zondervan is facing a $60 million federal lawsuit filed by a man who claims he and other homosexuals have suffered based on what the suit claims is a misinterpretation of the Bible.

"When John Brookner died of liver cancer at the age of 66 in late May, he'd been living at the Grand Rapids Home For Veterans for 12 years. Up until the day before he died, Brookner didn't want his daughter to know his condition. Officials at the facility showed the paperwork documenting his wishes to 24 Hour News 8." Veteran dies, family notified 38 days later.Video at link.Sad story.Doesn't sound like the daughters kept in close touch with their Dad.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Kent County Republicans continue to claim a recent break-in at their Grand Rapids headquarters was politically motivated And one party leader publicly blamed unnamed Democrats in a mass e-mail sent to supporters. "We knew the Democrats would do anything to win, but we didn't expect this!" wrote Kent GOP Chair Dave Dishaw in a note asking for money to help cover "costs" and support candidates. Grand Rapids Police on Tuesday confirmed they are investigating an early morning break-in that occurred last Thursday at the GOP's offices at 264 Leonard St. NW, near U.S. 131. Lt. Ralph Mason...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A helicopter crashed at a hospital on Thursday, sending thick, black smoke over downtown and forcing the evacuation of patients from the building. It was not clear whether anyone had been injured in the crash, which happened around 11 a.m. A fire dispatcher confirmed the crash happened at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, but could not provide any other details. The police department was setting up a command center, but had no other details. Lynda Ignatoski, who was standing outside the Towers Medical building on the Spectrum Health campus, told The Grand Rapids Press she saw the...

GRAND RAPIDS -- If not rain nor snow nor dark of night, what did prompt reports last winter that mail went undelivered on the Northwest Side of Grand Rapids? The Postal Service isn't saying, even though nearly half of the 59 letter carriers from the postal station at 1625 Walker Ave. NW faced suspensions ranging from two days to nine months. The last of the suspensions of 29 workers ended in August. But officials refused to reveal details. In fact, with the help of their unions and arbitration, all of the workers received back pay for their time off, said...

The Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post and Van Buren County Central Dispatch began receiving strange reports of a man in a wheel chair being pushed by a semi truck on Wednesday afternoon. The wheel chair of a 21-year-old man became lodged in the grill of a semi truck as the vehicle pulled out of a gas station. The semi then began driving down Red Arrow Highway, with its new and unusual hood ornament still attached. At speeds up to 50 miles per hour for 4 miles!

Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools Bernard Taylor is looking for ways to improve after an instructional audit showed high rates of failure in high schools. The audit shows more than 50 percent of students at all four high shools did not meet district standards on writing assessments. Also, more than 65 percent of freshmen are failing classes. (snip) Other numbers in the audit indicate the number of freshmen with a grade point average below 2.0 increased and more than 40 percent of high school students missed more than 10 days of school in core classes. Taylor said he won't...

WESTWOOD ONE LAUNCHES THE MONICA CROWLEY SHOW --New Program to Air Saturdays, Noon - 3 p.m. ET-- Beginning Saturday, April 1, 2006 New York, NY Monday, Mar 20, 2006 - Westwood One (NYSE: WON) is proud to announce the national launch of The Monica Crowley Show, the three-hour talk program hosted by author and news personality Monica Crowley. The show begins Saturday, April 1, 2006, and will air from noon to 3 p.m. ET. The Monica Crowley Show will debut on major market stations across the country including: WABC-AM New York, WTKK-FM Boston and WTNT-AM Washington DC. The show will...

A criminal justice professor at Grand Rapids Community College has resigned after showing a video in class of a man having sex with a pig, students and a faculty representative said. A school administrator confirmed that Samuel Naves, 47, resigned Feb. 17, but would not comment on why he left. However, students and a faculty leader said the resignation had to do with the video. They said Naves was teaching an introductory criminal justice class earlier this year when he was going through video files on his computer. The video appeared on a projection screen and students begged Naves to...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Federal authorities arrested 582 alleged gang members, including 22 in South Jersey, over a two-week period, targeting an estimated 80 violent groups they say have spawned street crimes across the country, officials said yesterday.</p> <p>Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called the gangs "a threat to our homeland security and ... a very urgent law enforcement priority."</p>

On a blustery day early this year, 13,000 people showed up at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., for what became known as "Porn Sunday." Two young California pastors with a website called XXXchurch.com - "the No. 1 Christian porn site" - were in town with a silence-breaking message. Their frank talk about the struggles many Christians are having with pornography has drawn huge crowds in several churches across the country, and now the Revs. Craig Gross and Mike Foster are planning National Porn Sunday for Oct. 9. "We were tired of hearing stories about people's lives being...

GRAND RAPIDS -- Cruel hoax or just plain cruel? A local radio show host's announcement that he planned to drown a dog today -- purportedly to draw attention to this week's drownings of two children -- turned out to be a hoax, but still drew the ire of police and dog lovers. Callers flooded 911 dispatch centers with complaints before the stunt was unveiled as a publicity put-on. WKLQ-FM morning show hosts at 8 a.m. aired sound effects that were supposed to sound like a dog being drowned at a nearby park. Disc jockeys then admitted the effort was a...

King street signs go up Monday after long fight Saturday, March 05, 2005 By Jim Harger The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS -- Fifth-grader Alan Davis looked over the red and white "Martin Luther King Blvd." sign Friday and saw more than a new street name. "It means love and respect," the Campau Park Elementary student said. "It shows our community is the best, and we can show peace." Starting Monday, the commemorative signs will become part of Division Avenue as it runs through the heart of Grand Rapids. Robert S, the radio talk host who spearheaded the commemorative designation,...

There was talk among the men they might get a real Thanksgiving... [O]n Nov. 27, 1950, 120,000 Chinese surprised the 1st Marine Division with a nighttime attack, coming across in human waves. The combat would last all night, into the next day and for days after that... They are often called the "Frozen Chosin," about 20,000 Marines and Army troops who came under fire in the most brutal conditions of the Korean War. One military historian called the combat at the Chosin Reservoir "the most violent small-unit fighting in the history of American warfare." It was made all but unendurable...

GRAND RAPIDS -- Mark DeHaan remembers a letter from a voter saying she could never support him because his party was pro-choice. That frustrated DeHaan, who was running for Kent County treasurer as a anti-abortion Democrat. Now, he supports a group being formed within the Kent County Democratic Party with a goal of expanding the party's reach to non-traditional Democratic voters. "This type of organization could get more of a message out that there are more pro-life Democrats, get different ideas out there, project a different image," said DeHaan, who is on the party's executive committee. "This club could be...

REPUBLICANS CRUSH LIBERAL PROTESTORS IN GRAND RAPIDS FREEPERS, PROTEST WARRIORS AND YOUNG REPUBLICANS AND OTHER INDEPENDENT PATRIOTS, Rode to the sound of the Guns Saturday morning in support of our President. After shepherding my four teenagers past the polluted air and rank smell of the Hygene challenged Dumborat Lieberal worthless ones, and making sure they got in to see the President, I executed a smart about face and headed back to the front lines, to shout down the 50 or so protesters that had accumulated on the corner. Just a few days earlier we had swept many of these scumbags...

Hi all, just got back from a Bush Rally in Grand Rapids Michigan, we arrived at 6 am, waited until 9:45. W and Laura were there and he was awesome, totally on top of his game. He did not seem worried, he was upbeat and very positive, the best I have ever heard him. The crowd was super, we were yelling and screaming. Hardly and protestors, the ones that were there were totally stupid. VIVA LA BUSH!!!!

"Petra: Lost City of Stone" will be displayed from April 4 to Aug. 15. It will be the third American stop following its opening in New York and current stop in Cincinnati. To prepare for the exhibit, Calvin administrators plan to renovate the 2-year-old Prince Conference Center to include a museum-quality heating and cooling system, improved security and viewing spaces with special lighting... Bierling, an archaeologist, teacher and photographer, approached Calvin about sponsoring the multimillion-dollar exhibit that was turned down by other West Michigan venues, including the Van Andel Museum Center.

Bush aims to rally area supporters with another visit Friday, September 10, 2004 By Steven Harmon The Grand Rapids Press President Bush will come into West Michigan enjoying a post-convention bounce. But the president also is facing new questions surrounding his National Guard service in the early 1970s, which partly explains his visit to Holland on Monday in a bus tour that includes stops in Muskegon and Battle Creek, said Doug Koopman, a Calvin College political scientist. "It's hard to see how this National Guard stuff changes votes, but it does change the subject, and it takes the campaign down...

Schuler's Books on 28th Street has an ample supply of "Unfit for Command". Go in and buy one to perhaps send a message to the Chomsky-fascinated proprietor. I rarely go in Schuler's any longer because of all the hate literature littering the store.

You tell her! Valuable voter feedback for Kerry's campaign from deep within the comments section of Ruy Teixeira's Donkey Rising: I attended the Kerry rally in downtown GR MI 8/2. A huge noon time crowd, nearly 10,000, in this very conservative GOP area. The size was beyond everyone's expectations.The rally was held on a 2 acre+ concrete plaza, on a very hot day with the temp on that surface nearly 100 degrees. We had to wait hours for the festivities to begin because of the security checks prior to entrance.Finally the Kerry entourage arrived; but before the candidate spoke, up...

Kerry unveils campaign blueprint during visit to Grand Rapids Monday, August 02, 2004 By Steven Harmon and Jim Harger The Grand Rapids Press With a Grand Rapids Fire Department ladder truck as a backdrop, John Kerry this morning held up his campaign's new book, which includes his plans to fight terrorism and improve homeland security if he is elected president. "The question is not are we safer, the question is are we safe as we ought to be given the opportunities we ought to have," said Kerry, who was introduced by Tony Beurkens, president of the Grand Rapids firefighters' union.

Kerry vs Bush in Grand Rapids Friday the President visited this city's Community College, today the challenger Kerry arrived at the downtown center. What where the differences and similarities? Lets see. Therezzzzzza started off speaking so slowly that the discomfort she spread was evident by dozens of folks leaving to catch some shade before the john spoke. Her condescending tone was only surpassed by her constant reminder of how John,( "Oh by the way, my first husband was named John"), would protect us, would do this for us and do that for us. When finally the medicated one was finished,...

On Saturday I attended a local rally, Operation Enduring Support in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to show my support for our brave boys over in Iraq. The weather was great and the speakers were suburb. Numerous speakers cited the need to stay the course in Iraq, mentioned the fact that we liberated the Iraqi people (something the local media seems to have forgotten), and reminded us of the dire situation in Vietnam where returning troops were spit on by the "communist revolutionaries" of the Weather Underground (didn't Kerry's antiwar group [Vietnam Veterans Against War] collaborate with Weather-members at some time?). In...

Hey, Michigan Freepers — Team B-Chan is going to be in the Grand Rapids area all of next week on a business trip, and I was wondering if any of you could suggest some good places to eat. We love to eat at good restaurants, so please, no Perkins or other chain places — we're looking for fine dining restaurants (swanky is OK), good home cooking joints (need not be swanky), or other unique eating opportunities. All suggestions welcome!

Good morning! Welcome to Grand Rapids! Thank you for taking the time to be here. I know it is a sacrifice.on a Saturday in May, there are soccer games, track meets, and plenty of yard work, so we truly do appreciate your commitment to be here. I'm going to warn you up front; I'm going to say some things today that aren't usually said in polite conversation, but they are things that need to be said, things long overdue. I'm going to give voice to some things that you have likely been thinking, but haven't quite gotten up the courage...

Thanks to the courage of many Patriots, we got two birds with one stone today. First on the Agenda was an Osama-hugathon in Holland. At the last moment they postponed it so we went to the tried and true method of 'Adapt and Overcome". We turned around and headed for Grand Rapids. Now the Osamahuggers had planned to utilize some defensive measures against myself BUT when they saw I was bringing it with my posse, well they looked like they were in the path of the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse. We went right up to the stage, the Speaker...

<p>GRAND RAPIDS -- A western Michigan school district told a teacher activated for military duty that he must cover the cost of a substitute during part of his absence and give the district some of his military pay.</p> <p>At a school board meeting this week, angry teachers, students and district residents criticized the decision by administrators at Kenowa Hills Public Schools.</p>

Gay Couples Apply For Marriage Licenses In Grand Rapids February 20, 2004 GRAND RAPIDS -- The issue of gay marriage is a hot topic nationwide and now, it's heating up here in Grand Rapids. On Friday, a little over a dozen gay and lesbian couples went to the Kent County Clerk to apply for a marriage license. The clerk provided them with paperwork to apply for a license, but explained they wouldn't be able to process it because gay marriage is illegal in Michigan. The county clerk said the group's efforts should be directed at Lansing. The couples who...

(Grand Rapids, February 20, 2004, 8:07 a.m.) Jaeden Wagner admits she's a little young to get married. But that won't stop her and her partner from showing up at the county building Friday morning to apply for a marriage license. The Grand Valley State sophomore says she's entitled to the same rights as everyone else. The fight for same sex marriage comes to West Michigan today. Some local gay and lesbian couples plan to converge on the Kent County Clerk's office in an attempt to obtain a marriage license. If gay and lesbian couples ask for a form, staffers for...

Site-based management is real reform that can improve G.R. schoolsBy John C. KennedySaturday, December 06, 2003For example, let's look at one elementary school in Chicago which 15 years ago was dubbed the worst failure in the worst school system in America by then Secretary of Education William Bennett. Following a state-mandated overhaul of school governance, which gave greater fiscal and operational control to local school councils, the principal of this failing school was given the freedom to custom-design a school that would fit the needs of its unique student population. According to UCLA School of Management Professor Dr. William...

Rising bear population creates problems for humans and animals The Associated Press 7/13/2003, 12:31 p.m. ET GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — Wildlife officials say the state's bear population is on the rise, increasing the number of southern Michigan residents who have experienced a close encounter of the bruin kind. Sharon Kanouse remembers the night a black bear wandered through her Stanton yard, pulled down one of her bird feeders and proceeded to lounge on the lawn eating its newfound snack. It was June 20, and the second time the young intruder had visited the home. "It was fun to watch,...

Saturday as promised, a rally was held at the Grand Rapids Veterans Park. Unlike last week when the temperature and wind caused the cancelling of the event, (even though we still had a rally anyway!), today was a beautiful day. The American Legion brought chairs, a P.A system, lots of uniformed members, lots of VIPs,lots of flags, classy all the way around. There were about 150 people and the first one (after an opening prayer of course), was our representative to Washington, Mr. Elhers. After him followed many others and I was the last speaker. There were also interspersed throughout...

Today Saturday was a great day for America and a very bad day for the pencil necked tofu eating gender challenged cowardly appeasenik terrorist lovers. At Veterans Park today the Pro America Rally was cancelled. It was a cold overcast ice-rainy slushy day, that had been preceeded by an even worse thunder and lightening ice storm night. So... the event was cancelled and it was annouced as cancelled on T.V. That my friends is the good news. Why? Because the park filled up ANYWAY!. Thats right! When I got there there were 3 former Marine vets. Thats all. I joined...

Karl Rove spoke last night at Grand Rapids to a crowd of 500 at Ford International Airport. The theme was Texas Barbeque and the hanger was totally spruced up for the event, with haystacks, western saddles and folks all duded up. Cowboy hats and boots were the uniform of the day and most folks made a conscious effort to pass inspection. As I waited for all the hobnobing, networking, card exchanging, mingling....to die down and for the show to start I spotted someone who looked like a good target for the freeper photographer that was there with me( the great,...

RALLY FOR AMERICA II JOIN "MICHAELS IN THE MORNING," "BIG DAN" AND OTHERS FROM OLDIES RADIO 97.5FM,Lansing and OLDIES 107.3FM, Grand Rapids, THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 29, FROM 1 TILL 3PM, AT CALDER PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS!! WEAR YOUR RED, WHITE AND BLUE, WAVE YOUR FLAG AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR AMERICA'S SOLDIERS IN IRAQ.

Wupping Appeasnik hindquarters from Lansing to Grand Rapids in one day

Women in Black and Blue

COUNTER WOMEN FEMMANAZIS IN BLACK

Today, 28 feb, 2003, the War-appeasenik terrorist lovers had another little march from St. Aquinas College here in Grand Rapids. I went with an American Flag and strafed their ragged column.