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📍 Horses on the highway | March 7th 2025

Author

LeQwane Lynch
March 07, 2025

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Good afternoon, Grand Rapids. I’m LeQwane and this is Calder News — and we’ve got a packed update for you today.

In today’s newsletter, there are updates on horses running wild, our tourism boom, big trucks, and a ton of things to do around town this weekend.

So let’s dive in!

P.S. Based on how many people would be interested in our “Discount Crew Card”, I am going to get working on landing restaurant partnerships for Calder News. I’ll likely need some recommendations on who to work with, so stay on the lookout for updates. 🙂 

~LeQwane L.

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The Digest

A briefing of local news that matters

Travel

Tourism Is Booming

The numbers are in — tourism in Grand Rapids and Kent County hit a new high last year 2024. Using data from hotel stays, travel is up 5% from the previous record reaching 2.3 million hotel rooms booked. Is every hotel room booked by someone traveling? No, but it’s a good indicator of tourism in town! | Learn more here

Transportation

The DASH Ridership Doubles

Public transporation in GR is improving — Ridership on the Downtown Shuttle (DASH) jumped 105% since last year, with 35,875 riders in Jan. 2025, up from 17,502 Jan. 2024. The increase led to organizers of the service to expand it to 7 days a week. And redesign its routes to add more destinations. | Read about more public transit changes

Education

GR’s Youth Summer Job Program Returns

Grand Rapids’ youth development program is accepting applications to hire 100+ teens for its six-week paid part-time work and professional development. What is required to participate? Applicants have to be 15-24 years old, live in Grand Rapids, and be eligible to work in the U.S. The program will hire at $13/hour and guarantee 20 hours per week from June 9 – July 18, with paid professional development on Fridays. Applications are open today through April 25th | Learn more here

Interesting

Horse Rides on M-6

Did you know there was a horse on M6? Yesterday morning, folks driving on M-6 spotted a horse running on the highway between U.S. 131 and Kalamazoo Avenue SW. The funny part is the sightings didn’t stop there — after police rounded the house up, about 15 other escaped horses were reported around the same place. No horse, person, or property was harmed.

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Community Feature

📍 Downtown GR | Taken by Andrew Grettenberger

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Talk Of The Town

Interesting happenings around town

🛻 Big Trucks Takeover Downtown

A Monster Truck Jam Live is taking over Van Andel Arena this weekend. The event features massive trucks competing in speed and skill challenges, plus a Monster Jam Pit Party, and a meet and greet with drivers.

🦁 John Ball Zoo’s Newest Tenants

John Ball Zoo has welcomed two new lions — Amara, a six-year-old female, and Upepo, a nine-year-old male, arrived from Knoxville earlier this week. And they’ll be a mainstay at JBZ for many years to come.

Want to have your business featured here? Contact me.

What’s Happening?

Preview: Events —> Live Music

Friday, March 7th

Saturday, March 8th

Sunday, March 9th

  • Sensory Sundays | GR Public Museum | 10 AM - 5 PM | The Museum will offer a tailored experience to ensure an inclusive and accessible environment for all

  • Cooking and Comedy | Gilda’s Club | 3 PM |$10 | Join a chef as she teaches a local comedian some of her favorite cooking techniques

  • Sunday Night Funnies | Spectrum Entertainment Complex | 7:30 PM - 9 PM | Free

Live Music

Friday, March 7th

Saturday, March 8th

*Shows are subject to change, but that’s show biz.

 

Outside The Plaza

3 quick hits of news from cities around Grand Rapids

That’s All For Today…

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📧 Get your business in an upcoming issue of Calder News. Let’s talk about how we can put your business in front of thousands of GR locals.

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