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Take the Early Hunger Week Challenge!

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- Feeding America has declared the month of September as "Hunger Action Month."

Grand Rapids Hunger Action Week campaign starts next week but here's an early hunger challenge you may want to consider:

 

 

 

Early Hunger Challenge Guidelines
Tuesday, September 6 through Monday, September 12, 2011

Participation Guidelines*:
1. Each person should only spend a total of $30.59 for the week on food and beverages during the week, or $4.37 per day. This dollar amount is calculated from an average Kent County Food Assistance Program ("food stamp") budget of $133 per person per month.

2. All food purchased and eaten during the Challenge, including fast food and dining out, must be included in the total spending.

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Sat 6AM Chat w/Aaron & Jennifer: Saugatuck Beach Day, GVSU game, Foursquare, & Napping

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- WZZM 13's Aaron Ofseyer & Jennifer Pascua talk about Aaron's beach day and attendance to the GVSU's football home opener. Also, Jennifer shares a great Foursquare deal and the chat turns to a great idea when it comes to napping!

Click HERE to learn more about our centerpiece.

Top Prize: Q&A with Chris LaPorte

Top Prize: Q&A with Chris LaPorte

Written by Kelli Kolakowski

Questions for Chris LaPorte, ArtPrize 2010 Winner

Soul of the City rocks & returns to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A weekend of free entertainment that showcases the diversity in Grand Rapids is back after a five year absence -- it's Soul of the City.

It started Friday afternoon at Rosa Parks Circle, and features live entertainment through Saturday night.

There are also health and wellness exhibits and food booths to go along with the music.

"All of our soul and ethnicities are within the African Culture," says organizer Monica Sparks. "We are just rocking it out and displaying our neo-soul, our jazz, our urban, our hip-hop -- all of our different cultures here with music."

Saturday's entertainment begins at noon, and ends with the event's headliner, R&B star Jon B. WZZM 13's Juliet Dragos will introduce him at 9 p.m. that night.

WZZM 13 is a sponsor of Soul of the City.

Community Sponsors

Check out our wonderful glass art!

Ex-MSU star Vincent going to prison for fraud

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) -- Former NBA player and Michigan State star Jay Vincent was sentenced Friday to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $110,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for his part in a fraud case involving thousands of people who paid to become certified home inspectors.

Prosecutors say Vincent and an associate defrauded 20,000 people out of more than $1 million by charging them to become inspectors through a business called Foreclosure Bank Inspection. No inspectors were hired, and the business had no contracts with banks, according to the government.

Vincent, 52, pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges nearly a year ago. On Friday, he apologized in federal court in Grand Rapids for his actions. His lawyers asked for probation so he could start repaying the victims, while prosecutors recommended nine years in prison.

Rockford Construction purchases Morton House

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) Rockford Construction announced plans late Friday afternoon to purchase the building known as Morton House in Grand Rapids.

The last tenants of the Section 8 Housing moved out earlier this week. The 91 year old building is located at 55 Ionia and was originally a hotel before it was turned into the city's first Section 8 Housing 40 years ago.

The sale of the building to Rockford Construction is expected to be completed in the next 30-60 days. "While we have had very limited access to the building because of the tenants' privacy, we look forward to exploring its next use with the community in the months ahead after the sale is completed," said Mike VanGessel, chairman and CEO of Rockford Construction. "In some ways, we have helped build or restore this entire street," said VanGessel.

Soul of the City Preview with Stephanie Sallie Performance

You can hear more Stephanie Sallie music at:

www.soundcloud.com/stefsings

Stephanie's Soul of the City GR Festival schedule:

9/2/2011 at 7pm

9/3/2011 at 8:25pm

Rosa Park Circle

Downtown Grand Rapids, MI

Soul of the City Event Returns!