April 19, 2022

The following is a press release for the Rapid, Grand Rapids public transportation provider.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced yesterday that it will no longer enforce the federal mask mandate on public transportation. Due to this decision, The Rapid will no longer require masks on Rapid buses or at Rapid Central Station.

While COVID-19 cases and positivity rates are relatively low in Kent County, masks are still an important preventive measure against COVID-19. Any Rapid customers that choose to or need to wear a mask are encouraged to do so. We ask that all customers to continue to exercise caution and be considerate of fellow riders and Rapid Bus Operators. Thank you for your patience and please respect your fellow passengers and Bus Operators as we all continue to navigate changing pandemic conditions.

Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that Rapid customers and Bus Operators may be receiving this information at different times. You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated. Please remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required. Communications will be updated to share that masking is now optional–this may take a short period of time.

Grand Rapids- With one of their largest tournaments yet, the 2022 Griff’s Sled Hockey Classic held March 18-20 brought 22 teams from around the Midwest to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Teams playing in junior novice to adults represented New York, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Wooster, Ohio.

The 10 adult teams participating are part of the Heartland Sled Hockey League. They have competed against each other all year, making this the championship weekend for the Heartland League. 

Sled hockey is an adaptation of ice hockey designed for players who have a physical disability. To play sled hockey, the only requirement is that you have a disability that prohibits you from playing stand-up hockey.

Games are played the same as far as the rules of hockey. The difference is in the equipment. The players are on a hockey sled, which is an aluminum frame with a plastic bucket on it. A player sits in the bucket and underneath them are two actual steel skate blades that are sharpened in the same way as a hockey skate. 

Players use two sticks instead of one. They’re short sticks with a different curve on them. At the butt end of the stick, they actually have steel picks they use to help propel themselves down the ice. The blade portion to the other end is used to shoot and pass.

With ice times being expensive, most teams get together once a week for a two and a half hour practice, that includes a lot of typical hockey drills that stand up hockey players do, just converted to sled hockey.

Minneapolis – As temperatures dipped to -8 degrees with a -24 mile an hour wind chill at the puck drop, Minnesota and St Louis fans showed up for the Winter Classic 2022, dressed for the occasion. 

Team logoed hats, gloves and sweatshirts sold in record numbers at the merchandise store with some even selling out.

You know it’s cold when the vendors selling hot chocolate have a longer line than beer vendors.

Images of the fans enjoying the coldest on record outdoor hockey game in the NHL and in Minnesota, also known as The State of Hockey.

MINNEAPOLIS – The St Louis Blues and Wild delighted in the -10°F temperatures on Saturday evening.

Though, to be honest, the Blues delighted more as they hit for five goals in the middle frame and held off the Wild for a 6-3 win in the NHL’s 2022 Winter Classic.

St Louis’ Jordan Kyrou set a Winter Classic record with two goals and four points in the second period barrage.

“It’s unbelievable,” Kyrou said. “Any time you get to play in the Winter Classic, it’s pretty cool. Growing up as a kid, it’s something you always watch and dream of playing in.”

Jordan Binnington made 29 saves in the St Louis win.

“I’ve watched a couple of these games and a couple interviews after, and everyone always says how much work goes into it,” Binnington said. “Being a part of it, I can really say it’s incredible just from the ice crew to make this all possible. I think we all appreciate the work that went into it, and it was a really fun experience. Just seeing that many people in the stadium (a sellout of 38,619) cheering and some fireworks, it was a crazy show and it’s something we’ll always remember.”

The Blues improved to 19-9-5.

“[Kyrou’s] on the big stage tonight, and I think he showed everybody what he can do,” St. Louis head coach Craig Berube said. “He’s a talented guy, has a great shot and great skill, and he showed it.”

The Wild have lost five straight.

“We lost four in a row, we have to come out with some push and urgency, and we didn’t do that,” Minnesota’s Mats Zuccarello said. “I don’t care when we last played. That’s not acceptable for us as a team, I think we all know it.”

Rem Pitlick, Kirill Kaprizov, and Kevin Fiala scored for the Wild.

“It’s difficult,” Wild head coach Dean Evason said. “Obviously, we do what I’m sure you guys are doing. Why? What happened? I think they got to their game quicker than we got to ours. We didn’t get to ours obviously until the end. We talked to the group about our sense of urgency has to be way quicker than the last 10 minutes of a hockey game when we’re pulling goalies.”

Ivan Barbashev (power play), Tory Krug, and Vladimir Tarasenko had single markers for the Blues.

“His energy, the way he came out with confidence, he was making plays,” St. Louis captain Ryan O’Reilly said. “It’s not easy out there on that ice, pucks are bouncing a lot, and for him to have the confidence to handle the puck the way he did and some of the plays he made, it didn’t bother him at all. It was impressive to see.”

David Perron opened the scoring in the first period to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Cam Talbot got the start for Minnesota and made 22 saves through 40 minutes.  He had a difficult middle frame in the five goal surge by St Louis.

Talbot yielded the net to Kaapo Kahkonen in the third period, who made four saves.

Talbot was reportedly pulled for a lower-body injury.

“It wasn’t precautionary,” Evason said. “We wouldn’t have taken him out of that hockey game. He’s a battler. He’s a competitive guy. We don’t take him out of that game because he’s still going to give us a chance to come back.”

MINNEAPOLIS – Jim Spadafore, 61, of Rosemount, MN did not plan on attending Saturday’s Winter Classic 2022 hockey game at Target Field in Minneapolis.

That was until Christmas morning, when he opened what Jim called one of the better gifts he has received in years. A ticket to attend the game from his son Jack who is 27 years old

Watching the game from along the rail on the second level down the third base line in right field foul territory, father and son had a great end to end view of the rink.

“You can’t beat outdoor hockey,” said Jack.

Jim and Jack both grew up playing pond hockey during the cold Minnesota winters. Neither of their pond careers materialized to any organizational levels, but their passion for the sport has kept them fans of the game.

Jim was a Northstar fan until the team moved to Dallas in 1993.  Gump Worsley was his favorite player.

Jack has always been a Wild fan. Cal Clutterbuck was his favorite player growing up.

Though both Spadafore’s were not happy with the outcome of the game. Both said that they would never trade this father and son memory for anything.

A look at the civil unrest that occurred in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 30,2020

A look at the civil unrest that occurred in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 30,2020

Former kickboxer and boxer Dino Newville takes to the ring one last time for charity at age 61.

Below is an interview I did with Newville the day after the event.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On Sunday May 14, 2021, the Grand Rapids Fire Department River rescue team was dispatched to the Fulton street bridge on a report of an overturned boat.

Three fishermen were in the boat when it tipped in shallow water causing the boat to sink.

The three were rescued and transported safely to shore in the GRFD’s new rescue airboat.

No one was reported injured.

Grand Rapids, Mi — Audra Johnson, the “MAGA Bride”, conservative activist, and self-described Patriot-at- Heart has announced that she will be running for Republican Peter Meijer’s congressional seat in the upcoming 2022 primary election.

Not liking the direction our country is headed, Johnson believes there are problems on both sides of the aisle, saying we need to focus on what makes us American, and the Constitution.

“I’m going to represent the people.” Johnson said. “I’m in this for the people. I’m not in this for some title or financial gain. I know the people in the third congressional.  I’ve been with the people in the third congressional for the last four years. I know what they want, I’m willing to represent them.”

Johnson was in Washington D.C. on January 6 to support Donald Trump. She believes that when people say revolution, their meaning is that they are tired of watching this country being divided. 

“People are talking about restoring the Constitution, and restoring individual rights,” Johnson said. “You know, it’s absolutely ridiculous in this country, when we have real issues we need to be focusing on and we’re worried about the gender of a plastic potato.”

Her top issues are the economy, freedom of speech and the second amendment. 

“We’ve got to get the economy jump started in this state. I was just on a national tour about the truth and constitution and it broke my heart, when I saw the difference between the states. I  saw the difference between an open economy, thriving people and what’s going on here in Michigan. So we’ve got to get the kind of the economy started. I think a lot of that, again, goes back to trusting people with their God given rights,” Johnson says. “The government has literally told us, we can’t trust you with your own decisions, when it comes to your health.”

Johnson feels that every American citizen has the right to choose whether they want to wear a mask, or to take a vaccine.

“I’m not saying COVID it’s not real,” Johnson said,  “I am not willing to give up my essential freedoms over a disease that has a 99.9% survival rate.”

Believing that America is a nation of hard working people, Johnson does not feel the American people need a handout right now, they need to work. Having been a single mom before, Johnson insisted that we absolutely should help those in need.

“I have needed that extra help. But I will tell you that once I realized there was another life on the other side of welfare, which is where Democrats want to keep the people so they can control the people,” Johnson said. “When I realized that if I put in more effort than somebody else next to me, I was going to succeed. That is the key to raising the economy, getting people off of welfare, and making sure they have better better lives. We don’t want to make a community of people who are dependent on the government. That’s socialism. And that is not what the country is about.”

Johnson was in Florida during the CPAC convention, where former Former president Donald Trump pledged to support primary challengers against GOP lawmakers like Meijer who voted to impeach him. 

“I was not indoors at CPAC.” she said. “I preferred to be with the real patriots out on the street. I was there for the people that were there to stand for the America first agenda.”

The congressional district maps have not been redrawn yet for the 2022 election and Audra is absolutely committed to running against Peter Meijer. She will move if needed.