Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why Grand Rapids just ranked as Michigan’s best-run city again
Be sure to catch 2026 Great Lakes Data, AI and Analytics Summit - Grand Rapids on the Grand Rapids Patch calendar

Hello Grand Rapids! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why Grand Rapids just ranked as Michigan's best-run city again
- How Calvin's pre-health advisor taps Grand Rapids' booming medical scene
- When can you grab tickets for WWE SmackDown downtown?
Also on today's calendar: From stress to stillness and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why did the burglar wear blue gloves? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Couple of thunderstorms, with a high of 78 and low of 63 degrees.
- Thursday: Sunny; pleasant, less humid, temps: high: 76, low: 51.
- Friday: Nice with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 77 and low of 60 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Grand Rapids Named Michigan's Best-Run City by WalletHub (wkfr.com) — Grand Rapids has again been ranked Michigan's best-run city by WalletHub, scoring strongly on service quality and efficient use of tax dollars. City leaders credit investments in infrastructure, housing, and public safety, along with careful long-term financial planning, for helping residents get more value from the local budget than in any other Michigan city studied.
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2. Opening doors to opportunities in the health field (calvin.edu) — Calvin University's pre-health advisor, Dr. Tammy LaRue, draws on years of pediatric practice in Grand Rapids and deep local medical connections to guide students into health careers. With a massive new 780,000-square-foot facility coming to the city's Medical Mile, she says Grand Rapids' expanding healthcare landscape offers especially strong opportunities for locally trained graduates.
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3. WWE News: More Upcoming Raw & SmackDown Dates And Locations Announced (ewrestling.com) — WWE is bringing SmackDown to Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday, December 4, with tickets going on sale this Friday, September 11. Local fans can grab seats starting with a presale on Thursday, then the general sale Friday at 10 a.m. through WWE's ticket site.
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4. Flight attendant goes viral for moment of kindness on plane ride to Grand Rapids (wzzm13.com) — A recent Republic Airways flight into Grand Rapids turned into a viral feel-good story after flight attendant Monique Harris gently helped an exhausted new mother by holding her baby so she could rest. Another passenger's photo of the moment spread online, prompting many to share how Harris' small acts of kindness have brightened their own travels.
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5. Michigan man's remains found in Birmingham 6 years ago identified (woodtv.com) — A Michigan man reported missing to Grand Rapids police in 2017 has been identified as the person whose remains were found in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2020. After years of unsuccessful searches, advanced DNA analysis and genealogical work finally confirmed the remains as 58-year-old Willie Warren Tansil Jr., bringing long-awaited answers to his Grand Rapids family.
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📸 Around Grand Rapids
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Grand Rapids
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- 2026 Great Lakes Data, AI and Analytics Summit - Grand Rapids →
Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel, 5700 28th Street Southeast, Grand Rapids
Thursday September 10
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Super Shoe Demo →
Grand Rapids MI - Vapor Intrusion Conference: From Fundamentals to Future Directions →
Prince Conference Center and Hotel, 1800 East Beltline Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids - Day Trip to Grand Rapids: Whispers of Fall – Glass & Apples →
Grand Rapids MI
7:30 am - Weathering Emotions Exhibit at Grand Rapids Children's Museum →
Grand Rapids Children's Museum, 11 Sheldon Ave NE, Grand Rapids
9:00 am - BLS Provider Course →
Life EMS Innovation and Education Centre – Grand Rapids, MI, 1050 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
9:00 am - Prayer Shawl Ministry →
Calvary Church, 707 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids
10:00 am - Bowling - That's How We Roll!!! →
Park Center Lanes, 2222 28th St SW, Grand Rapids
10:00 am - From stress to stillness →
746 Lakeside Dr SE, Grand Rapids
6:00 pm - Golden Harvest Half Marathon & 5k/10k - Grand Rapids →
Gordon Park, 17150 Northland Dr NE, Sand Lake
9:00 am - Bark to School Trivia Night Fundraiser at City Built →
City Built Brewing Company, 820 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids
6:30 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson →
Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids
8:45 pm
Thursday September 10
Sunday September 20
Tuesday September 22
Thursday September 24
📣 Grand Rapids Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Putting the rapids back in Grand Rapids seems to be a good thing, long in the thinking and finally in the doing.
Both St. Marks on Division/Pearl and the stone house on 731 Front Street/Sixth Street come from the original limestone in the river that blocked… (Nextdoor Diamond) - New "outdoor" cat - been living here for two years, never met this one.
Could be lost. Looked potentially neutered. Hard to tell in the dark this A.M. (Nextdoor Beckwith Hills)
- Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company posted a job opening for Housekeeper Room Care Full Time in Grand Rapids. Apply here.
- Suburban Inns, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeper - Embassy Suites in Grand Rapids. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Grand Rapids here.
Ok Grand Rapids! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: So he wouldn't get caught red handed. (Thank you Vicki B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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