West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)

On this week's program, host Phil Tower speaks with Elton Andres Knight, CEO of Mahou USA. Knight became CEO of Mahou USA in February 2022. Mahou USA is a combination of three brands…Avery Brewing, Founders Brewing, and Mahou Imports. Mahou specializes in complex, in-your-face ales with huge aromatics and tons of flavor, and it is among the top 10 largest craft breweries in the U.S. Internationally, the company has a rich 134-year history. Mahou USA brands have received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users often rate its beers among the best in the world. *This conversation was also featured as one of our iHeartradio CEOs You Should Know Podcasts. Online: Mahou USA

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Bill Morris, author of The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family, the Detroit Lions, and the Road to Redemption in the NFL. Bill Morris is the author of the novels Motor City and Motor City Burning, along with the family memoir The Age of Astonishment, available from Pegasus Books. Bill's great new book tells the epic and tumultuous story of the Lions, the Ford family, and the city of Detroit—and how all three have come together on the cusp of a new era. "Born under a bad sign" is how Bill Ford’s ownership of the Lions began. After a decade of supremacy, Ford led the team on a half-century slog of mediocrity, the fruit of his mercurial nature and undying loyalty to the wrong people. The Lions Finally Roar is bursting with the colorful ruffians who have made the team one of America’s most beloved sports franchises despite its years of futility. Bill is the featured author and guest at the National Writers Series in Traverse City Michigan on December 18. Get Bill's Book: The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family, the Detroit Lions, and the Road to Redemption in the NFL Topics Discussed: the city of Detroit, National Football League politics, National Football league ownership, the impact of professional sports on cities, Women in sports leadership.

In this episode, host, Phil Tower, welcomes Andy Balaskovitz, Managing Editor, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. Andy joined us for a recap of some of the biggest business stories, impacting West Michigan, in 2024, including the major construction projects in downtown Grand Rapids...the new Amphitheater construction, the expected construction of the newly named Amway soccer stadium, and the DeVos & Van Andel Three Towers development. Other stories that Andy covered included Microsoft buying hundreds of acres in Kent/Allegan counties for planned data centers, the Downtown GR office-to-housing conversion plans, and The Tipped Wage changes: After years of pandemic disruptions, restaurants have been sounding the alarms about the implications of a pending law that could phase out tipped wages for restaurant workers. **Finally, Andy told us about the massive 1800-acre redevelopment project being undertaken by the economic development wing of the Gun Lake Tribe. Topics Discussed: hourly wages, living wages, housing shortage, commercial real estate, artificial intelligence, economic development, Grand Rapids tourism. Online: Crain's Grand Rapids Business crainsgrandrapids.com

On this episode, Phil Tower welcomes Kerry Lynch, Director of Sales at Shorts Brewing Company in Bellaire, Michigan. The first Shorts Pub was opened by entrepreneur, Joe Short in Bellaire, Michigan in 2004. Since then, The Shorts Pub has grown to include five storefronts, including a Shorts store and a private dining space, The South End. Kerry joined us on this segment to unveil a perfectly timed Christmas holiday feature from Shorts Brewing, “The Short’s Holiday Battle Plan.” This seasonal 12-pack of beer is designed with a Home Alone-inspired theme and includes four special new beers from Shorts Brewing all with unique tie-ins to the classic Holiday film. Kerry reminded us that “The Short’s Holiday Battle Plan” is available in stores across Michigan. Online: Shorts Brewing Company

On this episode host, Phil Tower welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Patrick DeHaan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy.com Patrick is the leading source for reliable and accurate information on gas price hikes. In this segment, Patrick joined us to discuss the impact of the new incoming Trump administration on oil prices globally and the domestic price of gasoline in the United States. He also offered his analysis of President-elect Donald Trump's promise to levy 25% tariffs on imports from several companies around the world, including Canada, from which the United States purchases a significant amount of crude oil. Patrick also discussed the impact of electric vehicles, slumping EV sales on oil prices, and the current state of gas prices across the country below three dollars a gallon nationwide. Online: GasBuddy.com

In this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Christy Walcott, Director of Marketing and Communications, Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, and Brad Jacobsen, Director of Ski Operations at Treetops Resort. Christy joined us to talk about Gaylord as a prime destination for snow lovers of all ages! The Gaylord area is a popular spot for travelers in the mood for snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing, extreme tubing, winter rafting, or moonlit walks at midnight. Brad talked about making snow and ideal snow conditions at Treetops and other resorts in the Gaylord Area. Snow is covering the runs at Treetops, and more is on the way. The Gaylord area averages 152 inches of snow annually, making it a true up-north paradise every winter. More online: Gaylord Michigan Treetops Resort

On this segment, host Phil Tower welcomes Micah Herrboldt, waste reduction educator at the Kent County Department of Public Works. Micah joined us to announce that the Kent County Department of Public Works has released its 2024 Holiday Recycling Guide…it’s full of helpful information for county residents on the safe disposal of batteries, holiday decor, and more. The annual guide is focused on helping keep items out of landfills – which are no place for holiday cheer – and educating residents on items that are commonly tossed in the trash but can be recycled. From wrapping paper and gift bags to that pesky children’s toy packaging and all the batteries, holiday string lights, and frying oil for holiday meals, the DPW has instructions on how to limit holiday waste and properly dispose of or recycle these items. The DPW's website provides more information and the complete Holiday Recycling Guide.

In this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). Michigan seat belt use rate fell again in 2024. However, the Hands-Free Law has helped reduce handheld device usage by 1.2 percent. For the second year in a row, Michigan’s seat belt use rate fell slightly, according to the results from a grant-funded direct observation study conducted by Michigan State University. The 2024 study, conducted in May and June, determined Michigan's seat belt use rate of 92.0 percent. The usage drop was a 0.4 percentage point decrease from the reported rate of 92.4 in 2023. Katie stressed, “We must remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. Every time we buckle up, we protect ourselves and everyone on the road.” In Michigan, seat belt use observation studies over the last ten years (2014-2023) indicate the overall annual use rate among front-seat occupants ranged from 92.4 to 94.5 percent. Notable: The state’s highest seat belt use rate was 97.9 percent in 2009. Online Resources: Michigan OHSP OHSP videos titled “Perfect World” and “Something Stops You”

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Dr. Jordan Taylor, D.O., a UM Health-West neurologist. Dr. Taylor joined us to discuss the importance of stroke prevention and awareness, as we recently marked October 29th as World Stroke Day. As an expert on strokes and stroke prevention, Dr. Taylor joined us to discuss stroke prevention, trends, and treatment innovations. We know that strokes are a leading cause of disability and death: Stroke rates are steady for adults 65+ but rising in younger groups, specifically for persons 45 to 64 years: Stroke rates are up nearly 16%, and for persons 18 to 44 years: Stroke rates up almost 15% Some contributing factors: Obesity, high blood pressure, opioid use, and cigarette smoking. WARNING SIGNS – BE FAST: Balance – Sudden loss of balance or coordination Eyes – Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes Face – Drooping or numbness on one side of the face Arms – Weakness or numbness in one arm Speech – Slurred speech or difficulty speaking Time – Time to call 911 immediately More online: U of M Health West Topics addressed: stroke awareness, stroke warning sounds, stroke symptoms, High blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and stroke.

In this episode, we speak with Shannon Hills, a Regional Administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services. Shannon walks us through signing up for health insurance through healthcare.gov. Open Enrollment is the time for people without health insurance to find an affordable, quality plan. Millions of people lack health insurance and now is the time to take advantage of the excellent coverage options and prices available at HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment began November 1 and continues to January 15. Shannon reminded us that people seeking healthcare must select a plan by December 15 to ensure coverage starting January 1. Open Enrollment is also when enrolled people can change their health plan and update their application information. Shannon reminded us that available healthcare plans change yearly, so it's worth reviewing what’s available. The healthcare.gov website has been improved dramatically and streamlined to make finding affordable healthcare more accessible than ever. The toll-free number for questions and additional information is 800-318-2596 Online: Healthcare.gov Topics addressed:

On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Dawn Baker, Festival Manager for the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival. Dawn gave us a final preview of the upcoming Festival, which will return to DeVos Place in downtown November 21-23. Dawn also let us know tickets are still available for Thursday's “Cheers for Charity” in the Grand Gallery space, benefitting Hospice of Michigan. The event will be an upscale experience featuring a dozen restaurants and specialty food producers serving mouth-watering small plates, food and beverage demonstrations on the Meijer Food Stage, hand-selected beverages, and much more. Tickets Plus more information about this year's International Wine, Beer & Food Festival is at grwinefestival.com Topics Addressed:

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Gordon Oosting, Board Member and CFO with Mel Trotter Ministries. Gordon joined us for an update on the impact of the services of Mel Trotter ministries and to talk about the upcoming WOOD Radio & Mel Trotter Ministries Turkey Drop on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Turkey Drop is an annual tradition in West Michigan. Mel Trotter Ministries, WOOD Radio, and Celebration Cinema partner for an entire day devoted to collecting frozen turkeys for our neighbors in need in the greater Grand Rapids area. This year's goal is to collect 5,000 turkeys. Online: WOOD Radio & Mel Trotter Ministries Turkey Drop

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with Reverend Parris McMurray, Senior Pastor of the Renaissance Church of God in Christ. Renaissance Church of God in Christ on 33rd Street SE here in Grand Rapids is home to a Neighborhood Wellness Center, where residents can go to receive their fall vaccinations. The church partners with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and they are one of the 22 Neighborhood Wellness Center locations in Michigan. We spoke with Reverend McMurray to hear the backstory of how his church became a Neighborhood Wellness Center and about its positive impact on his parishioners and those who access its services. Online: Neighborhood Wellness Centers

In this segment, Phil Tower welcomes back Ron Jenkins, Director, and Kateri Schneider, the actor playing the lead role of Dorthy, in LionHeart Productions newest presentation, The Wizard of Oz Live on Stage…….. November 8-10, 15 & 16, 2024, at Grant Fine Arts Center. LionHeart Productions is a community theater organization based in Grant, Michigan. For over twenty years, it has produced family-friendly productions for Newaygo County. For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, check out LionHeart Productions

In this segment, Phil Tower welcomes Ilhiana Rojas Saldana, executive and leadership coach, DEI consultant, bestselling author, and international motivational speaker. Ilhiana is the featured keynote speaker at Inforum Michigan’s Capstone Dinner on Thursday, November 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. Ilhiana founded BeLIVE Coaching & Consulting and is the co-president of United Latinas. Saldana brings over 20 years of global executive experience from her work with Fortune 500 companies in Mexico and the U.S. Her leadership and business strategy expertise has benefitted numerous professionals and organizations. During Inforum’s Capstone Dinner, Saldana will share strategies on the transformative power of self-advocacy, embracing one’s unique voice, and confidently stepping into your power and amplifying your area of influence. Inforum is a leading professional organization that fosters strategic connections and accelerates women's careers across Southeast and West Michigan. Inforum Online lhiana Rojas Saldana Online

Host Phil Tower focuses on elections and preparing for election day with Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus-Lyons on this week's program. We devoted the whole program to discussing voting, preparing for elections, and the issue of election integrity. Posthumus-Lyons made it clear that she and her team with the clerk's office have been working overtime to assure that she and her team with the clerk's office have been working overtime to ensure that this general election on November election on November 5 runs smoothly and accurately. She also told us that election transparency is a priority for her and her team and that every Kent County voter should trust the voting process. Posthumus-Lyons told us that she wants the election process to be accessible to the public. She even invited county residents to watch the testing of voting machines and ask any additional questions about the process. She recently told WOOD TV 8, “We’re inserting a number of ballots into the tabulator to ensure that it counts what it’s supposed to count, that it doesn’t count what it’s not supposed to. So, if a voter makes a mistake or overvotes, we want to give the voter that option to correct their ballot,” he said. “…The public can see and observe that whole process.” 71% of Michigan adults 18 and over participated in the 2020 presidential election, which is the highest percentage since the 1960 presidential election (Kennedy vs. Nixon) We also discussed absentee ballots and early in-person voting with Lisa Posthumus-Lyons. She stressed the importance of getting ballots in on time, especially for absentee ballot voters. She recommended dropping the ballots off at the township ballot boxes and not mailing them to ensure that they are received on time and counted. Key Registration deadlines: In-person at local election office on Election Day: Nov 5 Absentee ballot deadlines: Request ballot deadline: Nov 1 by 5:00 p.m. EDT Return ballot by mail (received by): Nov 5 by 8:00 p.m. EST Return ballot in person: Nov 5 by 8:00 p.m. EST Online: KentCountyVotes.com

On this week's full program, Phil Tower welcomes back Chad Livengood, the politics editor and columnist at The Detroit News. In our second visit this year with Chad Livengood on the West Michigan weekend program, we covered a wide range of topics related to the presidential race, Michigan politics, and, specifically, the tight Senate race between Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin. Former President Trump, in a widely covered speech before the Detroit Economic Club on October 10th, everyone was talking about a comment Trump made when he asked what could happen if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win. Trump was quoted as saying, “It will be like Detroit. Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands.” Many people in Detroit and beyond expressed understandable outrage. Still, Trump’s supporters said the national media seized upon that comment and took it entirely out of context. Chad attended the Detroit Economic Club speech and shared his views on what happened that day. Both candidates, former President Donald Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris, have made numerous trips to Michigan and are likely to make several more as the presidential race becomes more important and magnified as we approach election day. Chad also discussed the key Senate race between Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R). As we recorded this program, the polls showed that both candidates are in a virtual dead heat in their effort to replace retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D) seat in the U.S. Senate Additionally, we talked about absentee ballots and the importance of early in-person voting, which Chad felt could have a major impact on the election here in Michigan. Finally, we ended our conversation by discussing the importance of trusting the election outcome, precisely the idea of election integrity. A September survey by the Gallup organization found that 57% of Americans say they are very or somewhat confident that the votes for president this year will be accurately cast and counted. The Gallup research noted that this percentage of voters aligns with how Americans have viewed the election results most years since 2008. However, the research noted that only 28% of Republicans have faith in the accuracy of the vote. Gallup Survey On Election Trust. You can read Chad’s stories here in The Detroit News. TOPICS ADDRESSED: the presidential election 2024, presidential politics, election integrity, get-out-the-vote efforts, absentee voting, early in-person voting, election safety, and media coverage of the presidential race.

On this week's program, host Phil Tower welcomes Doug Stanton and Anne Stanton of the National Writers Series. They joined us to discuss the fall 2024 season of The National Writers Series in Traverse City, Michigan. Doug Stanton is a journalist, lecturer, screenwriter, and author of New York Times bestsellers In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors and Horse Soldiers, which was the basis of the 2018 film 12 Strong. Doug is also co-founder of the National Writers Series. Along with Doug Stanton, Anne Stanton is also a co-founder of the National Writers Series and currently serves as its executive director. She is also the editorial director for Mission Point Press. NWS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging world-renowned authors in meaningful conversations in the Traverse City area. The organization also sponsors "Raising Writers" programs to help students express themselves, explore the world through reading, develop their imaginations, and think critically. Since 2010, the National Writers Series has hosted more than 260 authors––including Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, Tayari Jones, Jodi Picoult, Vince Gilligan, and Anthony Doerr––and drawn more than 70,000 people to our events, mostly held at the City Opera House. The events have also sold some 20,000 books through local bookstores. Online: National Writers Series

On this episode, host Phil Tower speaks with bestselling author Philippa Perry, on her book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read: (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) This is an encore replay of our interview with Philippa Perry in February 2020. In her now million-copy bestseller, leading psychotherapist Philippa Perry shares relationships' vital do's and don'ts. This is a book described as “for us all.” Whether you are interested in understanding how your upbringing has shaped you, looking to handle your child's feelings or wishing to support your partner, you will find indispensable information and realistic tips in these pages. Philippa Perry's sane, sage, and judgment-free advice is an essential resource on how to have the best possible relationships with the people who matter to you most. Online: Philippa Perry The Book: The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) TOPICS ADDRESSED: marriage relationships, parenting and marriages, Childcare, parenting advice.

On this episode, host Phil Tower welcomes Former Michigan Governor James Blanchard, a board member of the newly formed Michigan Democracy Defense Project. In mid-September, former Michigan governors and top elected leaders from both sides of the aisle announced the launch of the Democracy Defense Project in Michigan. Former Govs. John Engler, a Republican, and Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, join former Republican U.S. Congressman Mike Bishop and former Democratic Lt. Gov. John Cherry as board members of Democracy Defense Project, a national organization working to defend the transparency, safety, security, and validity of Michigan’s elections system. At a time when America’s confidence in our elections and democracy has significantly eroded, the Democracy Defense Project was created to bring together trusted leaders to bolster faith and trust in the integrity of our elections system. Democracy Defense Project