Midday West Michigan

We talk about a manufacturing slowdown and forecast the West Michigan economy for the remainder of 2017. Also, an analysis of drug costs and GVSU's new Design Thinking Academy.

Another successful year in Grand Valley State University Athletics has the Lakers poised to win their fourth straight All-Sports Director's Cup. Earlier in the week D.J. Foster interviewed first year Athletic Director Keri Becker on the tremendous 2016-17 campaign.

Voice Gr is now VoiceKent. The annual community survey conducted by the Dorothy A Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University is now partnering with the Kent County Health Department gathering public health information. WGVU talks with Kyle Caldwell, executive director at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University discussing the history and impacts of the study dating back to 2001. 

Wonder Woman and Captain Underpants make their big screen debuts, expanding the summer blockbuster season.  WGVU talks with Ron Van Timmeran and Eric Kuiper about these films and a new slate of Indie movies opening.

Former Steelcase CEO, Jim Hackett, now Ford Motor Company's CEO. Grand Valley State University preparing young entrepreneurs with pitch competition. Detroit law firm moving to Grand Rapids market.

The Art of Rube Goldberg exhibit is open at the Grand Rapids Art Museum through August 27, 2017. GRAM says the exhibition is "Marking the first comprehensive retrospective exhibition of Goldberg's work since 1970."

Ron Platt is Chief Curator at the GRAM explaining how all the moving pieces in Goldberg's mind and drawing work.

Johnny Depp returns in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.  WGVU talks with Ron Van Timmeran from Celebration Cinema about that movie plus The Lovers, and Chuck.

Alien: Covenant is the blockbuster opening film of the weekend, along with Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, Everything, Everything, Low Riders and Norman.  WGVU talks with Ron Van Timmeran from Celebration Cinema about these movies and special events happening this week in western Michigan.

Michigan lawmakers are hopeful a state operated drug-monitoring system will slow opioid abuse.

Spectrum Health is bringing mammographies to Meijer customers.

Student Athletes from the Grand Valley State University's Football team enrolled in a bone marrow donation program last spring.

This winter tight end Nick Keizer found out he was a match with someone in need and didn't hesitate to make a life saving donation.