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West Mich. Red Cross volunteers waiting to deploy

Wed, May 22 2013, 12:24 AM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - At this hour, Red Cross volunteers in Michigan remain on standby, ready to help out in Oklahoma on a moment's notice.

But many of them are surprised that they haven't been deployed yet.

Newschannel 3's Jared Werksma joined us with more about how--to one volunteer--this disaster feels just a little bit different. ...

After 8 years, new hope to find missing West Mich. woman

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:12 PM EDT

BATTLE CREEK (NEWSCHANNEL 3) -- There's renewed hope to find a West Michigan woman who's been missing for nearly eight years.

Ashley Parlier was seen walking away from her parent's Urbandale home back in 2005.

Investigators found a renewed hope after a story that made headlines, when three girls missing about a decade were recently found alive in an Ohio home. ...

Special Report: What's on Tap

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:12 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Newschannel 3 I-Team went on a beer run, collecting beer samples all around West Michigan.

We collected and labeled the samples in sterilized containers, looking for what people in the industry say is a widespread problem, dirty tap lines. ...

In wake of Okla. tornado, how safe are our schools?

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:12 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - How safe are your kids at school when a disaster like a tornado strikes?

Newschannel 3's Aaron Dimick reached out to several area school districts to ask that question, and he joined us from Kalamazoo with their responses. ...

Kalamazoo mother shot, killed on north side

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:12 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Kalamazoo mother of three is shot and killed on the city's north side. It happened just before 2:30 Tuesday morning in front of a home in the 1100 block of Cobb Street.

35-year-old Tawana Fullerton's family says they're now trying to figure out how to move forward. ...

Community impact of massive storms

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:11 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The current death toll from Monday's horrific EF-5 twister in Oklahoma was lowered from 51 to 24 on Tuesday.

The list does include several children who were inside a school that took a direct hit.

Unfortunately, that death toll is expected to climb as the search for survivors continues. ...

Vicksburg man concerned over swan deaths from power lines

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:11 PM EDT

VICKSBURG, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - When Art Reigle is walking around in his backyard or sitting out on his porch, he says he is always worrying about whether he'll be witnessing another swan death.

He says it's painful to watch what happens to the majestic white birds as they are blasted with electricity hitting the low power lines behind his house. ...

Red Cross volunteers on standby in Grand Rapids

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:11 PM EDT

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Red Cross volunteers in West Michigan are on standby, and ready to help out in Oklahoma at a moment's notice.

As the images of disaster flash across televisions from coast to coast, the Red Cross in Grand Rapids remains on standby, with volunteers ready to march into the unknown. ...

Van Buren Co. speaker hopes to inspire safe dating in teens

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:11 PM EDT

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Van Buren County mother has dedicated her career to educating studetns through motivational speaking.

Now she's hoping some new training will teach teens how to date safe, by encouraging them to ask permission first. ...

Deadly tornado in Oklahoma

Tue, May 21 2013, 12:44 PM EDT

MOORE, Oklahoma (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Right now search crews are combing through the rubble in an Oklahoma City suburb.

They're searching for survivors after a deadly tornado devastated that area.

Officials have since revised the number of victims who lost their lives Monday in Moore, Oklahoma, saying 24 people, including 7-children were killed. ...

Officer facing alcohol charges resigns

Tue, May 21 2013, 12:42 PM EDT

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Battle Creek police have confirmed that an officer accused of driving drunk while at work has resigned.

Officer Jennifer Appl resigned Monday.

She is facing charges of driving under the influence of liquor and possession of a firearm while intoxicated. ...

1 Killed, 1 critical following shooting in Kalamazoo

Tue, May 21 2013, 07:17 AM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Kalamazoo Public Safety officers confirm a woman shot in Kalamazoo overnight has died.

Officers responded to a home at the corner of Cobb and Florence around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.

They found the woman and a male victim on the ground suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. ...

Preparing for severe weather

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:10 AM EDT

NEWSCHANNEL 3 – West Michigan is bracing for the possibility of severe weather Tuesday.

While it is not on the scale of what hit Oklahoma on Monday, it can still be very dangerous.

Keep in mind, tornadoes can strike with little to no notice. ...

Former superintendent claims he didn't violate contract

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:10 AM EDT

PORTAGE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Former Portage Public Schools Superintendent Ric Perry is scheduled to have an arbitration hearing Tuesday.

He claims he did not violate his contract and the district should not have forced him out .

The district suspended Perry with pay back in December after an investigation uncovered he was having an affair with the district's human resources director. ...

New teacher evaluation system in GR

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:10 AM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Grand Rapids Public Schools now has a new system for evaluating teachers.

Monday night the school board unanimously approved a new three-point system that will be put in place next fall.

65 percent of a teacher's evaluation will be based on instructional practice and classroom observation. ...

Palisades releases repair plan

Tue, May 21 2013, 08:10 AM EDT

COVERT, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The problem-plagued Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township is releasing its repair plan.

The plant has been shut down for nearly two weeks after a leaky water storage tank caused 79 gallons of slightly radioactive materials to flow into Lake Michigan. ...

West Michigan schools and volunteers prepare for severe weather response

Tue, May 21 2013, 12:34 AM EDT

GRAND RAPIDS (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Red Cross of West Michigan has already been put on alert.

It’s preparing local volunteers for deployment calls in the next couple days, as soon as crews on the ground in Oklahoma determine what type of support is necessary. ...

Dollars for Doctors part two

Tue, May 21 2013, 12:24 AM EDT

MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Earlier on Newschannel 3, the I-Team took a look at payments being made by pharmaceutical companies.

Click here to see that report. ...

Kalamazoo Co. man arrested for beating dog to death

Mon, May 20 2013, 11:14 PM EDT

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Kalamazoo County man with a violent criminal record is arrested Monday night, accused of beating his neighbor's dog to death.

The dog's owner tells us animal control ordered an autopsy and found it had died from blunt force trauma. ...

Death toll expected to rise as tornado clean-up begins

Mon, May 20 2013, 11:14 PM EDT

MOORE, Okla. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Casualty numbers are starting to come in from the Oklahoma City area, where a monstrous tornado has left a scene of devastation.

The state medical examiner's office says at least 51 people have been killed and that toll is expected to rise. ...