Good morning, Portage.

A West Michigan criminal defense attorney said that letting former Grand Rapids officer Christopher Schurr testify in his murder trial on May 2—when he faced charges for the 2022 death of Patrick Lyoya—may have hurt his defense as jurors questioned his self-defense claim.

A lawsuit filed on March 18th in Kalamazoo County court claims that a white Meijer employee at the South Westnedge Avenue store accused Black shopper Rashawanda Dick of stealing gift cards on Dec.

14th—she said the incident left her frightened and humiliated, and the suit, transferred to federal court on April 30, seeks over $25,000 in damages.

Holland's Tulip Time festival kicked off Friday, May 2 — a shift from its usual Saturday start — with extended events celebrating the 90th Dutch Dance, including dance lessons, traditional performances, a Dutch Lunch, and family dances while country singer Rodney Atkins is set to perform on May 9. The festival runs until May 11 and also offers guided walking tours, fine art exhibits, a carnival, and a tulip immersion garden.

Gull Lake girls soccer team rose to the No. 1 spot in the local rankings — they won key games including an upset over Portage Central.

Other teams such as Otsego and Kalamazoo Hackett are also climbing as the regular season continues.

WMU men's basketball added Canadian forward Hudson Ward via the transfer portal from Penn State.

The 6-foot-7 recruit—rated a top-200 prospect—will join the Broncos as they prepare for the 2025-26 season.