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Articles by Susan Samples
“We will rise” Muskegon Heights police chief on deficit, turmoil Original
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — The affidavit that authorized a July raid on Muskegon Heights City Hall contained disturbing allegations of public corruption in the struggling city of approximately 10,000. The document, filed by state police in Walker District Court and recently unsealed, included accusations of fraudulent billing, excessive overtime, bid-rigging of public auctions and the hiring of unqualified family and friends at excessive pay rates.
‘Stealing houses,’ rigged bids, corruption in Muskegon Heights, MSP says Original
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — Elected leaders and their families in Muskegon Heights personally profited from the sale of foreclosed properties in the struggling city, according to a newly unsealed court record. The 46-page affidavit, filed by Michigan State Police, secured a judge’s authorization of multiple search warrants, setting the stage for the high-profile raids executed July 23 at Muskegon Heights City Hall and several homes across the county.
Man left calm voicemail after mother shot and killed, father says
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man arrested after his mother was shot and killed near Sparta had long struggled with his mental health, his father said, but had not threatened to harm others. "It was just kind of on-and-off-again thing," the father said. "And I don't know if he was on his meds or off his meds. I really don't know. ...
Man left ‘calm’ voicemail after mother shot and killed, father says
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man arrested after his mother was shot and killed near Sparta had long struggled with his mental health, his father said, but had not threatened to harm others. “It was just kind of on-and-off-again thing,” the father said. “And I don’t know if he was on his meds or off his meds. I really don’t know.
Man left âcalmâ voicemail after mother shot and killed, father says
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) â A man arrested after his mother was shot and killed near Sparta had long struggled with his mental health, his father said, but had not threatened to harm others. “It was just kind of on-and-off-again thing,” the father said. “And I don’t know if he was on his meds or off his meds. I really don’t know.
Man left ‘calm’ voicemail after mother shot and killed, father says Original
Editor’s note: The video report above aired Oct. 15, 2026. ALGOMA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man arrested after his mother was shot and killed near Sparta had long struggled with his mental health, his father said, but had not threatened to harm others. “It was just kind of on-and-off-again thing,” the father said. “And I don’t know if he was on his meds or off his meds. I really don’t know.
In Muskegon Heights, a non-profit seeks to rehab, donate home to deserving family
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — In a West Michigan community that’s struggling to turn around vacant homes and empty lots, there’s a bright spot on the horizon. Legacy Real Estate Partners of Muskegon has launched an initiative to renovate a Muskegon Heights home free of charge and give it away to a deserving family. The project is called The Legacy Home Initiative and it was pitched to the Muskegon Heights City Council at a Monday night meeting.
In Muskegon Heights, a non-profit seeks to rehab, donate home to deserving family
In Muskegon Heights, a non-profit seeks to rehab, donate home to deserving family Tue, October 13, 2026 at 5:03 PM EDT MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — In a West Michigan community that's struggling to turn around vacant homes and empty lots, there's a bright spot on the horizon. Legacy Real Estate Partners of Muskegon has launched an initiative to renovate a Muskegon Heights home free of charge and give it away to a deserving family.
In Muskegon Heights, a non-profit seeks to rehab, donate home to deserving family
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. At yesterday's Muskegon Heights city council meeting, Legacy Real Estate Partners offered to rehab a home in the Heights for free, and give it away for free, to a deserving family. (Oct. 13, 2026) MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WOOD) — In a West Michigan community that’s struggling to turn around vacant homes and empty lots, there’s a bright spot on the horizon.
Man convicted of rape, murder of baby son gets first chance at parole
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The letter she had been dreading arrived Sept. 24. “It was a gut punch,” Laurel Lievense of Grandville told Target 8. “I made a plea to my family and friends over social media. I said, ‘It’s go time. Get your letters ready.'” Damon Andrew Jackson, one of 300 or so “juvenile lifers” in Michigan, is eligible for parole after serving more than 25 years.
Man convicted of rape, murder of baby son gets first chance at parole
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. He assaulted and murdered his infant son, and was sentenced to die in prison for it. But Damon Jackson will soon have a shot at parole because he was 17, weeks from turning 18, at the time of the crime. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The letter she had been dreading arrived Sept. 24.
Man convicted of rape, murder of baby son gets first chance at parole
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The letter she had been dreading arrived Sept. 24. "It was a gut punch," Laurel Lievense of Grandville told Target 8. "I made a plea to my family and friends over social media. I said, 'It's go time. Get your letters ready.'" Damon Andrew Jackson, one of 300 or so "juvenile lifers" in Michigan, is eligible for parole after serving more than 25 years.
Man arraigned months after allegedly killing grandmother Original
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — The man accused of killing his 82-year-old grandmother outside the Wyoming home they shared was formally charged this week, nearly three months after the slaying. James William Jackson, 43, was arraigned Wednesday on one count of open murder in connection with the July 19 killing 82-year-old Peggy Jane Dreyer. A judge ordered that he be held without bond pending trial.
‘Betrayal’: She fought drug traffickers in Honduras, but was denied U.S. asylum Original
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Carolina Cnol may have survived a hail of gunfire in Central America, but it wasn’t enough to secure her asylum in the U.S. “I don’t have more time here,” Cnol told Target 8. “It’s hard, but the law is the law.” Born in Honduras, Cnol became a member of Congress and labor lawyer in her home country, fighting for water and housing for workers. Carolina Cnol as a child in Honduras. (Courtesy) Carolina Cnol sits in the Honduran Congress.
Man pleads no contest to assault of Portland girl who later died by suicide Original
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is available at all times by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) — A man who authorities say raped a Portland girl who later died by suicide has pleaded to a felony charge. Blake Kozan, 19, of St. Johns, pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal sexual conduct with a victim under the age of 13. The assault happened the night of Feb.
A Bible and teddy bears: Inside the home of an undocumented worker who died fleeing ICE Original
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Inside a second-floor apartment on the backside of a southwest Grand Rapids home, a handful of men convened for a somber task Sunday afternoon. It’s been one week since Mario Coronado Juarez, 36, died while fleeing an ICE traffic stop; his friends and family had gathered to clear out the room the husband and father from Guatemala had been renting.
A Bible and teddy bears: Inside the home of an undocumented worker who died fleeing ICE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Inside a second-floor apartment on the backside of a southwest Grand Rapids home, a handful of men convened for a somber task Sunday afternoon. It’s been one week since Mario Coronado Juarez, 36, died while fleeing an ICE traffic stop; his friends and family had gathered to clear out the room the husband and father from Guatemala had been renting.
Feds: ICE did not chase man who fled stop before crash Original
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Immigration enforcement officials say they were not chasing a driver when he crashed after taking off when they tried to stop him in Grand Rapids. The crash happened around 7 a.m. Sunday on Century Avenue SW near McKendrick Street. Grand Rapids police say a driver, identified by family as Mario David Coronado Juarez, took off when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tried to stop him and then crashed into a tree. He died at the scene.
ICE tried to stop man before fatal Michigan car crash, police say
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – A fatal car crash in Michigan over the weekend happened after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tried to stop the driver, Grand Rapids police said Tuesday. ICE agents were the first to respond to the scene of the crash Sunday, neighbors told Nexstar’s WOOD. Relatives confirmed that the man who died was Mario David Coronado Juarez, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who had lived and worked in Grand Rapids for about seven years.
ICE tried to stop man before fatal Michigan car crash, police say
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – A fatal car crash in Michigan over the weekend happened after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tried to stop the driver, Grand Rapids police said Tuesday. ICE agents were the first to respond to the scene of the crash Sunday, neighbors told Nexstar's WOOD. Relatives confirmed that the man who died was Mario David Coronado Juarez, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who had lived and worked in Grand Rapids for about seven years.
ICE tried to stop man before fatal Michigan car crash, police say
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