Five Republican candidates held the third GOP presidential debate on Wednesday in Miami, meeting to discuss U.S. foreign policy and the war in Israel. Taking the stage Wednesday were Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.  North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson were not present at the debate, since the Republican National Committee tightened polling requirements to qualify. SEE MORE ..read more

Voters approved a 15-year operating millage for the Kent District Library on Tuesday, 77%-23%. The millage rate is actually 10.9% less than the previous KDL millage. According to KDL, the lower millage will save taxpayers $3.1 million annually or $46.5 million over its life. With the lower rate, the average household will pay $145.75 a year, or $2.80 a week. Executive Director Lance Werner explained to FOX 17 that they can levy a lower tax rate because taxable values across the county have gone up, adding that new technologies have helped the library become more efficient and cut back on unnec ..read more

It's a name West Michigan knows all too well. "It does cracks me up sometimes, saying I'm never gonna vote for you because you changed the layout of that store," Peter Meijer joked during an interview at his home with FOX 17. "That store" Meijer, or "Meijer's" as many affectionately call it. But for the grandson of Fred Meijer, he's hoping to add a different "S" to his name come 2024 Senator. "This race is going on, I want to continue to serve, I cannot stay on the sidelines," says the former District 3 Congressman and Iraq War Veteran. Meijer lost his re-election bid in the Republican primar ..read more

Former Congressman, Peter Meijer will sit down with FOX 17 in studio as polls open election day morning to discuss his newly-announced bid for U.S. Senate. Hes looking to gain the Republican nod and run to replace outgoing Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2024. The Army veteran faces an uphill battle after publicly accepting the 2020 election results, voting to impeach former President Donald Trump, and calling out both participants of the January 6 insurrection and Republicans pushing election fraud propaganda. Positions for which he faced threats against his life. He was elected to the US House of ..read more

A package of bills passed through the Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday, and are now one step closer to becoming law. In October the Clean Energy Future plan - comprising of Senate Bills 271, 273, and 502 - passed through the Senate. To set clean energy and renewable energy standards, boost energy efficiency targets, and expand the role of the Michigan Public Service Commission. The House passed those same bills this week along with House Bills 5120-512, which are aimed at streamlining the permitting process for wind and solar. Democrats and a coalition of groups including Great La ..read more

Congresswoman Hillary Scholten introduced new legislation Wednesday to "combat the immigration court backlog and strengthen due process rights for unaccompanied migrant children." U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) are also co-sponsors of the Immigration Court Efficiency and Childrens Court Act , according to a release. In a statement Rep. Scholten writes, Lets be clear about one thing infants and children should not be in a situation where they have to stand trial in immigration ..read more

A Michigan resident filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of State to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 primary ballot. The lawsuit, which was filed with the Michigan Court of Claims, alleges the Secretary of State did not have authority to change the primary date from March 12, 2024 to Feb. 27, 2024. Furthermore, the suit claims the Secretary of State can determine if a presidential candidate is eligible to appear on the ballot, citing the U.S. Constitution. Trump requested to be added as a co-defendant in the lawsuit. A judge has since denied that request. Howe ..read more

Federal agencies can continue business as usual until November 17 according to the temporary funding plan passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden over the weekend. The measure passed after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) dropped demands for steep cuts favored by Republicans. The move may cost McCarthy his position. House Republicans, fueled by hard-right demands for lower spending, had been forcing a confrontation over federal spending. In a shutdown, some government entities would be exempt Social Security checks, for example, would still go out and other functions would be ..read more

Rep. Matt Gaetz said Sunday he will try to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his leadership position this week after McCarthy relied on Democratic support to pass legislation that avoided a government shutdown. Bring it on, McCarthy responded. Gaetz, a longtime McCarthy nemesis, said in broadcast interviews that McCarthy was in brazen, material breach of agreements he made with House Republicans in January when he ran for speaker. As a result, Gaetz said he would be filing a motion to vacate the chair, as House rules permit. McCarthys response: So be it. Bring it o ..read more

John Sellek, CEO and chief Strategist for Harbor Strategic breaks down the republican debate -- looking at which candidates have the most to gain and who will likely walk away as the top challenger to Trump. With Iowa just over 100 days away, republican candidates are vying to keep voters' attention, trying to determine if Trump's conspicuous absence or his visit to the UAW picket line will have an impact. Sellek started his non-partisan PR firm in 2019 and has worked with campaigns for Gov. John Engler (R), 2 GOP Speakers of the House, 2 GOP Attorneys General, and managed AG Bill Schuette's 2 ..read more