Robb Westaby

Grand Rapids

Traffic Reporter and Web Producer at WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, MI)

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Articles

New state guide provides info on which fish are safe to catch and eat

2 days ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

LANSING, Mich. — An updated guide to which fish caught or bought in Michigan are safe to eat is now available. Called the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide, it offers specific guidelines to eating fish species by county — plus Lake Michigan — where the fish may be caught. Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services regularly examines fish from the state's lakes and rivers for dangerous chemicals, including PFAS and PFOS.
Study: Removing fluoride would mean more cavities in kids and higher health costs

4 days ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

CHICAGO, Ill. — A newly-released study examines the potential financial impact of removing fluoride from public water across the United States, estimating that health care costs could reach billions. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed intentions to alter the country’s water system, advocating for the removal of fluoride. Grand Rapids became the first city to add fluoride to its water in 1945, a decision that is widely considered a health victory.
CHILD HEATSTROKE: How fast temps can rise in a parked car

5 days ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Despite Michigan's cooler weather, heatstroke in vehicles still pose a serious risk. Between 1998 and 2025, eleven children in the state died after being left in hot cars, according to data from NoHeatStroke.org from San Jose State University. Experts point to alarming rises in temperature within vehicles. When the outside temperature is 70 degrees, the internal vehicle temperature can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes.
Popular beach is harder than ever to get to

1 week ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

LAKETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — It's harder than ever these days to enjoy Allegan County's only free beach. The stairs that made it easier to get down the dunes at Laketown Township Beach was closed in March and removed piece by piece in April after the stairs were deemed unsafe. Beach goers were able to use the stairs for 37 years.
Construction on Plainfield Avenue begins, will continue through November

1 week ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Construction has begun on Plainfield Avenue that will affect traffic through November. The project is part of the ongoing “Reimagine Plainfield Avenue” initiative from Plainfield Township, which began planning in 2021. This project involves more than just the repaving of Plainfield Avenue between I-96 and Airway Street. The goal is to implement “traffic calming” measures.
USE BOTH LANES: understanding how the 'zipper merge' can cut down on traffic

2 weeks ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby |Kathryn Havrilla

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As Michigan gears up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, officials reminding drivers of the use of the “zipper merge” to help manage traffic flow through construction zones. With an estimated 1.3 million people expected to travel over 50 miles from home, the state is preparing for a significant increase in vehicles on the road. The “zipper merge” allows both lanes of traffic to remain open until reaching the merge point, where drivers alternate using the lanes.
Big wedding month coming up, and wedding costs are soaring

2 weeks ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

MICHIGAN — In Michigan, the average cost of a wedding is approximately $28,330, according to WeddingWire.com, a website affiliated with The Knot. The national average cost of a wedding has reached $33,000, which equals $284 per guest, with an average guest count of 116. The reception venue typically represents the largest expense in a wedding, while the bride's dress tends to be the smallest expense.
ROAD ZIPPER: Metal monster or gargantuan gadget?

3 weeks ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

IONIA COUNTY, Mich. — First, we’re not talking about the so-called “zipper merge.” That’s where drivers approach a lane closure using both lanes right up to the lane closure, then take turns merging into one lane. We’re looking at a machine that actually moves the concrete barrier in the construction zone, creating a second lane on one side of the highway and eliminating a lane on the other.
West Michigan prices confirm latest Consumer Price Index

3 weeks ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Lower egg prices in West Michigan are contributing to easing the pain at the grocery store these days. Nationally, the Consumer Price Index rose in April but at a much slower pace. The CPI from the Bureau of Labor Statistics went up by 0.2%, while the index increased by 2.4% in March. The result is an annual inflation rate of 2.3%. But the relief is not expected to last. Economists generally agree that President Trump’s tariffs will lead to higher consumer prices.
LIFE HACKS: Tips on dealing with stress

1 month ago | fox17online.com | Robb Westaby

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In today's fast-paced world, stress is an omnipresent challenge. However, how we respond to stress can make a big difference. Dr. David Rzeszutko offers an unexpected perspective on stress. He is vice president of medical and clinical operations at Priority Health and is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics.