- The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new voluntary guidelines to lower the sodium content in hundreds of foods.
High sodium is linked to high blood pressure, and supporters say the move could help save thousands of lives.
While not mandatory, consumer advocates say the standards will provide a useful benchmark for gradual sodium reduction.
Americans average salt intake is about 3400 milligrams a day, which is nearly 50 percent more than what experts recommend.
2. Speed limit increases on more than a thousand miles of highway across the state are one step closer to becoming reality.
The state house approved a package of bills that would raise the speed limits on some rural highways to 75 miles per hour, with another 900 miles of highway bumping up to 60.
However, all those highways have to meet certain engineering requirements first.
Republican state representative Bradford Jacobson of Oakland County sponsored the bill and says safety is paramount. The bill now heads to the senate.
3. Kingma's market is expanding, and opening a second location.
According to a release, the new store will be at the corner of Fulton Street and Ada Drive in Ada Township.
It'll include a huge variety of cheeses, a butcher shop, craft beers, and more than 750 wines.
Construction is set to start next month, and officials expect the market to open in 2017.
Kingma's, currently on Plainfield Avenue, has been in the Grand Rapids area for almost 80 years.
4. For the third year in a row, the Mini Maker Faire will return to Grand Rapids.
The faire invites both established and emerging local makers to show what they've created, the event features those who like to tinker in robotics, bicycles, do it yourself science and technology and more.
The Maker Faire will be held at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Grand Valley State University's Hall of Engineering on August 20 and 21.
Tickets will be available this summer at the museum's website.
5. Hundreds of athletes are making their way to Central Michigan University today for the start of the Special Olympics Summer Games.
The competition is one of six special Olympic events across Michigan.
The summer games features 10 different events such as basketball, weightlifting, and gymnastics.
2600 athletes are expected to take part in the games which run through Saturday.
