WML Thursday: Depression in West Mi., Box Office Previews, & the Nutcracker

Grand Rapids has a rising case of depression, Dr. Bobby Belmonte joins us to talk about what could be affecting your brain and how you might not even be thinking about it.

April Butler from Celebration! Cinema joins us to talk about what's coming to this Box Office this weekend and what you should be looking out for!

The Grand Rapids Ballet joins us this morning to talk about the Nutcracker and it's production - and why you should go see it!

BIG 3

1

The highly anticipated and deeply important UK general election is underway today. Brits must choose between drastically different pathsto the Brexit finish line.

2

Michigan’s Legislature voted Wednesday to legalize sports betting and internet gambling. 

3

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday began debating the two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump -- one for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of Congress. It sets up a potential impeachment vote before Christmas, and a (doomed) Senate trial in January with the Democrats lacking the votes they would need to convict.

Notables 

Today cloudy, breezy and not as cold with afternoon snow mainly north, possibly mixed with rain. Highs in the mid to upper 30s. 

 If you're looking for a new member of your family, you may be interested in taking part in the Bissell Pet Foundation's final Empty the Shelters event this weekend. Starting on Friday, Dec. 13, 45 shelters in Michigan will be offering reduced-fee pet adoptions.

Popeyes has debuted a chicken-themed ugly Christmas sweater

That would makeQUITE a while elephant gift

IHOP is opening a fast casual restaurant called 'Flip'd'

For when you absolutely need pancakes 

but can't stick around to eat them in a booth.

Today is National Poinsettia Day.

Poinsettias are named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant to America in 1828.

Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico

They became associated with the Christmas holiday and are popular seasonal decorations.

How many are sold in the U.S. during the typical holiday season? 

Poinsettias are the most popular potted plant in the country and their arrival on store shelves signals the beginning of the holiday season. Every year more than 70 million poinsettias are sold within a six-week period at a nationwide value of more than 250-million dollars. The majority of the poinsettias sold are red, but growers are always looking for the next niche market for these holiday plants so new varieties are constantly being developed. Since 1996, researchers at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food Agricultural Sciences have grown these experimental plants as part of their annual Poinsettia Variety Trial. Lead by horticultural scientist Dr. Jim Barrett, the six month long trial grows more than six thousand plants and a hundred different varieties each year. Researchers gather critical information on growth time, plant size, and consumer preferences and report the results to growers at yearly Field Day.


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