News

Kalamazoo has been home to one of the country's most prestigious competitions for young people for the past 38 years. Saturday, the Stulberg International String Competition returns with performances by twelve semi-finalists during the day and a final concert by six finalists in the evening. 

Consumers Energy customers will soon see slightly bigger electric bills. The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved an $89 million rate increase, 40 percent less than originally sought by the utility.

The commission says that means a typical residential customer will see an increase of about a $1.67 per month. Consumers Energy had initially asked for a rate increase of $148 million.

Albion School Board members have voted to close the district's high school to cover a projected $1-million shortfall for next year.  The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the board voted 5-1 Tuesday night to become a K-8 district

A group of Republicans in Congress is casting an eye on the Endangered Species Act. The law was approved in 1973 with encouragement by the Nixon administration to help prevent threatened plants and animals from becoming extinct. The federal threatened and endangered list includes several Michigan species like the Kirtland’s warbler and the piping plover.

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant remains offline because of a leak in a safety injection refueling tank. West Michigan Congressman Fred Upton toured the plant on Monday with a commissioner from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.