An environmentalist group is suing to block a development in Saugatuck Township. May Jobless rates dropped over the last year in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek labor markets. Another candidate wants to run for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Southwest Michigan.
An environmental group has filed a lawsuit over a proposed development near Lake Michigan in Saugatuck Township. The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance has filed a motion in Allegan County Circuit Court. They want to reverse the Saugatuck Township board’s decision to approve condominiums and a private boat basin. (Holland Sentinel)
Unemployment was down in May, compared to a year ago, in both the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek labor markets. The Michigan Department of Management Technology and Budget says the jobless rate in the Kalamazoo Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties was down four-tenths of a percent from May of last year. Unemployment in the Battle Creek MSA dropped .5% from May of 2016. (Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget)
There are now two Democrats in the race for Congress in Southwest Michigan’s Sixth District. Eponine Garrod is a quality control supervisor at Pfizer. The other Democratic candidate is Western Michigan University History Professor David Benac. The seat is now held by Republican Fred Uption of Saint Joseph, who's in his 16th term in the House. Upton has not said if he will run for re-election or run for U.S. Senate (Kalamazoo Gazette)
In baseball, Kalamazoo lost to Wisconsin 5-4. The Growlers play two games at Fon Du Lac Friday and Saturday (Kalamazoo Growlers). Battle Creek jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Lakeshore before rain postponed the game. It will be completed August 10th. (Northwoods League)