Utilities strike a deal with activists to avoid a ballot measure. Applications will be accepted beginning June 7th to operate medical marijuana related businesses in Kalamazoo. A fund to rewards tips about crimes against bicyclists continues to grow. A judge dimisses a challenge to Abdul El-Sayed's eligibility to run for governor. WMU moves a step closer to clinching a spot in the MAC baseball tournament.
Two major power companies have struck a deal with a group that’s pushing for utilities to use more renewable energy. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy say they’ll each work to make half of their power “clean” by 2030, partly by using renewable sources and partly through greater efficiency. The Gongwer News Service reports that in exchange, activists with Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan will drop its efforts to put the issue to voters, with a ballot measure that would have required utilities to produce 30 percent renewable energy by 2030.
The Kalamazoo City Clerk says applications will be accepted beginning June 7th for operating medical marijuana Facilities in the city. The city says it will accept applications for five different types of facilities, growers, processors, secure transporters, safety and compliance and provisioning centers. The deadline for submitting applications is June 28th. The city approved ordinances in April to allow medical marijuana related businesses to operate in Kalamazoo.
A fund that rewards tips on serious crimes against bicyclists in Kalamazoo County is growing. County Prosecutor Jeff Getting says it now has more than $3,000. That's up from $500 last year when the fund started with an anonymous donation. Getting says the number of serious crimes against people on bikes is growing. He says the reports the fund encourages help police catch those responsible. Reports can be made by calling 343-2100 or through the Kalamazoo Silent Observer website.
The Michigan Democratic Party says it considers the question of Abdul El-Sayed’s eligibility to run for governor settled after a Michigan Court of Claims judge dismissed a challenge. The question of El-Sayed’s eligibility to serve as governor was raised earlier this year. The Michigan Constitution requires the governor to have been a qualified voter for four years before election. El-Sayed spent some time in New York and voted there before returning to Michigan. The Bureau of Elections has ruled that the former Detroit Health Department Director never lost his eligibility to vote in Michigan. Former state lawmaker Gretchen Whitmer and businessman Shir Thanedar are also on the August ballot for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
The Comstock Public Schools are getting a new superintendent. The district says school board trustees have picked Jeffrey Thoenes for the job. He'll replace retiring Comstock Superintendent Todd Mora. Thoenes is expected to start July 1st after details of his contract are worked out. He's now a high school principal in Williamston. Comstock School Board members say they picked Thoenes, in part, because of his background in improving school performance.
Western Michigan started the final baseball series of the regular season with a 10-5 win at Ball State. The Broncos are currently in fifth place in the Mid-American Conference with two games left against the Cardinals Friday and Saturday in Muncie. The top six teams qualify for next week’s MAC tournament in Avon, Ohio.