The Food Bank of South Central Michigan is looking for a new executive director. An anonymous tip line is set up to report threats against Kalamazoo schools. The Public Media Network is considering layoffs now that Portage is withdrawing from its agreement. A WMU sophomore long jumps her way into next month's NCAA outdoor track and field championship.
Lawmakers in the state House passed more than two dozen bills Thursday aimed at stopping sexual assault. The legislation does things like require education in schools about sexual assault and encourage colleges and universities to improve their sexual assault policies. Other bills would create new crimes related to sexual assault. The legislation comes as Michigan continues to grapple with the Larry Nassar scandal. Nassar is the former Michigan State University sports doctor who sexually assaulted his patients under the guise of treatment for decades.
The executive director of the Food Bank of South Central Michigan is resigning. The Battle Creek Enquirersays Patty Parker is stepping down from the organization she has led since 2016. The Food Bank of South Central Michigan serves eight counties. The chair of the food bank’s board of directors says the search for a new executive director will begin immediately.
A package of bills in the Michigan house would professionalize adult entertainment clubs in an attempt to protect workers. The bills would require that dancers be at least 21 years old and that both clubs and dancers have licenses. Democratic Representative Leslie Love is the bill sponsor. She says the bills would also require a three dollar fee to enter clubs which would go to an abuse-prevention fund. Love says the bill has bipartisan support. (WCMU)
The executive director of the Public Media Network says layoffs are being considered after the city of Portage decided to end its arrangement with the organization. The Portage City Council voted last month to notify PMN that it plans to withdraw its membership in July. Public Media Network Executive Director Matt Schuster tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that the organization is considering other options such as charging for services that it now provides free of charge. Shuster says the $380,000 a year contributed by Portage represents 30 to 35 percent of PMN’s revenue.
Kalamazoo Public Schools has established an anonymous tip line to report potential threats against schools. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that KPS Superintendent Michael Rice announced the tip line during Thursday night’s school board meeting. The number – 269-488-1019 will be available 24 hours a day, voice mail messages will be sent to student services and campus safety.
The Michigan State Police will send extra patrols out over the holiday weekend. All 30 state police posts across the state will enforce seat belt use and safe driving practices. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Mike Shaw says troopers will be stopping vehicles for following other cars too closely and speeding, as well as look out for impaired drivers. Shaw says patrols will also help with vehicles that break down or travelers who get lost on the freeway.
A Western Michigan University sophomore has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field championship. Gabrielle Collins tied for fifth in the long jumpduring the NCAA East Preliminaries Thursday night in Tampa Bay. She jumped 20 feet 5 and three quarters inches. The NCAA championships will be held June 6th at the University of Oregon.