More than $229,000 has been raised to assist Kalamazoo area residents with flood relief. Lawmakers debate laws to address civil asset forfeiture. February jobless rates were up slightly in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek labor markets, compared to a year ago. WMU baseball is swept by Kent State.
The United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region says more than $229,000 has been raised for flood relief in the Kalamazoo area. The United Way and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation began asking for donations after the massive flooding in February. The money raised will be used for things such as water removal, replacing damaged furnaces and water heaters, removing debris and mold remediation. People who need assistance should call 211, which is managed by Gryphon Place. The United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region continues to accept donations through its website.
Lawmakers plan to tackle how law enforcement can take property involved in a crime. Several bills in a House committee would overhaul the state’s civil asset forfeiture law. Some lawmakers want to require prosecutor oversight of property taken. One bill would require officers go through training on property seizure. Another would prevent local governments from creating their own civil asset forfeiture ordinances. Critics of the current procedure say it lets law enforcement take property from people without due process – since it can be seized before there’s a conviction. Law enforcement has expressed approval of some proposed changes.
February jobless rates were up slightly in the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek labor markets, compared to a year ago. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget says the unemployment rate in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area was 5.1% in February, up a tenth of a percent in Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties from a year ago. The Battle Creek labor market’s jobless rate was 5.6%. Unemployment was 5.4% in Calhoun County in February of 2017.
Environmentalists are concerned about a new decision from the state Attorney General. They say it allows farmers to pollute. The AG recently issued an opinion that upheld a long-held practice – that the Right to Farm Act overrides local governments when it comes to certain regulations. Environmentalists say this lets farmers pollute to a certain extent. As long as the farmers don’t violate the Clean Water Act or other laws, they can disregard local ordinances about things like using manure. Farmers say the Right to Farm Act gives them the freedom to change up their crops and carry out their business without fear of nuisance lawsuits.
In baseball, Western Michigan lost to Kent State Sunday 12-6. The Broncos lost all three games to the Golden Flashes during the weekend series at Robert J Bobb Stadium.