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Southwest Michigan Today: Monday July 16, 2018

Battle Creek City Hall - file photo by WMUK
WMUK

Battle Creek removes a stained glass window at city hall over concerns that it is offensive. Michigan lawmakers react to President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Former WMU Joeviair Kennedy is sentenced to prison for armed robbery. The Michigan Supreme Court will arguments this wek over a ballot proposal to change the redistricting process. Battle Creek's Vice Mayor resigns from the city commission. Tests show PFAS chemicals getting into the Kalamazoo River. Holland cracks down on illegal vacation rentals.

(Battle Creek Enquirer) The City of Battle Creek plans to remove a stained glass window whose design is based on the official city seal. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the window at city hall depicts a white man fighting a Native American. It’s an illustration of the so-called “battle” for which the city is named. In recent years Battle Creek has avoided using its official seal on many documents, but the design is still part of the city charter. A grant from the Native American Heritage fund will help pay for the removal of the stained-glass window.

(Detroit News) Some Michigan lawmakers had critical words for President Donald Trump after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. After meeting with Putin in Finland, Trump said he didn’t see why Russia would have meddled with US elections in 2016. Trump also blasted a special investigation into the extent of Russian interference. The Detroit News reports that Republican Congressman Justin Amash suggested that something was, in his words, “not right” with the meeting. And Republican Representative Bill Huizenga of Zeeland called Russia a “foe” and said the country should be, quote, “held accountable for their actions.”

(Kalamazoo GazetteFormer Western Michigan University basketball player Joeviair Kennedy will spend multiple years in prison for his part in an armed robbery in which another Western student was killed. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that Kennedy was sentenced to serve between 17-and-a-half and 40 years in prison for armed robbery and another two years on a felony firearms charge. He’ll get credit for the 19 months he has already served. WMU student Jacob Jones died in the December 2016 robbery, which took place at an apartment complex near Western’s campus.

(Holland Sentinel) The City of Holland has a new strategy for cracking down on illegal short-term rentals. It’s hiring a private firm to review posts for Airbnb and similar services in the city. The Holland Sentinel reports that owners whose listings are found to be out of compliance with the city’s rental restrictions will get a notice of violation. The firm the city has hired is called Host Compliance. It’s based in California.

(MPRN) The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments this week about whether a redistricting measure can go on the November ballot. A Republican and business backed group called Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution disputed the proposal. They said the measure is a complete overhaul of the constitution. The Court of Appeals said the complaint against the proposal is “without merit.” But Citizens appealed to the Supreme Court. Voters Not Politicians the group that spearheaded the proposal says hundreds of thousands of people have supported the measure. The proposal would create a commission of Republicans, Democrats and Independents to draw the state’s legislative district lines.

(Battle Creek Enquirer) Battle Creek Vice Mayor Dave Walters has resigned. The Battle Creek Enquirer says Walters sent his resignation letter to Mayor Mark Behnke on Friday, it was effective Sundday. Walters says personal and professional commitments made it hard for him to be fully dedicated to the commission. Walters was re-elected in November to a three year term representing the city’s fifth ward. City Commissioners will discuss how to fill the vacancy during their next meeting Tuesday.

(Kalamazoo Gazette) Toxic chemicals are being discharged into the Kalamazoo River, but state health officials say there is no evidence that it will create a health threat. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that the presence of PFAS chemicals was discovered after the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality requested that wastewater treatment plants across the state investigate sources of PFAS. A third party study commissioned by Kalamazoo found that 20 industrial sites were dumping contaminants into the city’s wastewater system. City officials say they plan to work with the state and industries to reduce PFAS contamination. A meeting is scheduled for Wednesday night in Richland Township to discuss PFAS found in some wells that is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limit.

(WDET) Michigan State University will take the interim off the title of Athletic Director Bill Beekman Monday. Michigan State is under investigation for how it handled allegations regarding former sports doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar is serving what amounts to a life sentence for molesting young women he was supposed to be treating for injuries. The university also faces questions about other incidents involving athletes and sexual assault. MSU’s former athletics director resigned at the beginning of this year and was temporarily replaced by Beekman, who has long standing tied to Michigan State. Now the Detroit Free Press reports that Beekman will remain athletics director. He served briefly as the university’s president while the Nassar scandal was unfolding before Michigan State appointed former Governor John Engler as its interim leader.

(WVPE) It’s blueberry season in Michigan, and this year’s crop is shaping up to be a good one, in volume and flavor. Michigan accounts for about one-fifth of the American blueberry market. Nearly 20 thousand acres of plants is expected to produce about 90 million pounds of blueberries this year. There were some problems early in the season with heavy rainfall keeping some growers from getting fungicides out. And also with sunscald when the weather got really hot.

(WDET) Groups representing automakers are blasting an order from the Trump Administration to disclose some of the companies’ most confidential information. President Trump has vowed to place as much as a 25 percent tariff on vehicles and auto parts imported to the U-S arguing they threaten American jobs…the economy and the national security. As part of that the U.S. Commerce Department is requiring automakers to disclose closely-held information about their financial forecasts and plans to expand or close factories. The Administration also wants automakers to explain why they build vehicles in a country other than the U.S. Those who do not provide the information could face fines or prison times. But the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers as well as other trade associations say the information is proprietary and that automakers have already told the Administration tariffs could hurt car companies’ supply chains and ultimately force them to raise the price of vehicles.

In baseball, Kalamazoo has won three straight aftera 6-1 win over Rockford Sunday. The Growlers play at Wisconsin Rapids Tuesday night.

Battle Creek lost to Fond du Lac Sunday 2-1. The Bombers scored in the first inning and held that lead until the Dock Spiders scored two in the ninth. Battle Creek begins a two game series at Wisconsin Tuesday night.