The battle over a ballot measure to change how Michigan draws legislative districts could go to the Michigan Supreme Court. WMU joins a national program to improve mental health of students. Bike safety bills inspired by the 2016 crash near Kalamazoo are on their way to Governor Snyder for his signature.
A group fighting a proposal to change how Michigan draws political district lines is taking its case to the state Supreme Court. The business-backed group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution is asking the court to block the question from the November ballot. That’s after a lower court last week ordered a state elections board to certify the question. The legal challenge says the proposed amendment to the state constitution is too sweeping and complex to be decided on the ballot. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected that argument.
Western Michigan University is joining a national program to improve the mental health of students. The university says the JED Campus program will be part of the new "Success and WMU" initiative this fall. It says the program will focus on problems like drug abuse and suicide. They're among the leading causes of death for young adults. The national project works with 200 schools nationwide and serves about two million students.
Bills in the state house would make changes for tenants and property owners. One of the bills would increase what property owners are allowed to charge for a security deposit, raising allowable deposits from one and a half months rent to two months. Republican Representative Peter Lucido, who sponsored the legislation, says another of his bills would require properly trained people, like a bailiff or police officer, to serve or carry out evictions. Lucido says it’s important that movers aren’t being put in danger during the eviction process. He says the bills have bipartisan support. (WCMU)
Kalamazoo County's Ross Township is hitting the "pause button" on medical marijuana businesses. The Kalamazoo Gazette says township trustees have repealed an ordinance allowing them - that was approved earlier this year. Tuesday night's vote followed a planning commission meeting Monday that was packed with opponents. They say medical marijuana growing operations aren't a good fit for the community. Township officials say they'll work on a new ordinance. But medical marijuana opponents say they may launch a campaign to recall the entire township board.
Environmental groups say a bill headed for the governor’s desk could increase the amount of invasive species in the Great Lakes. Legislation would change the rules that allow cargo ships to dump their ballast water in the Great Lakes. The bill would follow the federal standards for how the water is treated before its dumped – which are lower than the state’s current standards. Supporters of the bill say it will improve the state’s shipping business and the ships that dump have to have a water treatment system. A spokesperson for the governor says he has not reviewed the bill yet and could not comment.
Bike safety bills are on their way to Governor Rick Snyder's desk. They were introduced by State Senator Margaret O'Brien of Portage after a crash in 2016 that killed five and seriously injured four other bicyclists near Kalamazoo. Among other things, the proposal requires motorists to pass people on bikes with at least three feet of clearance. It would also add more time in drivers' education classes to teach students about safety issues involving bikes and motorcycles.
In baseball, Kalamazoo first baseman Niko Kavadas homered, then drove home the winning run with a double in the bottom of the 9th inning as the Growlers beat Wisconsin Wednesday night 3-2. Kalamazoo will host Wisconsin Rapids Thursday night at Homer Stryker Field.
Battle Creek lost at Fond du Lac Wednesday night 10-2. The Bombers next six games are at home, they host Wisconsin Thursday night at C.O. Brown Stadium.