Zoning changes will allow medical marijuana businesses to operate in Kalamazoo. A former State Representative will run for the Republican nomination for state Senate in Van Buren and Allegan Counties. A disaster loan center opens to help with recovery from February flooding in Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo City Commissioners have approved an ordinance that will allow five types of medical marijuana businesses to open in the city. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the commission unanimously approved amendments to zoning ordinances Monday night. Each marijuana facility must receive a permit from the city and a license from the state. Under the ordinances, marijuana related businesses will be limited to manufacturing and commercial districts.
Former state Representative Aric Nesbitt has formally announcedhis campaign for state Senate. The Republican served three terms in the House before a year as Michigan Lottery Commissioner. He will seek the GOP nomination in the 26th district, which includes Van Buren and Allegan Counties. The district’s current Senator Tonya Schuitmaker can’t run for re-election due to term limits. Former state Representative Bob Genetski is also running for the Republican nomination in the 26th Senate district. One Democrat, former Northern Michigan University Trustee Garnet Lewis, is also running for the Senate seat.
A disaster loan center is opening in Kalamazoo County to assist residents and businesses recovering from massive flooding in February. The Kalamazoo Gazette says the Small Business Administration will open a disaster loan outreach center at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center from 10 this morning until five o’clock Tuesday afternoon. The center will be also be open Saturday and again Tuesday April 10th.
Michigan apple growers say new tariffs on US Apples headed to China are unlikely to have an impact on the state market. The Chinese Finance Ministry raised tariffs Monday on Pork, Aluminum, and a variety of fruits and nuts. The move was in retaliation to a US tariff hike on steel and aluminum. Diane Smith with the Michigan Apple Committee says the state hasn’t exported apples to China for several years. But she says Washington state is the largest US apple exporter to China and if those apples stayed in the US market it could cause problems for Michigan growers. (WCMU)
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging campers to be mindful of where their firewood comes from. The state says moving firewood across long distances can spread invasive species and tree diseases. The state DNR is not changing any firewood regulations…but wants campers to take part in protecting forests.