The city of Kalamazoo considers selling a downtown parking lot for a new mixed-use development. Jackson County's Sheriff apologizes, but doesn't plan to resign over offensive comments. A new bag policy begins April first at Miller Auditorium.
The city of Kalamazoo could sell one of its downtown parking lots for a mixed-use development project. The Kalamazoo Gazettesays the Downtown Development Authority approved a plan Monday to sell Lot Nine across from the Arcadia Creek Festival site. The deal to sell the property to Catalyst Development Company still needs approval from the Kalamazoo City Commission and the city’s building authority. About 85 of the 256 parking spots would still be owned by the city. But Catalyst plans to bring the total to 315 parking spots. The proposed 300,000 square foot building would include 50 apartments. Some would be set aside as affordable housing units. The proposed development would also include office space.
Jackson County’s Sheriff has apologized for offensive comments about women, blacks and disabled people. Steven Rand tells MLive he does not plan to resign, and that he has been reaching out to people to apologize personally. Rand confirmed that his voice is heard on recordings released last week by an attorney representing Sheriff’s Lieutenant Tommy Schuette. Schuette has filed a lawsuit accusing Rand of creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit calls Rand a “multifaceted bigot.” Rand is a Republican, he was appointed Sheriff of Jackson County in 2011, and won his first election in 2012. Rand was unopposed for re-election in 2016.
New limits on the size of bags are going into effect at Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium. A news releasesays that under the new policy bags and purses should be no larger than four and a half by six and half inches, or the size of small handbag or clutch purse. Anything larger than that will be subject to search or a request that the bag be taken back to the patron’s vehicle. The new policy on bags at Miller Auditorium goes into effect April first.
Western Michigan University has announced afuture home and home football series with the University of Cincinnati. The Broncos and Bearcats will play September 12, 2020 in Cincinnati. The teams will meet again on September 10, 2022 at Waldo Stadium. The Broncos are also scheduled to play at Notre Dame in 2020 on September 19th.