West Michigan's economy continues to grow, according the latest survey of business leaders. Interviews are scheduled next week for two finalists to become KVCC's next president. The suspect in a fatal shooting at Central Michigan University is arraigned while still hospitalized. WMU baseball gets a win. The Broncos face Ball State in the quarterfinals of the MAC women's basketball tournament in Cleveland.
West Michigan’s industrial economy continued to grow in February. Grand Valley State University Economist Brian Long says his monthly survey of business leaders showed economic indicators were positive last month, and most of them improved over January. Long who files a report every month for the Institute for Supply Chain Management says the tax cut signed into law by President Trump in December appears to be helping capital equipment manufacturers. Long says while slower car sales remain a concern, most auto suppliers are stable, and a few are still growing.
Interviews are scheduled next week for two finalists seeking to become Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s next president. A news release from KVCCsays Amy Fugate, who is currently Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mott Community College and L. Marshall Washington, president of New River Community and Technical College in West Virginia will be interviewed by the board of trustees on Tuesday. Fugate and Washington are vying to succeed Marilyn Schlack as KVCC’s president. She is retiring after 36 years leading the college. Fugate’s interview is scheduled for 9:00a.m. Tuesday morning, and Washington’s for 11:00a.m. the same day. The interviews will be held in the board room on the Texas Township campus, and will be open to the public.
The former director of operations for a non-profit organization in Kalamazoo faces embezzlement charges. Rachel Kaiser is accused of stealing four-thousand dollars from Kalamazoo Strong, which was launched in 2016 in response to the mass shooting in Kalamazoo that left six people dead and two others seriously injured. It’s separate from the Forever Strong Foundation, which announced last month that it’s raising money for a planned memorial to the shooting victims. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports Kaiser was arraigned Tuesday on one felony count of embezzlement. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27th.
The suspect in last week’s shooting at Central Michigan University was formally arraigned from his hospital bed Tuesday afternoon. James Davis Jr. is accused of shooting and killing his parents in his dorm room on Friday morning, before fleeing the scene. The shooting prompted a 15 hour manhunt that led to a lockdown for much of the Mount Pleasant community. Davis is charged with two counts of open murder, and a felony firearms charge. Davis appeared in court via video from McLaren Central Michigan Hospital, where he’s been under armed guard since his arrest early Saturday morning. Davis waived a probable cause hearing until he is released from the hospital. (WCMU)
In baseball, Western Michigan beat Villanova 6-0 Tuesday in Port Charlotte, Florida. Four Bronco pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts and held the Wildcats to two hits. Western will face Georgetown Wednesday afternoon.
Western Michigan continues play in the Mid-American Conference women’s basketball tournament Wednesday night. The Broncos face Ball State in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament in Cleveland.