SW Michigan

LANSING - A state law that bans school districts from collecting dues on behalf of teacher unions and other public school employees is constitutional, a federal appeals court said Thursday.

Commissioners will meet at 3 p.m. in City Commission Chambers at Kalamazoo City Hall, 241 W. South St. On Tuesday, they picked a list of six finalists for the city manager job, but that pool dropped down to five Wednesday when Joyce Parker announced she would withdraw her candidacy.

The expansion of gas and oil drilling through a process called "fracking" is back as a hot-button issue in Michigan - along with petitions, protests and armed security. Armed guards were present a week ago Tuesday at a public hearing held by Michigan's departments of natural resources and environmental quality to discuss drilling and the controversial natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Data based on 2009-2011 averages Calhoun County Michigan A new report out Wednesday from the Michigan League for Public Policy puts the Calhoun Great Start Collaborative near the bottom in the state for its work in maternal and infant health.

LANSING - The Democratic field for governor is shrinking as two potential candidates have said they will step aside if former U.S. Rep. and state Sen. Mark Schauer gets in the race. Michigan Board of Education member John Austin, who had been mulling a run for the seat, said Wednesday that the time was right for Schauer to be the Democratic nominee for the state's top job.