SW Michigan

MATTAWAN, MI - Scientific testing company MPI Research says it has settled its issues with federal authorities regarding violations of the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and there are no other outstanding matters.

The Battle Creek City Commission has given the OK for the city to take on $16 million in new debt to fund improvements and projects. At its regular meeting Tuesday, city commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that allows the city to issue up to $16 million in bonds, which will be used to fund renovations and facelifts at parks, on roads and at other sites.

LANSING, MI -- Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is running dead even with potential Democratic challenger Mark Schauer, according to the results of a new statewide poll. The EPIC-MRA poll, conducted May 11-15, asked 600 likely voters who they would pick in a 2014 matchup pitting the governor against the former Congressman.

City commissioners spent seven hours meeting on Tuesday, first conducting hour-long interviews with all five finalists for the city manager position and then debriefing from the interviews. At the advice of Jerome Post, city of Kalamazoo human resources director, commissioners decided to reconvene at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 29.