SW Michigan

PORTAGE, MI - The new director of the Portage District Library is a familiar face. Christy Klien, who has been interim director of the library since January and has been at the Portage library since 1996, including head of youth services, was unanimously chosen the new director by the Portage District Library Board Monday night.

PORTAGE, MI -- Greg Gray, the sole finalist for the superintendency of Portage Public Schools, says he's staying in Brighton Area Schools, according to the Brighton school board president. Gray made the announcement at a packed Brighton school board meeting Monday night, said Miles Vieau, the board president.

NILES -- It appears odd-year elections, except for the special variety, may be on their way out in the city of Niles. The Niles City Council approved without comment on Monday night a 12-item consent agenda in which one of the measures called for scheduling a hearing to receive public input on shifting city elections, now conducted in odd years, to even years.

Even though a big majority of recently polled Michigan voters don't know who Democrats Mark Schauer and Bart Stupak are, the two politicians are in a dead heat with Gov. Rick Snyder in head-to-head matchups for the 2014 gubernatorial election.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Historic flooding on the Grand River is expected to remain for at least an additional day or two thanks to predicted rain and snow Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids expects between half an inch to an inch of rain Tuesday afternoon and evening, halting the swollen Grand River's slow descent.