News

Across the board budget cuts known as "sequestration" are taking effect on Friday. West Michigan Congressman says no one wanted the sequestration to take effect. But he says lawmakers have to work on long-term deficit reduction. 

Middle Eastern restaurants in Kalamazoo are catering a dinner Friday, March 1st, to help send aid to people in Iraq. It starts at 6 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 321 South Street, in downtown Kalamazoo. The money raised will support the group Iraqi Health Now that has been sending money and supplies needed in Basra in southern Iraq since 2006. The project was the idea of Haider Alsaedy, who came to Kalamazoo from Iraq in 1991. He wanted to help people in his hometown recover from the U.S.

Rick Phelps, who became conductor of the Kalamazoo Singers two seasons ago, will lead the 37 year-old choir in a program of two sacred masterworks Sunday at Holy Family Chapel at Nazareth. 

He talks about the privilege of conducting an experienced adult choir and highlights a number of special features in Vivaldi’s “Gloria” RV 589 and Schubert’s “Mass in G” D. 187.

The union that represents part-time Western Michigan University instructors says university trustees should stand up to what it calls political "bullying" in Lansing. Union members packed Wednesday's meeting of Western's Board of Trustees to drive the point home.