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Southwest Michigan Today: Monday July 2, 2018

Bundles of fishing line and lures hang on a power line across Allegan Dam. You can tell it's a popular spot to fish.
Rebecca Thiele, WMUK

The last laws in the state's opioid package take effect. An advisory to not eat fish out of some ponds in Kent County. Battle Creek teachers have a new one year contract with the district. 

(MPRN) The last law in a package of legislation aimed at reducing the rate of opioid addiction is now in effect. Doctors can no longer prescribe a patient more than a 7-day supply of an opioid within a 7-day period. That means until the 7-day window is up, the doctor can’t write another prescription for the opioid. This is just for severe pain, not chronic pain. Lieutenant governor Brian Calley signed the legislation last December. He says there is still more to do to curb the state’s opioid addiction rate. Opponents of the 7-day law say it could cause a gap in a patient’s pain medication if they can’t reach their doctor in time for a new prescription.

State and Kent County officials have issued an advisory not to eat fish out of three ponds in Belmont. The state Department of Health and Human Services and the Kent County Health Department issued the advisory on Friday because of surface water samples showing elevated levels of PFOS. The state says there is no risk in surface water touching skin. The ponds are in the Cannonsburg Road area near the Boulder Creek development in Belmont.

(Battle Creek Enquirer) Battle Creek Public school teachers will get a two-percent raise this year and a one-time lump sum payment under their new contract with the district. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that the school board approved the one year contract during a meeting on Friday, a day after it was approved by the district’s teachers. The president of the Battle Creek Education Association says teachers represented by the union haven’t received step increases or annual raises based on years of service for the last six years.

In baseball, Kalamazoo scored five runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to defeat Fond du Lac on Sunday 8-5. The Growlers play their next four games at home. They begin a two game series with Rockford Monday night.

Battle Creek lost to Rockford Sunday 12-11. The Bombers host Fond du Lac to begin a two game series Monday night at C.O. Brown Stadium.