A new executive director for Kalamazoo’s Douglas Community Association. A debate with candidates for U.S. Senate in Michigan. WMU women’s soccer gets a win at home.
The Douglas Community Association has named Sidney Ellis as its new executive director. The non-profit organization which primarily serves families and youth on Kalamazoo’s Northside says Ellis will begin his duties October 22nd. Ellis had been Director of Mission Advancement at the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo. He previously served as executive director of the Black Arts and Cultural Center. Ellis replaces Cheree Thomas as executive director of the Douglas Community Association.
(WGVU) The major party candidates for U.S. Senate in Michigan staked out their differences on the environment immigration, health care and other issues during a debate Sunday night in Grand Rapids at the studios of WGVU. Incumbent Democrat, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow said healthcare is a right, and that Medicare and Medicaid must be protected. Stabenow says Medicare must be able to negotiate prescription drug prices. Republican challenger John James called for a market-based, patient-centered approach protecting anyone with pre-existing conditions. He says that would include torte and regulatory reform. James and Stabenow will debate again this afternoon the Detroit Economic Club.
(MPRN) You can’t run out the clock on your crimes by moving out of state. That’s state law and the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld that state law Friday. Joel James was charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct. But it was alleged to have happened long ago that, if he’d been living in Michigan consistently since the alleged crime, he could no longer be charged. But James has lived in Alaska for years. The defendant’s attorney Matthew Wojda says this type of law makes sense for people who know police are after them and leave. But James’ accuser didn’t report to police until years later. Wojda says this is a bad precedent. Prosecutors say you should not get away with a crime just because you leave the state.
(WDET) A key Trump Administration official heads to Detroit this week to tout the strength of the U.S. economy. The head of the National Economic Council Lawrence Kudlow will outline how the White House is ending what he calls “the war on business.” Republicans are using the booming U.S. economy as a key campaign issue ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Kudrow will bring a similar message to a meeting of the Detroit Economic Club. Kudlow says a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, corporate tax cuts, regulatory reforms and the lowest unemployment rate in five decades as signs of the success of White House polices.
(Michigan Radio) The nation’s mayors want Washington to spend more to fix problems with water infrastructure in America’s cities. The U.S. Conference of Mayors was in Flint last week to learn more about the city’s water crisis and how it relates to a growing infrastructure problem nationwide. Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett says it doesn’t matter where the solution comes from…as long as there is a solution to the funding problem.
In women’s soccer, Western Michigan beat Eastern Michigan 2-1 Sunday. The Broncos improved to 11-5 overall and 5-3 in the Mid-American Conference. Western will play at Kent State on Friday.