A former firefighter and ambulance driver was the man killed in an exchange of gunfire with Kalamazoo public safety officers Tuesday. Changes are proposed to Michigan’s bail system. The Humane Society calls for the release of beagles from a lab in Mattawan.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) A former firefighter and ambulance driver was the man killed in a shootout with Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers on Tuesday. 31 year old Brandon Stacey of Parchment shot and injured an officer at the Grifols Biomat Plasma Donation Center. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest and was treated and released from the hospital for his injuries. Officers shot and killed Stacey in the exchange. The Kalamazoo Gazette says Stacey had worked at the plasma donation center for less than a year.
(MPRN) Michigan’s cash bail system needs an overhaul. That’s the message of bipartisan legislation introduced in the state House and Senate. Representative Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming) wants to get rid of the requirement that parents who owe back child support pay bail to get out jail before they see a judge. Other bills would require judges to issue personal recognizance bonds instead of cash bail in most cases. That’s unless the defendant is considered a danger or a flight risk. If the judge does find that the person is a danger or flight risk, then the judge would have to take multiple factors – including financial status – into account when deciding the cash bail amount. The bills are now waiting for committee hearings.
(Michigan Radio) The Humane Society of the United States wants 36 beagles released from a lab in Mattawan. The lab is testing a fungicide on the dogs. The fungicide is made by Dow-DuPont. In a statement, Dow says it's committed to finding alternatives to animal testing. The Humane Society says the testing is unnecessary and inhumane. The group's online petition for the dogs' release has more than 100,000 signatures.
Western Michigan University students will have the chance to get in free to Friday and Saturday night’s hockey games. The Broncos are hosting Colorado College in the first round of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference tournament. Western head coach Andy Murray announced this week that he would pay for students to attend Saturday night’s game. Students normally get into hockey games for free, but schools are required to charge for the conference tournament. Western says a donor is paying for the first 1,000 students to get in free on Friday. The Broncos and Tigers play a best of three series this weekend. Games Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday begin at 7:05p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena.