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Southwest Michigan Today: Wednesday November 28, 2018

File photo of the Straits of Mackinac from Gregory Varnum, Wikimedia Commons
Gregory Varnum, Wikimedia Commons
/
Wikimedia Commons

State incentives will help large scale projects in downtown Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. Former members of the Mackinac Bridge Authority oppose a tunnel for a new pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. Theo and Stacy’s Portage Road location closes.

State incentives have been approved for large-scale developments in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The Michigan Strategic Fund Boardapproved $10-million from the Michigan Community Revitalization Program for plans to rehabilitate Heritage Tower in downtown Battle Creek. Plans call for market-rate apartments, commercial, retail and office space. The board also approved the Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority using a $3.8-million local and school tax capture for a new development in downtown Kalamazoo. The catalyst 12 project is developing a seven-story building at North Edwards and Water Streets on the site of a current parking lot. Plans call for office space and affordable residential units.

(MPRN) Public school advocates and the ACLU of Michigan want the Michigan Supreme Court to take their case. They want the court to reverse a decision that lets the state give public money to private schools in certain cases. In 2017, a coalition of public education leaders and parent groups filed a lawsuit. They wanted to prevent the state from giving five million dollars to non-public schools, over two years. The money is for state mandated things – like safety drills and health requirements. Supporters of giving the money to non-public schools say this is about treating all of the state’s kids equally. But opponents say the move is unconstitutional. The state Attorney General’s office represents the state in this case. A spokesperson says the office can’t comment on pending litigation.

(MPRN) Some lawmakers in Lansing want to prevent public employers from paying employees for union release time. That is time spent doing union work. Opponents say thelegislation seeks to weaken unions and make it harder for them to work with their members. Supporters say taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for union work. The legislation mainly impacts public school employees.

(WCMU) Several former members of the Mackinac Bridge Authority joined with environmental groups Tuesday to oppose legislation that would give the Bridge Authority control of a utility tunnel beneath the straits of Mackinac. The bill is part of an agreement announced in October between Enbridge Energy and Governor Rick Snyder to give the Mackinac Bridge Authority control of a tunnel that would house the Line 5 pipeline. Officials with Enbridge Energy say the Mackinac Bridge Authority “Is the logical choice to have the responsibility of owning and overseeing the tunnel.” Officials with the governor’s office did not respond to our request for comment.

(Kalamazoo Gazette) Theo and Stacy’s has served the last meal at its Portage Road location. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that owners have sold the restaurant. They plan to focus on Theo and Stacy’s two other locations in downtown Kalamazoo and on Westnedge Avenue. The buyer of the Portage Road location, Brandon Jeannot, says he plans to open a restaurant that features “family favorite” foods.

(WCMU) Tensions were high in a House committee meeting Tuesday over proposed legislation to “raise the age” Michigan residents can legally be tried as adults. Representatives spearheading the legislation – which would change Michigan law so that 17 year olds are no longer automatically tried as adults - expressed frustration over a series of what they called 11th hour amendments. Representative Joseph Graves put forward the amendments saying he doesn’t think 17 year olds should be put into the juvenile justice system alongside 12 year olds. Graves said results have been “mixed” in other states that raised the age. Officials with the Michigan League for Public Policy, which supports the legislation, said it’s not clear what states – or data – the Representative is talking about. The committee is expected to vote on the bill package, including the amendments, Wednesday morning.

Image from Wikimedia Commons