Michael Symonds
WMUK reporterReport for America national service program corps member Michael Symonds joined WMUK’s staff in 2023. He covers the “rural meets metro” beat, reporting stories that link seemingly disparate parts of Southwest Michigan. He started his journalistic career at Western Michigan University’s student newspaper, the Western Herald. He was also a news intern at WMUK and hosted the talk show “Stupid Questions” on WIDR-FM, where he interviewed guests from political experts to student leaders. Michael is a graduate of WMU with a B.A. in Journalism and Digital Media.
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The Department of Homeland Security said conditions are safe enough for Burmese refugees to return home, a point that U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga strongly disagreed with in a newsletter on Friday. -
State health department data released late last month shows only 1 in 5 residents have gotten a flu shot. -
Kalamazoo County has one of the highest number of verified accessible destinations for those with physical disabilities in the United States, according to Wheel the World. -
The news comes as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission prepares to hold a meeting on the condition of steam generators at Palisades. -
The Kalamazoo City Commission has postponed a decision on where and when to hold the hearing as it looks to accommodate a large number of people. -
Western Michigan University said the grant will help fund scholars in behavioral analysis and early childhood special and general education. -
The charter township announced a grant from Kalamazoo County that will go toward a study of a busy area. -
A union for instructors at the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency said some of its members are receiving raises while others are not. KRESA disputes that those employees are in the union. -
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes and other food pantries saw a spike in need when federal food assistance was paused during the government shutdown. -
A new nonprofit market and eatery has opened in downtown Battle Creek, with a focus on locally-sourced products and a cooperative structure.
