Michigan School districts have to finalize their budget without a clear picture from the state. Republican and Democratic lawmakers propose changing the state’s emergency manager law. The Growlers and Bombers both end the weekend victorious.
(MPRN) Michigan school district budgets are due today. But state lawmakers haven’t finalized a spending plan yet. That means schools are making guesses about much money they can expect to get in the state’s budget. Education advocates say they’re worried schools are going to have to make cuts during the school year once a budget is finalized. So they’re telling schools to budget conservatively. Republican leaders in the House and Senate disagree with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed spending plan. The two sides are trying to come to an agreement for the state’s entire budget before its own deadline – October 1st.
(WCMU) A new report has found that homelessness among children ages zero to four in Michigan is likely much worse than previously thought. The new data estimates more than 15,000 children are currently homeless in the state. The Michigan League for Public Policy worked on the study with the University of Michigan. The highest percentage of homelessness was found in Alger, Lake and Arenac counties.
(MPRN) A bipartisan group of state lawmakers say Michigan’s emergency manager law needs to be changed. A package of bills would replace state-appointed emergency managers with a committee made up of experts in finance and local government. The Republican Chairman of the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee Jim Lower says he expects work on the bills to move quickly. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also called for scrapping the current emergency manager law.
(MPRN) Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack says she intends to run for another term. Judges in Michigan are selected by voters. That includes justices on the state’s highest court. McCormack’s first eight-year term ends next year, and she says she’d like to serve another eight years. McCormack made the comment during an interview for the Michigan Public Television show Off The Record. McCormack was nominated for the job by the Michigan Democratic Party, but justices run on the non-partisan section of the ballot. McCormack could also file paperwork to re-nominate herself. She was selected to serve as chief justice by the other six members of the court.
In baseball, Battle Creek broke a five game losing streak with a 7-3 win at Rockford Sunday. The Bombers took the lead for good by scoring five runs in the fifth inning. Battle Creek will host Traverse City Monday night to begin a two game series at C.O. Brown Stadium.
Kalamazoo had a season high 16 hits as the Growlers won at Kokomo Sunday 10-5. Kalamazoo will host Kenosha Monday night to begin a two game series at Homer Stryker Field.