Kalamazoo will supply water to Parchment for the next year under an agreement approved by both cities. Polls are open until 8:00 Tuesday night for Michigan's primary. A Grand Valley State University Economist says signs show trade wars are slowing down West Michigan's economy.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) An agreement has been approved for Kalamazoo to supply water to Parchment for the next year. High levels of PFAS’s were found in Parchment’s water supply last month. Those chemicals have been linked to cancer and other health problems. The Kalamazoo Gazette says under the agreement approved by the Kalamazoo and Parchment City Commissions Monday night Parchment will pay for the cost of connecting to Kalamazoo’s water, and will pay a bulk rate for the water supplied. Meanwhile all Water has been tested for PFAS’s in Parchment Schools.An update from Kalamazoo County’s Health and Community Services Departmentsays water at the school was flushed and tested by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Those test results are expected later this week.
(MPRN) Michigan voters are going to the polls Tuesday for the state’s primary ahead of the November election. It’s an open, partisan primary where Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians will decide who they want as their party’s nominee to be in various races. The races range from governor to U.S. Senate and Congress, state legislature to races for county officials and millages. The Secretary of State’s Office says there might be a higher voter turnout than in previous primaries. Polls are open until eight o’clock Tuesday night.
(Michigan Radio) A prison reform advocacy group says people who have been incarcerated do not lose their right to vote in Michigan. Nation Outside says people can get confused about the issue because some states do permanently take away the right to vote from people who served times for felonies. And some only restore the right to vote if a judge or a governor orders it. But that's not the case in Michigan, where people can register to vote as soon as they are released from jail or prison.
The trade war between the Trump administration and several other countries is beginning to affect west Michigan's economy. That's according to Grand Valley State University economist Brian Long. He says his monthly survey of purchasing managers last month found that new orders were down compared to June. Long says escalating tariffs are also creating uncertainty for businesses in the region. And he says that's putting the brakes on economic growth. Long also says some companies are struggling to find enough trained workers to fill open jobs.
(Interlochen Public Radio) Republican Representative Lee Chatfield will not face criminal charges for bringing a gun to the airport. Emmet County Prosecutor James Linderman says a Michigan law prohibiting firearms at airports references a section of federal code that no longer exists … so he can’t charge Chatfield. Linderman is a Republican and says he has given money to a number of politicians, including Chatfield. But Linderman says it’s not a partisan issue, and says he’s had to dismiss similar charges in the past because of the legal flaw. Linderman does say Chatfield could still be fined by the county or airport security. Chatfield could not be immediately reached by Interlochen Public Radio for comment. In a Facebook apology Chatfield said he forgot the gun in his bag and called it an “inexcusable mistake.”
(WCMU) Members of Bay View in northwest Michigan have voted to end the community’s religious test for residents. Previously, those wishing to purchase a cottage in the community needed to provide proof that they attended a Christian church. This prevented non-Christians from purchasing cottages, or in some cases, inheriting cottages from family members. Saturday’s vote follows a court hearing last week, where a federal judge delayed a ruling on a lawsuit over the religious requirement. He said he would not issue a ruling until residents voted on a bylaws change that would remove the rule. Members of the group behind the suit said they were in support of the amendment and saw it’s passage as a “significant step” in resolving the suit. But, they say, they need assurances that the bylaw can’t be changed back. Lawyers for Bay View did not respond to WCMU’s request for comment.
In baseball, Battle Creek has won seven straight after a 9-0 win at Wisconsin Rapids. Five Bombers pitchers held the RafterS to one hit. Battle Creek’s win also prevented Kalamazoo from clinching a playoff spot. The Growlers lost at Madison 8-7 in 11 innings. Tuesdayt is an off day for the Northwoods League. Kalamazoo still needs a win or a Battle Creek loss to clinch a playoff berth.