Three WMU proposals make the cut in a National Science Foundation competition. Kalamazoo County Health officials are tracking mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus. Five finalists will interview for a vacancy on the Kalamazoo City Commission.
Three proposals from Western Michigan University are among 32 semi-finalists in the National Science Foundation's "Idea Machine" competition. Western is the only school in Michigan making the cut. The three proposals were selected during Western's own "Bronco Big Idea" competition last year. One focuses on finding new ways to teach science, technology, engineering, and math. Another would try to find new ways to get more minorities in STEM careers. And the third would study the interaction of complex systems and their effects on the future of life in earth.
The CEO of Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo says he's stepping down. Bronson Healthcare President Frank Sardone says he'll retire at the end of the year. Sardone became Bronson's CEO in 1996. The hospital's board of directors says it's hired a consultant to conduct a nationwide search for his successor. Besides the Kalamazoo hospital, Bronson Healthcare also includes medical facilities in Battle Creek and South Haven. Sardone and his wife Susan say they plan to stay in the Kalamazoo area after he retires.
Health officials in Kalamazoo County say they're keeping an eye out for mosquitoes that spread the Zika virus. They say southern Michigan is in the path of migrating Asian Tiger Mosquitoes known to spread the disease. No Tiger Mosquitoes have been found in Kalamazoo Countyso far. But the county has set traps to catch some if they do arrive - and test them for the Zika virus. It can cause birth defects in unborn children and, in rare cases, a life-threatening muscle weakness in adults. Officials say the best way to prevent mosquito bites is to drain open pools of water near your house and use insect repellent with DEET.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) Kalamazoo City Commissioners have selected five finalists to interview for a vacancy on the board. 15 people applied to serve the rest of Shannon Sykes Nehring’s term. She resigned because she moved out of the city. The Kalamazoo Gazette says Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan Vice Chair Patrese Griffin, Chief Deputy Kalamazoo County Treasurer Megan Buwalda, Vanguard Church Pastor Esteven Juarez, retired broadcast journalist John McNeil and postal service employee William Wells were selected as finalists. They will be interviewed by the commission at a special meeting next week. The currently vacant city commission seat is one of three up for election this fall. Kalamazoo voters will also elect a new mayor in November to succeed Bobby Hopewell who is not running for re-election. City Commissioner David Anderson tells the Gazette he is running for mayor.
(MPRN) Governor Gretchen Whitmer has plans to meet with Enbridge Energy officials this week to try to reach an understanding on the future of Line Five. That’s the oil and gas line that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Whitmer’s position is Line 5 needs to be shut down and the path for moving oil and gas should not run through the Great Lakes. Attorney General Dana Nessel, who like Whitmer is a Democrat, has set an end-of-June deadline for a deal to remove the pipeline. That was in response to Enbridge’s proposal to spend $500-million to build a new section of pipeline and encase it in a tunnel. That would take five years. And the governor says that’s not good enough.
(Michigan Radio) Governor Gretchen Whitmer and officials from the state agriculture department have expanded the amount of farmland where commercial solar arrays can be built. Solar panels can now be built on more than 3 million acres of land that's enrolled in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program. MDARD director Gary McDowell says the program will offer a "new opportunity for Michigan's farmers to diversify." He says it "will not result in a loss of useable farmland."
(WCMU) Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency Monday for Tuscola county. The announcement follows flooding last weekend in Tuscola and Saginaw County. Early estimates show as much as four million dollars in damages to county infrastructure. The emergency declaration means the county will gain access to state resources in managing clean up of the flooding. A state official said it remains to be seen whether the state will foot the bill for road repairs. In a statement Governor Whitmer said “This declaration will ensure the state can provide resources to Tuscola County communities to assist with recovery efforts.”
In baseball, Kalamazoo pitcher Adam Wheaton allowed only four hits in a 3-0 win over Rockford Monday night. The Growlers will host the Rivets again Tuesday morning at Homer Stryker Field to wrap up the two game series.
Battle Creek lost to Kokomo Monday night 7-6. The Bombers have lost three straight, they will host the Jackrabits again Tuesday night at C.O. Brown Stadium to wrap up the two game series.