Kalamazoo County Commissioners seek feedback on mental health services. Another Democrat enters the race in the district represented by Republican Justin Amash. Teachers and other school workers hold a rally at the state Capitol to call for more education funding.
The Kalamazoo County Commission will host a public hearing next week on local mental health services. Board members say they want to know more about the ways that those resources are meeting people’s needs and where they’re falling short. Commissioners say they hope to hear from residents who have sought mental health treatment in Kalamazoo. The hearing will be held on Monday starting at 6 p.m. at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Anna Whitten Hall.
Another Democrat has entered the race for the Congressional seat currently held by Grand Rapids Republican Justin Amash. Nick Colvin announced yesterday that he is running for the Democratic nomination in the Third Congressional District. Colvin worked in the White House Counsel’s office in the Obama administration, he also held several posts in Chicago’s city government. The Ionia native returned to Michigan this year. Democrat Doug Booth has also launched a campaign in the district that includes Battle Creek. Amash, the only Republican member of Congress to call for impeaching President Donald Trump, also faces a challenge for the GOP nomination next year.
(MPRN) Education advocates from teachers to lunch staff filled the state Capitol lawn Tuesday. The state school aid budget is still being worked out by lawmakers in the state Legislature. But protesters at the Capitol want to make sure that the final product has enough money for K-12 schools. The teachers and other education workers want the Legislature to adopt Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s spending plan and the half billion dollars in additional money it calls for. Republicans working on the budget say they are trying to come up with a spending plan using the money they have to work with.
(MPRN) Attorney General Dana Nessel says the Michigan Civil Rights Commission does not have to follow a formal opinion released by her predecessor. Last year, while acting as state Attorney General, Bill Schuette issued an opinion that said the commission could not interpret the state's civil rights act to provide protections for LGBTQ people. At the time, the commission said it was going to continue to interpret that phrase that prohibits discrimination “because of sex” to include sexual orientation and gender identity anyway. Now Nessel’s office says that’s allowed.
(Michigan Radio) Marijuana products in Michigan could soon carry warning labels for pregnant and nursing mothers. Backers of the idea are concerned that as marijuana is legalized in Michigan women may be less concerned about the potential harm to their unborn and infant children. Michigan’s marijuana industry does not oppose a new warning label.
In baseball, despite jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Battle Creek lost at Rockford Tuesday night 10-2. The Bombers will face the Rivets again Wednesday night.
Kalamazoo scored the game’s first two runs, but Kenosha came away with the victory Tuesday night 12-7. The Growlers and the Kingfish will play again Wednesday night at Homer Stryker Field.