Kalamazoo will host one of 700 women's marches across the country this weekend. A second recall effort against Albion's mayor has been dropped. Michigan's unemployment rate edged up in December.
There will be about 700 women's marches around the country this weekend. One of them will be in Kalamazoo. Organizers of the Kalamazoo Women's march say participants will gather at the flag poles at Western Michigan University Sunday afternoon at 1:00. Then they'll march to Bronson Park downtown. The event marks the anniversary of the national women's march on Washington last year. Organizers say this year's event will focus on "respecting human rights." They also want more people to vote in this year's General Election.
State House lawmakers are considering a package of bills that would change a program originally created to help Michigan residents go to college to also help cover K-12 school expenses. The new federal tax law opened the door to the change. But several public education groups oppose the legislation, saying it would deepen the divide between the “haves and have nots”. (Michigan Radio)
A recall effort against Albion’s mayor has been dropped… again. Chad Basse ended his second recall campaign against Albion Mayor Garrett Brown this week almost two months after Calhoun County election officials approved petition language. In an e-mail to the Battle Creek Enquirer, Basse says he has moved on to statewide and nationwide issues, and devoting himself to a movement that would “increase the Oxygen levels in our atmosphere.” 439 signatures would have been needed to put a recall question on the ballot. A recall effort against Mayor Pro-Tem Sonya Brown has also been dropped.
More people were hired in Michigan last month. But even more people joined the workforce to look for jobs. That pushed the state’s official unemployment rate up to 4.7%. The rate went up from November to December, but is four-tenths of a percentage points below where it was at this time last year. Manufacturing and construction showed gains over the year in Michigan, while the retail sector was sluggish.
Battle Creek officials say refinancing some bonds will save the city nearly a million dollars. The Battle Creek Enquirer says the bonds were sold by the city's Downtown Development Authority in 1996. The city says the original bonds had a higher interest rate than the new ones it can get by refinancing. That will save about 150-thousand dollars a year in interest payments. Battle Creek City commissioners approved the plan this week.
Police are investigating allegations about an improper relationship between a teacher and a student in the Athens Area Schools. MLive says the Calhoun County district informed police about the case last week. The investigation is being handled by the Nottawaseppi Huron Potawatomi Police Department. District officials say the unnamed teacher is on "investigative leave."