Battle Creek’s mayor and vice mayor remain in those posts. Police worry about catching people driving under the influence of marijuana. Two overtime games – a win for WMU men’s basketball, a loss for Bronco football.
(Battle Creek Enquirer) Mark Behnke will serve as mayor of Battle Creek for another year. The Battle Creek Enquirer says Behnke was elected mayor by his fellow commissioners Tuesday night, while at large commissioner Sherry Sofia was again picked to be vice mayor. Sofia became vice mayor after Dave Walters resigned from the city commission in July. A blue ribbon committee has recommended that Battle Creek make some changes to how it elects the city commission. That includes a separate election for Battle Creek’s mayor and vice mayor. The city commission is scheduled to hold a workshop on those recommendations early next year.
(WKAR) Some Michigan police expect more impaired drivers on the roads after the law legalizing recreational marijuana goes into effect in Michigan. Current law allows for a driver who tests for any amount of THC a mind altering component in marijuana, to be penalized in the same way drunk drivers are. But when drunk drivers get pulled over, there’s a legal blood alcohol limit on the books and an on the spot test. The governor’s Impaired Driving Safety Commission was formed to determine how much THC may impact safe driving. The commission has until March to submit its findings.
Schupan and Sons plans to expand at two locations in Kalamazoo. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced Tuesday that the recycling company has been awarded a $500,000 Business Development Program grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The $10-million Schupan and Sons expansion is expected to create 80 jobs. The MEDC says Kalamazoo was chosen for the expansion over locations in Ohio and Indiana.
The Red Cross says it faces a severe blood shortage in the Great Lakes region. It says donations were down by 21,000 during September and October. The Red Cross says there were fewer blood drives then while recent hurricanes increased demand. The agency says it needs more donations, especially of Type-O blood. Blood donation events are scheduled in Kalamazoo, Vicksburg, Portage, and Three Rivers later this week and next.
(WDET) President Trump says he is nominating a Michigan woman to take over new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s former judicial job. The President says he wants Michigan native Neomi Rao to replace Kavanaugh on the Washington D.C. federal appeals court. Rao is an administrator in the Office of Management and Budget and has had a large role in cutting governmental regulations. Rao is an Indian American from Metro Detroit and was at a White House event celebrating the Hindu festival of lights when Trump said he was announcing her nomination a day earlier than planned. Experts consider the D.C. Court which has a solid liberal majority the second-most important in the country because it often hears national regulatory disputes.
Western Michigan lost at Ball State in overtime Tuesday night 42-41. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on their first possession in overtime. The Broncos also found the end zone, then went for the win with a two point conversion, but came up short of the goal line. Western is now 6-5 on the season. They will play their final regular season game at home Tuesday night against Northern Illinois.
Western Michigan has won two of the first three games to begin the men’s basketball season after an 85-77 victory in overtime at Oakland Tuesday night. The Broncos scored the final eight points of the extra session. Western will host Aquinas Saturday afternoon at 2:00.