The Lame Duck Legislative session enters its final day. Former Western Michigan University President John Dunn returns to Southern Illinois University for now. WMU men’s basketball loses on the road.
(MPRN) Thursday is the last day of the state Legislature’s lame duck session and there is still a lot to do. It’s the last chance for lawmakers to get their issues passed in this session. And they’re bracing for a final day that is expected to go into Friday morning. Lawmakers plan to tackle wetlands regulations, online gambling, a spending bill worth hundreds of millions of dollars – and more.
(Michigan Radio) The newly-formed Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority met for the first time Wednesday. It approved agreements with Enbridge Energy to build a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The three-member panel was created a week ago to oversee replacement of a section of Enbridge's Line 5 oil pipeline. The meeting in St. Ignace wrapped up a 5-day public comment period. Opponents want to stop the flow of oil through the Straits altogether, and say the whole tunnel approval process has been rushed.
(MLive) Former Western Michigan University president John Dunn is going back to his roots. MLive says Dunn has been appointed interim chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He held the same position before coming to Western in 2007. Dunn will serve has SIU Carbondale’s top administrator until the end of 2020, or until a new permanent chancellor is named, whichever comes first. Dunn retired as Western’s president in 2017.
(Michigan Radio) Michigan’s jobless rate stands at 3.9%. The state’s November unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month as did the national jobless rate. The construction, financial and government sectors saw job growth though those gains were offset by losses in manufacturing, education and health services.
In men’s basketball, Western Michigan lost at Dayton Wednesday night 85-72. It was the Broncos final non-conference road game of the season. Their record is now five wins and six losses. Western will host Milwaukee on Saturday.
In hockey, Kalamazoo’s four game winning streak ended with a 6-3 loss to Toledo Wednesday night. The K-Wings play at Fort Wayne Friday night, then return home to face Indy Saturday night at the Wings Event Center.