Tuesday. March 19, 2024

Sports

Kalamazoo Special Olympics runner makes history at 2019 Boston Marathon

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/kalamazoo-special-olympics-runner-makes-history-at-2019-boston-marathon.html
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MLive

The rain-soaked streets of Boston provided less-than-ideal running conditions, but they were the backdrop for history Monday, as Kalamazoo native Julian Borst became the first Special Olympics Michigan athlete to complete the world’s oldest marathon. One of five Special Olympics athletes running the 2019 Boston Marathon, the 22-year-old Kalamazoo Loy Norrix graduate finished in 3 hours, 5 minutes and 8 seconds for a pace of 7:03 per mile.

Environment

WMU responds to concerns and questions about new development

https://www.westernherald.com/news/article_807b0a3a-615f-11e9-876d-57d478d0f9b3.html
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WMU

The cutting and burning of trees near Aslyum Lake, to make way for a new WMU business park, surprised and alarmed some residents. Bob Miller, associate vice president for community outreach, answered questions about the burning, how much open and wooded land will be preserved, and what measures were taken to protect wildlife on the site. 

Business

Arcadia transfers ownership, Godspeed prepares to close

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/arcadia-brewing-ceo-transfers-ownership-of-kalamazoo-brewery-property-to-mortgage-lender.html
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/godspeed-transportation-plans-to-close-after-cease-and-desist-order.html
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Arcadia
Godspeed

The Arcadia Brewing Co. property in Kalamazoo is no longer owned by Enmar, LLC, a company owned by brewery founder and CEO Tim Suprise. A quitclaim deed in lieu of foreclosure, transfered ownership to First National Bank of Michigan for $1, according to county property records. Godspeed Transportation, a business operating out of a home in Kalamazoo’s Edison Neighborhood, kept running after the state of Michigan sent it a cease and desist order, according to the company’s owner, who is planning to close the operation in the near future.

Local News

KPS's Michael Rice now one of 3 finalists for state superintendent

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/kalamazoo-schools-superintendent-touts-accomplishments-in-bid-for-state-job.html
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MLive

Michael Rice is still in the running for Michigan’s next superintendent of education. The State Board of Education interviewed five semi-finalists on Monday and Wednesday, April 22 and 24, before selecting three finalists to return for a second interview on May 7. At that point, the board will decide who it wants to be Michigan’s next state superintendent. Rice made the case for himself in Lansing on the 24th, and excerpts from that interview are included at the link below. He has been superintendent of KPS for 12 years. 

Government

One-on-one with Jon Hoadley

http://www.publicmedianet.org/one-on-one-with-jon-hoadley/
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PMN

Kalamazoo's Public Media Network sat down to talk with state Representative Jon Hoadley, who is running against Fred Upton for the U.S. House in 2020. Hoadley speaks in depth about his values, policy priorities, and record in this 50-minute interview. 

State

Only 25% of Michigan teachers recommend the job

http://news.jrn.msu.edu/2019/04/only-25-of-michigan-teachers-recommend-the-job/
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CNS

Most teachers wouldn’t recommend that their students follow in their footsteps, according to a recent Michigan survey. Launch Michigan, a diverse coalition of groups that come together to advocate for education changes, reports that 75% of Michigan educators would not recommend education as a career. That contributes to the challenges of recruitment and retention, experts say.“People go to a university for four years and even get graduate degrees in education and still don’t get paid enough,” said Brian Reattoir, the superintendent of Brimley Area Schools in the Upper Peninsula.. “It’s a 10- to 12- hour day for many teachers. And changes to retirement plans for teachers also have really pushed people away from the field.”

Culture

Art Hop - Friday May 3

https://www.kalamazooarts.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/www.kalamazooarts.org/images/2019/04/ACGK_May-AH-Brochure-2019.pdf
https://www.kalamazooarts.org/categories/art-hop/
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Brochure
Calendar

Art Hop returns with 37 stops across downtown Kalamazoo and in the Vine and Oakwood neighborhoods. Download the brochure, which serves as a guide to all events, with maps. Check out the calendar to learn more about the artists and events. 

Community

KNM is going into hibernation

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Kalamazoo News Monitor has suspended its weekly aggregation of local news and information. We’ve found some forms of success, and the experiment has provided valuable insights, but current resources do not enable us to achieve effective distribution.

Therefore, we’re stepping back and will look for modified approaches to using the KNM website to provide local value and for different ways to help with the dissemination of information in our town.

Culture

Bach Festival Week, all over town (April 26 to May 6)

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6c2e0d_cd34c1407a864f2a8abb932caa657cb8.pdf
https://www.kalamazoobachfestival.org/
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Schedule
Festival

This year's Bach Festival Week features 4 ticketed concerts and 7 free events – taking place in recital halls, churches, the library, and at least one bar. Who are the performers? What are they playing (it's not all Bach, of course)? Where are they playing? Which performances are free? Click "schedule," below, for a simple overview of all events. Click "Festival" for the event site, with more details on each performance and links to tickets. 

Local News

Student set to attend WMU beheaded by Saudi Arabia

https://www.westernherald.com/news/article_21fdf396-66eb-11e9-a92f-e7017690b416.html
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WMU

A Saudi Arabian man was set to attend Western Michigan University in 2012, when he was detained by the government. On Tuesday, April 23, he was beheaded by the Saudi government, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Mujtaba al-Sweikat was 17 when he was detained at the King Fahd International Airport in 2012 for allegedly participating in a pro-democracy rally.  WMU Political Science professor Jim Butterfield said executions may mean that the royal family is concerned that their hold on Saudi society is more tenuous than it would like.

 

Government

Portage considers nearly $85M budget, proposes 3 new police officer positions

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/portage-considers-nearly-85m-budget-proposes-3-new-police-officer-positions.html
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MLive

The city of Portage is considering a nearly $85 million budget for the coming fiscal year, representing a more than 10 percent increase in spending from the previous year. The city commission received the proposed budget at its April 9 meeting. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 7. The proposed budget of $84,986,870 is about $8.1 million more than last year’s budget, or a 10.57% increase, Portage City Manager Larry Shaffer said.

Community

If you value KNM, please promote us

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You are one of thousands of people from Kalamazoo who have visited Kalamazoo News Monitor once, twice, sixteen, thirty, or fifty+ times in the last three months. (Thank you, Google Analytics.)

If you value what KNM provides, we could use your support in a very simple way: Every time you visit KNM and learn something new about Kalamazoo, promote a link to the site on your favorite social media channel. That’s the only way KNM will reach more people in Kalamazoo, because we have no paid advertising of any kind. 

Government

Public hearing on annual city plan related to low income housing (May 6)

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/news/433-public-hearing-announcement-for-2019-2023-consolidated-plan-2019-action-plan
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City

A public hearing for the City of Kalamazoo 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan & 2019 Action Plan will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday May 6 in City Hall. To qualify for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, the City must have an approved Consolidated Plan and Action Plan. The Consolidated Plan identifies five-year goals for CDBG, HOME, and ESG funding and outlines the City’s strategy to address the housing and community development needs of its low and moderate income families and individuals. Read the plans at the link, below.

Community

Kalamazoo teacher in the running for Michigan Teacher of the Year award

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/kalamazoo-teacher-in-the-running-for-michigan-teacher-of-the-year-award.html
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MLive

Doug Duncan, art teacher at Indian Prairie and Prairie Ridge elementary schools was awarded the 2019-20 teacher of the year award for the region and is in the running for Michigan Teacher of the Year. “Art is one subject area where self-expression and creativity are still valued, and I want to make sure that every student I teach understands the importance of both,” Duncan said. “In an era where more testing is being mandated, it is essential that we keep the arts available to students not only as a critical creative outlet but as a way to foster creative thinking."

Local News

Part-time KVCC professors win small increase in pay

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/year-long-contract-negotiations-resolved-for-part-time-professors-at-kalamazoo-valley-community-college.html
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MLive

The KVCC Federation of Teachers, which represents the college’s adjunct faculty, and the Board of Trustees agreed to a three-year contract including wage increases. An adjunct professor teaching a lecture-style course with 15 to 45 students made $814 per credit hour in the 2017-2018 school year. The approved contract gives current adjunct faculty teaching in the winter 2019 semester a $50 one-time bonus. Faculty that teach in the upcoming summer semester will receive a 1.5% one-time bonus. A 1.5% wage increase will be provided in the 2020 academic year, and a 1.75% wage increase will be provided in the 2021 academic year, according to the contract.

Government

Try the interactive Kalamazoo County budget tool

https://www.kalcounty.com/userfiles/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20Budget%20Survey%204.17.19.pdf
https://kalcounty.abalancingact.com/KCG-2020-operating-budget
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Overview
Tool

Kalamazoo County has launched a new online tool designed to gather resident feedback on budget priorities for the upcoming 2020 budget process. The tool offers an interactive simulation of the County’s early revenue and expenditure projections for fiscal year 2020. Revenue and expenditure detail in the online simulation is broken down into categories such as recreation & culture, public safety, judicial and health & welfare. Embedded within each spending category are potential future budget requests. Residents are able to review those potential requests and provide feedback.

Community

46 students plus outstanding teachers receive Excellence In Education funds

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/kalamazoo-area-seniors-awarded-for-excellence-in-education.html
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MLive

Excellence in Education awarded 46 of Kalamazoo-area’s top-achieving high school seniors with $1,000 scholarships. Among the recipients are six seniors from Kalamazoo Central High School and six seniors from Loy Norrix High School. The program also awarded eight Educator Incentive Grants, which provide funding for teachers and administrators in Kalamazoo County schools. The Excellence in Education program is the result of collaboration among all Kalamazoo County public and non-public schools and local foundations, education groups and the business community. See all the winners at the link. 

Community

35th Annual Women of Achievement Awards (May 9)

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/ywca-announces-kalamazoos-2019-women-of-achievement-award-recipients.html
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MLive

The YWCA will celebrate Kalamazoo-area women and their contributions to the community at the 2019 Women of Achievement Awards, Thursday, May 9, at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 West Michigan Ave. Pamela Enslen is the YWCA 2019 Lifetime Woman of Achievement Awardee.  Josephine Brown is the 2019 Dorothy I. Height Social Justice Innovation Awardee. Recipients of the 2019 Women of Achievement Award include Shirley Lampman Johnson, Alisa Parker, Lisa Rodriguez, Judy Sivak and Cori Terry. Learn more about these women and tickets for the event at the link. 

Community

How to attract and keep good jobs

https://www.wmuk.org/post/how-attract-and-keep-good-jobs
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WMUK

Michelle Miller-Adams says when local communities are struggling economically, leaders look to attract an employer that will bring lots of jobs. But the Senior Researcher for the Kalamazoo-based Upjohn Institute for Employment Research says “that is a very low percentage strategy.” The Upjohn Institute launched a project last year on how communities can attract and keep good jobs. Miller-Adams is one of the co-authors of a report called "Building Shared Prosperity: How Communities Can Create Good Jobs For All." The report brings together a number of topics, such as place based scholarships, job training and economic development. Get an overview or read the repot at the link.

Community

Ben Brown’s tiny house experiment paves way for future small homes

http://www.secondwavemedia.com/southwest-michigan/features/Ben-Brown-s-Eastside-tiny-house-experiment-paves-the-way-for-future-Kalamazoo-small-homes-0425.aspx
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2nd Wave

Someone had to do it. Ben Brown was thrilled to be that person. After 40 years of living with others in rooms that were smaller than his current 250-square foot house, Brown began exploring ways to build his own tiny dream home. When the plans finally came together in 2017, with the help of Habitat for Humanity, Brown’s house became the first legal tiny house built in Kalamazoo County. Meet Brown and look inside his tiny house on Second Wave.

Community

City-wide survey to measure public opinion on community, government

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/news/432-kalamazoo-resident-feedback-sought-through-community-survey
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City

The City of Kalamazoo is asking residents to participate in a city-wide survey to evaluate how city government is serving residents, to gauge perceptions of the city, and to make comparisons with peer cities.  A random and scientific sample of 1,700 households will receive invitations in the mail to participate in the National Community Survey (NCS). The survey includes questions about quality of life in the community, local policies, demographics, rating of local government services and resident use of services. Survey responses are weighted to reflect the characteristics of the entire community.

 

Community

Critics question plans for President Lincoln statue in Kalamazoo

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/critics-question-plans-for-president-lincoln-statue-in-kalamazoo.html
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MLive

Kalamazoo’s school board last week discussed support and opposition to plans to erect a statue in Bronson Park honoring Abraham Lincoln, hearing from some residents with concerns about the idea. Lincoln visited Kalamazoo prior to his presidency and a group of supporters have been working for years to build a statue in his honor and create educational opportunities around his visit to the city. Critics point out that Lincoln was no friend to Native Americans (link), and the city only recently removed the racist sculpture in the park depicting European subjugation of Native Americans. Supporters agreed that his legacy is complicated, but suggested the positives outweigh the negatives. 

Community

First Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Pottawatomi Reservation boundary sign unveiled

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/news/428-first-match-e-be-nash-she-wish-pottawatomi-reservation-boundary-sign-to-be-unveiled-april-22
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City

The heart of the city of Kalamazoo is built on land taken from the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians in 1827. They had been given the land by the U.S. government in 1821 in exchange for other land. The band successfully resisted 1827 relocation to Indiana or present-day Kansas, instead moving north moved north. By 1838, they had established a permanent settlement in Bradley, Michigan, near Gun Lake. New street signs will mark the boundaries of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish land. The first was unveiled on Monday, April 22, with representatives of the band, the City of Kalamazoo, and local officials.

Community

Kalamazoo war widow meets one-time enemy in battle that killed husband

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kalamazoo-and-battle-creek/war-widow-meets-one-time-enemy-who-helped-kill-husband/1921793738
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WOOD

The photograph is the only one taken of the moment Hattie Ford met the man who played a role in killing her husband 50 years ago during the Vietnam War. It was taken in a clearing, on the spot where her husband died. The man in blue was the enemy back on Jan. 15, 1969, the day Ford's first husband died. "Everybody seems to expect that I would be overcome with emotion, that I would be distraught, that I would feel angry perhaps at this man, and I didn't at all," Ford said. "That war was a big mistake on the part of our government. And I guess if there was anybody I would be angry at, it would be our own government for getting involved in something like that, to take the life of these fine young men."

Community

Kalamazoo County seeks solutions to domestic violence ‘cycle of violence’

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/04/kalamazoo-county-seeks-solutions-to-domestic-violence-cycle-of-violence.html
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MLive

Julina Gibson’s ex-boyfriend shot her and their son in the front yard of her home before turning the gun on himself. Theresa Lockhart’s husband killed her in a fit of drunken rage and buried her body, denying it for months before dying by suicide and confessing to police in a note. Kelly Stanfill’s husband shot her in a field and left her body to be found by police months later. Erica Bell’s ex-boyfriend, George Mack, showed up with a gun while her brother and her mother’s boyfriend were changing the locks at her house. Mack opened fire, fatally striking Edward Bell as he pushed his sister out of the way.

Community

Urban Michigan initiatives recognize racism as major factor in infant and maternal mortality

http://www.secondwavemedia.com/features/urbaninfantmortality030819.aspx
http://cradlekalamazoo.com/who-we-are/
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2nd Wave
Cradle

Statewide, three times as many black Michigan babies die in their first year of life as white Michigan babies, a ratio that has sadly risen in recent years. But the numbers are even more alarming in many of Michigan’s urban centers. The disparity extends to mothers as well. In Michigan, nearly three times more African-American women die during pregnancy and childbirth than white women. YWCA Kalamazoo leads one of the many Michigan initiatives aiming to reduce infant mortality: Cradle Kalamazoo, formerly the Kalamazoo Infant Mortality Community Action Initiative.

Community

KVCC police academy launches diversity training program

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kalamazoo-and-battle-creek/diversity-program-gives-kvcc-cadets-perspective/1912664454
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WOOD

The police academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College launched a new diversity training this year that's believed to be the first of its kind in the state. "Law enforcement has a serious divide with communities of color," said Victor Ledbetter, the director of the law enforcement training center at KVCC. Ledbetter, a retired KDPS captain, launched the one-day training event in February, which was designed by his wife Stacey Randolph, also a former KDPS captain. "There's a thin line between ignorance and racism," Ledbetter said. "A lot of cadets come from sterile backgrounds, so even though they may have gone to school with... one person of color, they've never had a relationship with them."

Community

City of Kalamazoo Day of Amnesty - May 17

https://www.kalamazoocity.org/news/418-2nd-annual-amnesty-day-to-be-held-may-17
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City

The City of Kalamazoo, KDPS, 8th District Court, County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County Sheriff’s Department, Friend of the Court, Michigan Works and First Congregation Church will host the 2nd Annual Amnesty Day at the 8th District Court. Citizens of the metro area of Kalamazoo will have the opportunity to address outstanding low-level nonviolent misdemeanor warrants and charges with the goal of preventing incarceration. Once participants have addressed their pending warrants and/or charges, they will be directed to Bronson Park where social service agencies and other organizations will be available to assist in addressing some of the participants’ quality of life issues. Michigan Works has volunteered to organize various employers looking to interview interested participants for potential employment opportunities.

Community

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