Kalamazoo County, MI: Portage Road Lane Closures Begin September 22
Portage, MI – Drivers in Portage should plan for extended traffic changes as lane closures begin this week on Portage Road. According to the Portage Department of Public Safety, the northbound and southbound curb lanes of Portage Road will be closed at the Forest Drive intersection starting Monday, September 22, at 7...
‘Career’ drug dealer linked to deadly overdose gets prison
A Kalamazoo man in whose home authorities found a woman dead of an overdose will spend 30 years in a federal prison.
A sit-down restaurant serving alcohol has come to the WMU Student center
Walk in the main entrance of WMU’s student center and you’ll see Hou Jia, a glass-walled restaurant with a bar at the front. It’s owned by Jim Chiang, who also owns local Chinese restaurant chain Hunan Gardens. Chiang said the restaurant and bar boasts a Taiwanese-fusion inspired...
$700K approved to shelter people from the cold in Kalamazoo County
KALAMAZOO, MI — Local officials are working together on a plan to shelter those without homes during the coming cold weather months. Kalamazoo County is contributing $396,750 and the city of Kalamazoo will provide another $300,000 for the effort. Officials are now looking for providers to do the work.
‘I’m devastated’: Liquid Note music venue, taphouse next door both set to close
Faced with declining numbers since the pandemic, a music venue and a restaurant in Otsego are both closing.
Kalamazoo Co. buys McDonald’s property to make way for new admin building
Kalamazoo County commissioners voted to enter a purchase agreement for the McDonald's property right across the street from the administration building.
2 charged with human trafficking plead down in bank scheme
Two men accused of human trafficking after deputies say they forced a woman to go into a bank and open an account have entered pleas in the 2023 case.
County superintendents urge Lansing to ‘act quickly’ to pass state budget
CENTREVILLE — Leaders of every school district in St. Joseph County are urging action by state lawmakers as a deadline to pass a state budget looms in just under two weeks. In a letter to county families and staff on Sept. 3, ISD Superintendent Teresa Belote, as well as the superintendents of all nine school...
Ordinance change for potential data center in Pavilion Township postponed after public outcry
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — The Pavillion Township Planning commission postponed action Thursday on a proposed ordinance change to support a potential data center during a meeting that drew a few dozen people. Real estate development firm Franklin Partners visited the township last month to discuss the possibility of a...
Bell’s at 40: Kalamazoo brewery investing $20M into facilities, beer garden
KALAMAZOO, MI — It’s been 40 years since Larry Bell founded Bell’s Brewery with a simple 15-gallon soup kettle in Kalamazoo. Now, four years after Bell sold his namesake brewery to Lion, creating a craft partnership with New Belgium Brewing in the process, his beer and legacy is available in all 50 states.