KALAMAZOO COUNTY

KALAMAZOO, MI – A woman was fatally shot after a fight over a dirty diaper. In a probable cause affidavit, the man accused of killing the woman told Kalamazoo police that they argued about a dirty diaper prior to the May 20 shooting. Tonya Woody, 43, was fatally shot at a home on East Emerson Street near South Burdick Street. Related: Man charged with murder after shooting in KalamazooSmith told Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety that he was in a doorway when Woody tried to reach for the gun. An Amber Alert was briefly issued for the 1-year-old and then canceled after Smith turned himself in.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A man acquitted of a shooting and convicted of a weapons charge has been sentenced on the lesser charge. Dondrell Servant, 21, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced Monday, May 23 to the time he served in jail while awaiting his trial, by Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Pamela Lightvoet. He was in the Kalamazoo County Jail for 340 days, May 4, 2021, to March 31, according to jail records. He was convicted by a jury March 31 of one felony count of carrying a concealed weapon in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. Related: Attorney says Kalamazoo County man acquitted of shooting acted in self-defenseCarrying a concealed weapon carries a maximum of five years in prison, according to state law.

KENT COUNTY, MI – A woman accused is set to spend years in prison after being sentenced for identity theft. Christina Marie Elder, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced to two to three-and-a-half years in prison last week by U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan Judge Jane Beckering. Elder pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of financial institution fraud. Related: Woman, 36, accused of stealing mail from Kalamazoo County addresses pleads guiltyTen other felony charges were dismissed as part of her plea agreement. Elder was accused of stealing outgoing mail from mailboxes in Kalamazoo County.

Some point to government research showing roundabouts significantly reduce fatal crashes. “I will go a different way to not have to go through them.”The Sprinkle Road roundabout is “a mess,” she said. Miller criticized the design of the Sprinkle Road roundabout and believes design issues may have played a role in some recent crashes. A semitrailer rolled over in a roundabout on Sprinkle Road near I-94 around 11:50 a.m., March 3, 2022. MDOT spokesman Nick Schirripa said the Sprinkle Road roundabouts are pretty large, relatively speaking.

George Stanard, 30, walked around the parking lot of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation at 402 E. Michigan Ave. with his dog, Frank, on Friday, May 20. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation allowed them to stay there temporarily and asked them to leave by Friday, Stanard said. Kalamazoo Community Foundation Communications Officer Jordan Duckens confirmed that unhoused community members are in the organization’s office lot temporarily. Police spent part of the day on Tuesday advising people they had to leave the wooded site at the Urban Nature Park. The parking lot is across the railroad tracks from where they were living temporarily in a wooded area days earlier.

KALAMAZOO, MI – Police are investigating a homicide Friday afternoon. The person was killed in a domestic homicide May 20, on East Emerson Street near South Burdick Street, said Jay Shatara, the public information officer for the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. An Amber Alert was issued because of the possibility of a missing child but the child was found and is safe, Shatara said. This is the second homicide in Kalamazoo in 2022. More from MLive:Students walk out in protest at Kalamazoo County high schoolMan’s death after fall from balcony into South Haven river was tragic accident, police sayHighest steel beam put in place for new Kalamazoo County Justice Facility

A 17-year-old boy has been missing for four years after he was last seen with a Michigan man who has since been accused of murdering his parents, police said.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Milestone Senior Services announced a “New Home, New Hope” fundraising campaign Thursday to raise $3 million to support renovations at their facility on 918 Jasper St.“This campaign will help us to continue to support the work we do and provide services to all our community members,” Richard Klein, president and CEO of Milestone Senior Services, said at a press conference Thursday, May 19. “If people don’t know who we are and what we do, they can’t access our services.”Milestone Senior Services supports seniors and persons with disabilities in their homes so they have choice over staying in their homes or moving to an assisted living facility. The organization serves residents in Allegan, Branch, Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. Boyd is optimistic Milestone Senior Services will surpass the fundraising goal. We can’t forget our seniors.”Sheri Welsh, one of the campaign cabinet members, said she feels Kalamazoo has a ‘magic’ that will bring people together to support Milestone Senior Services.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A warrant has been issued for a man accused of fatally stabbing two people. The warrant for a 27-year-old Kalamazoo man was issued May 12 for two felony counts of manslaughter, according to Kalamazoo County District Court records. It’s been a long process to get to the warrant and charges, Maurice Pearson’s sister Sheran Pearson said. “This is what I’m talking about the prosecuting office,” Sheran Pearson said. “We are grateful that there’s a warrant out for his arrest,” Sheran Pearson said.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A man accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife has been found mentally competent and is headed toward a jury trial. Melissa was fatally stabbed at a home on Campbell Avenue, north of West Main Street, in Kalamazoo Township. Related: Kalamazoo County man accused of stabbing wife to undergo mental competency examLain was found mentally competent to stand trial April 27 in Kalamazoo County District Court. Related: Kalamazoo woman fatally stabbed could brighten any room, loved her 5 children, sisters sayShe had five children, whom she loved very much, her sister Amanda Arredondo said. Lain was denied bond and is in the Kalamazoo County Jail.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- Preliminary designs for a new career center in Kalamazoo County show where high school students will learn about nursing, manufacturing and other career opportunities. The Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency released schematic designs from architects, Wightman & Associates and DLR Group, this week for the new Career Center, which is expected to open to students in 2024. The designs show initial plans for the learning spaces that will house KRESA’s redesigned career and technical education programs. The career center will be constructed on the parcel of donated land located along the I-94 and Sprinkle Road corridor next to Wings Stadium. In 2019, Kalamazoo County voters approved a millage campaign to fund the new CTE program for K-12 students.

KALAMAZOO, MI – X-Train parties, which led to city-approved rules against them three years ago, have returned to Kalamazoo. Police arrested five Kalamazoo men, one Battle Creek man and one Kalamazoo woman. A Kalamazoo man was cited and released for trespassing and two teenage girls were released to guardians, police said. A 20-year-old Kalamazoo man was arrested for fleeing and eluding, carrying concealed weapon, resisting and obstructing police and felony firearm. A 19-year-old Battle Creek man was arrested for carrying concealed weapon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and felony firearm.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – A person has reportedly robbed a bank in Kalamazoo County. The bank, according to police, was robbed Monday afternoon. A person walked into Flagstar Bank, 6560 W. Main St., in front of Meijer around 1:10 p.m. May 16 and demanded money, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office said. The bank was closed for part of Monday afternoon as police investigated the theft. More from MLive:South Haven can close beaches, piers during unsafe conditionsBattle Creek woman, 20, killed in two-vehicle crash in MidlandHuman trafficking is subject of Kalamazoo medical student’s national work

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A new behavioral health urgent care and access center is coming to downtown Kalamazoo. Police officers and ambulance workers will be able to transport people to the facility when it is determined that behavioral health treatment would be appropriate. “It’s accessible for the Northside community as well as the downtown community where we have a high concentration of individuals that are receiving services,” Patton told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. It will be the first and only behavioral health urgent care and access center in Kalamazoo County, he said, and there aren’t many in the state. First Step Psychiatric Urgent Care Center operates in Battle Creek, he said.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – A car hit a semi-tractor trailer on Thursday afternoon in Kalamazoo County. A motorcycle rider ended up laying down the bike to avoid the crash, Dyer said. The car sustained significant front-end damage in the crash with the semi. Officials closed South Sprinkle Road at the intersection of Miller Road to clean up the crash. More from MLive:Dozens of demolitions, renovations planned at Western Michigan University this summerPolice searching for hit-and-run driver whose car hit man in Kalamazoo CountyRetiring director leaves diversity and inclusion homework for Kalamazoo leaders

KALAMAZOO, MI – Westnedge Avenue is closed just south of downtown Kalamazoo. South Westnedge Avenue at West Vine Street closed around 3:10 p.m., May 9 after a power pole fell across the road, the Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority said. Consumers Energy has been told and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is on scene. Dispatch will let people know when the road is open again. More from MLive:Man accused of hours-long standoff charged with 16 feloniesPolice release name of woman killed in Kalamazoo County crashTwo sections of downtown Kalamazoo street closing for construction

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, MI – A 38-year-old Kalamazoo man, who allegedly forced a homeowner out of their residence and barricaded himself inside, was arrested after a standoff with police. The man’s name is being withheld pending arraignment in Kalamazoo County District Court. Police located the suspect, later identified as a 38-year-old Kalamazoo man, at a local business. The investigation will be submitted to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office for review of charges. The man remains lodged in the Kalamazoo County Jail.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Kalamazoo Public Library’s central branch is offering free at home COVID-19 tests while supplies last. The library on 315 S. Rose St. is partnering with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to offer the tests to Michiganders while supplies last. “Individuals and families should consider seeking out COVID-19 at-home test kits if they are considered more vulnerable to severe health outcomes from contracting COVID-19 or live, work, and socialize in group settings,” the MDHHS website reads. In January roughly 5,500 at-home COVID-19 test kits were distributed to libraries in underserved areas of Michigan. Kalamazoo County saw an 18% rise in positive COVID-19 test from April 28 to May 4 compared to the last 7-day period, according to data from MDHHS.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A man was arrested in Kalamazoo after law enforcement confiscated drugs, guns and cash while executing a search warrant on Thursday, May 5. Police were looking for drugs and guns at a residence on 1500 block of Krom Street. During the search, investigators seized two rifles, one handgun, over $20,000 in cash and several pounds of crystal meth, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said in a news release. The joint operation was conducted by the Kalamazoo Public Safety’s Crime Reduction Team, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team and Kalamazoo Metro SWAT Team. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-337-8120 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, MI – A 56-year-old woman died Saturday morning after her vehicle left a Kalamazoo County roadway and struck a tree. Police said the single-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on 8th Street near S Avenue in Texas Township. The Schoolcraft woman was traveling south on South 8th Street when her vehicle went off the road for an “unknown reason” and crashed into a tree, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, died from her injuries. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office 269-383-8748 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

KALAMAZOO, MI - A 15-year-old boy is recovering after he was shot in Kalamazoo early Saturday, May 7. Kalamazoo Public Safety officers responded to the 1200 block of James Street, in the city’s Edison neighborhood, around 1 a.m. on a report of shots fired. Around 2:30 a.m., the Kalamazoo teen showed up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound, according to police. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100. More on MLive:Test ride electric, cargo bikes as Bike Week kicks off in KalamazooMeetings set for roundabout projects coming to Kalamazoo CountyKalamazoo officers acted in self-defense while shooting man at bus station, prosecutor rules

KALAMAZOO, MI — The Kalamazoo City Commission has approved a $1,152,771 contract with Anlaan Corp. for the 2022 Sidewalk Improvement Program, a 17% increase in cost compared to previous years. Sidewalk improvement includes sidewalk replacement and repair for sections of sidewalk in poor condition or that are not Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, according to City of Kalamazoo Public Works Division Manager Anthony Ladd. “Sometimes it’s only a few pieces of sidewalk here and there, sometimes it’s an entire block,” Ladd said. The plan is to continue with the sidewalk improvement project as long as funding allows. “So, anything we can do even incrementally every year, we’re making progress.”The sidewalk improvement project is an aspect of the City of Kalamazoo’s commitment toward a more sustainable future by increasing non-motorized travel.

KALAMAZOO, MI – Police officers acted in self-defense when they fatally shot a man who had shot three people at the Kalamazoo Metro Station last year, the Kalamazoo County prosecutor said Friday. Anthony Oliver, 54, was fatally shot Saturday, Nov. 27 at the downtown Kalamazoo bus station. Amil Alwan, officer Trevor Aday and officer Trevor Patterson acted in self-defense when they fired upon Oliver, Prosecutor Jeff Getting said in a written opinion issued Friday, May 6. Michigan law allows police to use force that is reasonable under the circumstances, Getting said in the summary. The actions Aday, Alwan and Patterson took were immediately necessary to protect themselves and others, the summary said.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo County government wants to know how to spend money to make an impact on the issue of housing, and it’s asking residents for their help. Citizens are invited to take the county’s housing survey by May 22 to share their opinions. The survey information is important to the Kalamazoo County housing plan, as it will provide more precise data, Housing Director Mary Balkema said. The data from the survey will help determine the greatest needs within Kalamazoo County and help with prioritization of dollars, she said. Kalamazoo County voters in November 2020 approved the countywide 0.75-mill property tax, which took the place of a 0.1-mill tax approved by county voters in 2015.

Since last Monday, more than 100 Kalamazoo Public School students have tested positive for COVID-19.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Masks will be optional for students in Kalamazoo for the final couple weeks of school, the superintendent said Wednesday. Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri said during a Board of Education meeting Wednesday, May 4, that masks would be optional for students beginning Monday, May 30. The superintendent also recommended that masks be optional for any outdoor KPS activity such as recess, beginning Monday, May 9. The district has required masks since the beginning of the school year, in August, after keeping instruction virtual for the entire 2020-21 school year. KPS is the only district in Kalamazoo County to mandate masks in the classrooms.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Kalamazoo County commissioner’s attempt to run for re-election in August has been certified by county elections officials. Despite two challenges to the validity of signatures on her petition, Tami Rey will have her name on the Aug. 3 primary ballot after the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s office approved her petition. A group of about 30 people stood in the room and in the hallway as Place announced Rey’s petition signatures were sufficient to place her name on the ballot. Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Don Cooney, Kalamazoo City Commissioner Stephanie Hoffman, Kalamazoo County Commissioner Jen Strebs and former State Rep. Jon Hoadley were among the attendees. Democrat Michael Seals, who is challenging Rey for the District 1 seat in the upcoming election, also challenged the validity of Rey’s petition signatures.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – Voters handily passed a public safety renewal millage in Kalamazoo County. The Kalamazoo County Public Safety millage easily passed the May 3 election, with 80.41% of voters saying “Yes,” according to unofficial election results on May 4. The 2022 millage had 25,225 “Yes” votes to 5,932 “No” votes. The millage renewal is for 1.43 mills. More from MLive:Voters approve $197 million bond proposal for Kalamazoo Public SchoolsClimax-Scotts voters renew school millage but reject increaseComstock voters approve $40M bond for new school, facility improvements

KALAMAZOO, MI – Voters on Tuesday, May 3, approved a $197 million bond proposal for Kalamazoo Public Schools to build a new elementary school and improve facilities, technology and security. The proposal passed with 8,099 yes votes to 3,297 no votes, according to unofficial results posted early Wednesday by the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office. The bond will fund a new El Sol Elementary School and improvements at other schools, including air conditioning and security. Related: Record-breaking $200M bond for Kalamazoo schools appears headed toward victoryThe 25-year bond, which will raise $197,135,000, will not raise overall tax rates as older debts are paid off. It amounts to 2.3 mills, keeping the debt service millage rate at 8.2 mills, a school official said.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A record-breaking $200 million bond was nearing victory late Tuesday for Kalamazoo Public Schools. Approval of a $197 million bond to build a new El Sol Elementary School and fund other facility improvements including air conditioning and security upgrades is leading in the polls Tuesday, May 3, according to unofficial election results from the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office. The bond request, which totals $197,135,000, is a 25-year-bond that will not raise the overall tax rates for property owners, as older debts are paid off. The 2022 bond will fund a new El Sol Elementary, a dual-language elementary school located in Kalamazoo’s Vine Neighborhood. Lastly, the bond will fund investments in technology, including Chromebooks, upgrades in classroom audiovisual systems, refreshments of computer labs and updates in phone and printers to more efficient and modern systems.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County (RCKC) will hold a meeting this week for people to ask questions and learn about two new roundabouts coming to Oshtemo Township. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, at Kalamazoo Christian Elementary, 3800 S. 12th Street. Related: New roundabouts coming to Kalamazoo County to slow down speedersOfficials will discuss the scope of this project and roundabouts in general Wednesday. The road commission submitted for and was approved federal and state safety dollars for the intersection improvements. The road commission also has funding for a roundabout project at the intersection of TU Avenue and 23rd Street for 2024 construction.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A project to improve Miller Road between Emerald Drive and Sprinkle Road is scheduled to start Monday, May 2, the city of Kalamazoo said in a news release. Traffic delays are expected for the project, which received a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the city said. A detour for eastbound traffic will last for about one week during the project. The detour for eastbound traffic will occur over about a week in late June or early July, Public Works Division Manager Anthony Ladd told MLive. The $720,000 project is funded by a grant from the MDOT Transportation Economic Development (TED) fund and the city’s 2022 Major Streets Fund Capital Improvement budget.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The fixed-route bus service in Kalamazoo will once again be available on Sundays after a months-long hiatus. The Kalamazoo Metro is restarting the fixed-route service on Sundays beginning on May 8, according to a press release from Metro. Sunday bus service was suspended in October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the hiatus, Metro provided bussing to those in need through Metro Connect, the on-demand ride service provided throughout Kalamazoo County. Masks are now optional when riding Metro buses, Metro Connect and inside Metro facilities.

KALAMAZOO, MI - A pedestrian was injured after being struck by a vehicle in Kalamazoo. The Kalamazoo Public Safety Department responded to a report of a pedestrian that had been hit by a vehicle at approximately 7:41 p.m. on Friday, April 29. Officers found that the driver of the vehicle lost control and hit a pedestrian who was on the sidewalk, according to police. Officers performed first aid on the victim and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at (269) 488-8911 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.

Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, formerly known as Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, has served individuals with mental health challenges and substance use disorders in Kalamazoo County for more than 30 years. (Kayla Miller | MLive.com)

KALAMAZOO, MI – Two of the three men accused of soliciting a minor are heading toward a jury trial. He was working as a Western Michigan University police officer at the time of his arrest. Related: Police officer arrested in sex sting sent inappropriate texts to WMU student, personnel file saysHohnke was employed as a police officer for Western Michigan University at the time he was arrested. He had previously inappropriately texted a Western Michigan University student, records show. Bower-Guimond and Ruzick posted $5,000 personal recognizance bonds.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A 19-year-old was driving about 20 mph over the speed limit when he was involved in a fatal crash, court records show. Related: Man arraigned in drunk driving death of Western Michigan University studentMultiple people called to say a woman was lying in the street unconscious after she was hit by a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, the affidavit said. Broderick was a student at Western Michigan University. Hudgins stayed at the scene and told police that he was the driver of the vehicle, the affidavit said. A breathalyzer test returned a .078 blood alcohol content and a blood draw showed Hudgins had a BAC of .048, according to the affidavit.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A former police officer accused of solicitating a minor had previously inappropriately texted a Western Michigan University student, records show. Former WMU police officer Abraham Hohnke had also been sent home from work twice after he smelled of alcohol, according to his personnel file obtained by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette through a Freedom of Information Act request. In 2014 Hohnke used his personal cell phone to text a student after responding to a medical call, a disciplinary letter said. The messages became “clearly inappropriate and unbecoming; especially given your status as an on-duty police officer,” the letter said. When releasing the personnel file information, the university official said it does not speak about personnel matters.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A man accused of driving drunk and killing a Western Michigan University student has been arraigned on multiple charges stemming from the November crash. Hudgins’ driving license was suspended by the Secretary of State. Hudgins is no longer a student at Western Michigan University and is living in Tecumseh, Workman said. Operating under influence or while impaired by liquor causing death carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. Moving violation causing death carries a maximum of one year in jail and person under 21 with a blood alcohol content of .02 to .07% carries a maximum of 360 hours of community service.

“It was a good step in finally the direction it should have gone a long time ago,” said Colleen Broderick, Bailey’s mother. Related: Warrant issued for man accused of killing Western Michigan University student in drunk driving crashAn arrest warrant was issued April 20 for the then-19-year-old man accused of driving the car. Broderick’s parents, Colleen and Craig Broderick, have been waiting months for the charges. “Hopefully they set a standard that they’re not going to tolerate drunk driving in these in these college kids,” Craig Broderick said. “If you care about humanity at all, you won’t drink and drive,” Colleen Broderick said.

KALAMAZOO, MI – A man is facing charges after allegedly driving drunk and killing a Western Michigan University student. There is a warrant out for a 20-year-old Tecumseh man in Kalamazoo County District Court for one felony count each of operating under influence or while impaired by liquor causing death, moving violation causing death and person under 21 with a blood alcohol content of .02 to .07%. He is accused of killing WMU student Bailey Broderick, 19. Related: ‘We just want justice for our girl,’ says mother of student killed in Kalamazoo crashHe was arrested at the scene and later released while police were waiting on toxicology reports. More from MLive:Kalamazoo forms Police Athletic League, commits $1M for youth developmentWestern Michigan University launches paid internships for studentsBattle Creek man charged in December homicide

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The filing deadline has past, and several familiar names are running for offices such as the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners in this year’s primary election. A total of 20 candidates beat the deadline to make the ballot for Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, while 16 candidates filed for state senator or state representative races in the county. Here are the candidates listed on the ballot for races in Kalamazoo County:Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners (2-year seats)1st DistrictTami Rey, Democrat, incumbentMichael A. Candidates in Kalamazoo County township races are also listed on the county website. Additionally, view the list of candidates for judicial positions on the Aug. 2 ballot in Kalamazoo County here.

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, April 19, and approved the resolution after hearing from dozens of people. The county would turn the land back to a natural state and used for hiking trails, Kalamazoo County Parks Director David Rachowicz said. According to the county, in 1961, Kalamazoo County acquired the adjacent property and created Prairie View County Park. In 1962, Kalamazoo County started the condemnation process to acquire the four parcels, according to the county. • Uncontrolled access to county park property and facilities with keys that must be issued.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Masks are no longer required to ride on public buses in Kalamazoo County after a federal judge threw out a mandate from the CDC. Effective Tuesday, April 19, masks are no longer required on Metro buses, Metro Connect and in Metro facilities, the Kalamazoo Metro Transit said in a press release. The policy change came after a federal judge in Florida voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation Monday, April 18. The Transportation Security Administration is no longer enforcing masks on public transportation, K Metro said. “Wearing a mask on public transportation in Kalamazoo County will be decided by the individual rider,” the release said.

Griffin has been named director of the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC), which works to address homelessness, the organization has announced. Griffin was appointed to the Kalamazoo County Housing Commission in late 2021. In January 2020, leadership of the Kalamazoo County CoC transitioned from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR). United Way organizations in the region recently consolidated to form the United Way of South Central Michigan. The Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC) program is designed to:Promote community-wide planning and strategic use of resources to address homelessness.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- As the flowers bloom and construction season begins, bringing bright orange cones with it, the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County has released a list of extensive projects that are currently scheduled. “We would like to thank residents for their patience as we work towards improving our roads and updating infrastructure over the course of the 2022 construction season,” Road Commission of Kalamazoo County Communications Administrator Sarah Phillips said.

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo County Club plans to expand onto the site of a now-shuttered youth home. The Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death was a homicide. The Kalamazoo Country Club, 1609 Whites Road, did not respond to requests for comment. The country club property and the former Lakeside Academy site border Whites Lake. The country club’s property touches the Lakeside Academy site, according to the city’s GIS map.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Grace Theisen is no stranger to raising her voice when it comes to issues of social justice. The Americana musician will be hosting and performing at a Thursday, April 21 benefit concert at Bell’s Eccentric Café, Mingle 4 Shingles. Related: Tiny homes coming to Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood as affordable housing solution“I think affordable housing should be a basic right for everyone,” Theisen said. Plans then call to duplicate the project in the Vine neighborhood and then replicate it in four other Kalamazoo neighborhoods. “I think that people that live in Kalamazoo are really aware of the deficit that we have in housing right now,” she said.

RICHLAND TWP, MI -- A high-speed crash left a motorcyclist in critical condition Saturday morning in Kalamazoo County, police said. Deputies with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office responded at 10:20 a.m. Saturday, April 16, to a crash in the 10000 block of M-43 near West Gull Lake Drive in Richland Township. A 47-year-old Richland man was headed north on M-43 at a high rate of speed when he lost control and went off the roadway, striking a tree, police said. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet and he suffered critical injuries. Anyone with information about the crash may contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office at 269-383-8748 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first influenza-related child death in Michigan for the 2021-2022 flu season.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Kalamazoo County child has been identified as the state’s first pediatric flu-related death for the 2021-2022 flu season. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services staff on Friday, April 15, said the child, whose age and gender were not given, contracted Influenza A/H3. State health leaders say the death is among at least 16 pediatric flu-related deaths across the nation for the current flu season. The trend is not typical for this time of year, health leaders said. Most of the confirmed flu cases in Michigan involve the Influenza A/H3 virus, according to MDHHS staff.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Western Michigan University police officer is among those who were arrested in a sex sting operation carried out by sheriff’s deputies. The officer who is no longer employed by the university’s police department was one of three men arrested, Kalamazoo County sheriff’s officials announced Friday, April 15. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a human trafficking investigation that resulted in arrests of people who are accused of seeking sex from minors, Sheriff Richard Fuller said at the press conference. A “strike team” conducted the operation, he said, and it could also be called a sting. Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office personnel worked with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, which is known for human trafficking stings, before an operation was started here, Fuller said.

A Clarkston native and captain of the Western Michigan University hockey team is facing a sexual assault charge after an incident at a party, officials said.

A year ago today in December 2020, a huge logistics operation began to ship millions of vaccines to hospitals across the country, and it all centered here in Michigan.

A woman trapped under her car was rescued by Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies after a hit-and-run incident in Pontiac.

A woman trapped under her car was rescued by Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies after a hit-and-run incident in Pontiac.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield has resigned as CEO of Southwest Michigan First amid community pushback. pic.twitter.com/loS4v0kH3t — Lee Chatfield (@LeeChatfield) February 22, 2021Southwest Michigan First, an economic development agency in Kalamazoo, announced Chatfield as the new CEO on Feb. 11. According to WOODTV, the city of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Promise both pulled support from Southwest Michigan First after the announcement that Chatfield had been hired. As the community started voicing concerns about Chatfield, Southwest Michigan First said it updated its handbook to make it clear it did not discriminate based on gender identity or sexual orientation. pic.twitter.com/iyTKdviZMh — Lee Chatfield (@LeeChatfield) February 16, 2021READ: More political coverage

Ramping up vaccine productionFirst, we’ll start with a claim Biden made about the administration’s effort to ramp up vaccine production in the U.S. Biden was referring to his commitment to have 100 million shots administered in American arms during his first 100 days in office. Biden statement: “24 million adults, 11 million children don’t have enough food to eat. It looks like President Biden is using USDA numbers taken during the pandemic, but before the full extent of the pandemic hit. Critics have previously argued that 100 million doses was an inadequate goal to begin with, and hoped that distribution pace would be increased when possible.

AdPfizer is also reportedly on track to ship out 200 million vaccine doses by the end of May this year, two months ahead of their original schedule, Bourla said. To help offer more flexibility to vaccination centers across the country, Bourla says Pfizer is also improving the longevity of stored vaccine doses with a new storage option. Following his tour of Pfizer’s largest manufacturing site, addressing the nation, President Biden thanked the Pfizer employees for their role in producing hundreds of millions of doses of the much-needed coronavirus vaccine. That’s how to beat this pandemic.”Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined President Biden on a tour of the Pfizer facility Friday, her team announced hours after the event. Several shipments of coronavirus vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna have also been delayed to Michigan and other states this week due to severe weather conditions.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)PORTAGE, Mich. – During his first visit to Michigan since elected president, Joe Biden delivered remarks from the Pfizer manufacturing site in Kalamazoo County on Friday, Feb. 19. Recap: Biden outlines plan to ramp up US vaccine rollout while at Michigan Pfizer facilityPresident Biden was originally scheduled to visit Pfizer’s largest manufacturing site in Portage on Thursday this week. AdPfizer is one of two companies manufacturing coronavirus vaccines that have been authorized for widespread use in the United States. Tens of millions of vaccine doses have been produced and shipped out of the Portage facility. Pfizer expects to make a batch of the vaccine in about 60 days, meaning more doses are on the way.

A booking photo of Nicholas Johnson from the Kalamazoo County Jail. (Feb. 9, 2021)PORTAGE, Mich. – A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder in the slayings of his parents whose bodies were found in a wooded area in western Michigan. Nicholas Johnson was expected to be arraigned Thursday in Kalamazoo County District Court. Their bodies were unearthed Friday at Gourdneck State Game Area in Portage, about three miles from their home. Police said their son was found in a storage unit at an apartment building and had his parents’ car.

PORTAGE, Mich. – With the shipments of the Pfizer vaccine out of Portage on the way, Michigan’s essential workers -- especially those in the food industry -- are hoping they will be next in line after medical workers to be vaccinated. For months, workers in grocery stores and the food industry have been subjected to some of the worst outbreaks during the pandemic. essential workers are urging they should be next -- as stores continue to fill with holiday shoppers. Michigan’s covid outbreak tracker shows the food industry and retail shops account for nearly 40 current outbreaks statewide. They are still part of the first wave with hundreds of thousands of other workers in essential industries all looking to get vaccinated.

Wayne County is holding a meeting Monday morning to discuss what’s next and Macomb County is expected to receive about 2,000 doses. In November, Macomb County received its first freezer capable of keeping the vaccine stable until ready to thaw. Macomb County will also be storing and distributing for counties north of it -- Lapeer, St. Clair and Sanilac counties. Despite having some of the highest total confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan, Macomb County has one of the lowest growth rates in the state. Macomb County officials are expecting its delivery of the vaccine midweek.

Michigan healthcare officials will start distributing the vaccine to frontline workers. Ascension Hospital in Warren and five hospitals in the Henry Ford Health System will be able to store the vaccines in super cold freezers once they arrive. Henry Ford Health System CCO Dr. Adnan Munkarah said the they will be storing the vaccines at its hospitals in Detroit, Wyandotte, Macomb, West Bloomfield and Jackson. They have about 11,000 frontline workers who need vaccines, so a lottery system was set up and the first 1,000 workers know who they are. Frontline workers are asking for all the help they can get to keep that number down.

All rights reserved)DETROIT – The eyes of the nation are on Portage, a city on Michigan’s west side in Kalamazoo County, just west of Battle Creek. The monumental effort to create a COVID-19 vaccine came together Sunday as the first batches were shipped nationwide. It is the biggest vaccination effort in American history. WATCH Local 4 News at 11Metro Detroit weather: Getting colder under cloudy skies, Sunday eveningWe keep a fair amount of clouds around Sunday evening as it gets colder. Overnight lows will be in the low 20s and wind chills in the teens anytime wind speed reaches 5 mph or greater.

PORTAGE, Mich. – The shipments of the Pfizer vaccine out of Portage set in motion the largest vaccination effort in American history. Nearly 3 million doses of the vaccine will be delivered to all 50 states. In Metro Detroit, that includes Ascension Hospital in Warren and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, which is expecting just under 1,000 initial doses. Beaumont Health is estimating they’ll get about 1,000 doses in the first batch before moving up to about 14,000 Pfizer vaccines as production kicks into high-gear. They have about 11,000 frontline workers who need vaccines, so a lottery system was set up and the first 1,000 workers know who they are.

PORTAGE, Mich. – The eyes of the nation are on Portage, a city on Michigan’s west side in Kalamazoo County, just west of Battle Creek. The monumental effort to create a COVID-19 vaccine came together Sunday as the first batches were shipped nationwide. It is the biggest vaccination effort in American history. From Portage, the doses of the vaccine will be kept in temperature safe packages and transported with GPS trackers and U.S. RELATED: What it takes to safely transport Pfizer’s COVID vaccine to hospitalsThe vaccine will be shipped to those on the front lines of the health care industry and nursing home patients.

RELATED: FDA authorizes Pfizer’s COVID vaccine; Michigan will distribute in 4 phasesOnce those shipments are packed and ready to leave Pfizer, it’s a painstaking process to make sure they arrive safely to hospitals. Boxes are loaded with the vaccine, dry ice and GPS trackers because time and temperature are critical. The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at 100 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. To maintain a sustainable temperature during transport, crews are using tons of dry ice -- carbon dioxide that has been cooled to at least 110 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, becoming solid. When dry ice melts, it emits carbon dioxide, so the FAA is requiring crews to wear carbon dioxide detectors inside the pressurized and sealed airplanes transporting the virus.

PORTAGE, Mich. – It’s a huge logistics operation to ship millions of vaccines to hospitals across the country -- and it’s all centered here in Michigan. The eyes of the nation are on Portage, a city on Michigan’s west side in Kalamazoo County, just west of Battle Creek. Workers at the Pfizer plant in Portage worked hard to prepare to ship the vaccines Sunday morning. RELATED: FDA authorizes Pfizer’s COVID vaccine; Michigan will distribute in 4 phases“I have 100% confidence that we will get the vaccine to the American people,” said Gen. Gustave Perna. Read: Michigan officials: COVID vaccine to be distributed in 4 phases, prioritize frontline workers“We want to make sure the vaccine arrives safely and that it can be safely administered when arrival occurs.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – An MLive reporter was arrested while covering a rally that turned violent in Kalamazoo on Saturday afternoon, according to reports online. Members of the far-right group “Proud Boys” reportedly clashed with counter-protesters during a scheduled demonstration in the area of E. Water and N. Edward streets, WOOD-TV reports. (Language warning) Far-right group Proud Boys and counter-protesters meet in downtown Kalamazoo. Proud Boys are attacking counter protesters, spraying pepper spray. The Proud Boys have largely cleared out, overwhelmed by counter-protesters.

Videos show staff members piling on the 16-year-old, trying to restrain him after they said he threw a sandwich to the ground. READ: ‘Outrageous and heartbreaking’: Michigan officials release videos leading up to Kalamazoo youth center deathState officials have announced new emergency rules aimed at preventing anything like that from happening again. The rules are an overhaul of how staff at homes are supposed to care for the children. The state is now changing the rules for facilities like that one, which are paid by the state to care for children. READ: Lawsuit filed in death of Michigan teen restrained by youth home staff for throwing sandwich

Michigan bans face-down restraints at youth centers after 16-year-old diesPublished: July 16, 2020, 11:28 pmCornelius Frederick died last month after being restrained at the Lakeside For Children facility. Videos show staff members piling on the 16-year-old, trying to restrain him after they said he threw a sandwich to the ground.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released security footage that shows the moments leading up to the death of a teenager at a youth center in Kalamazoo. “MDHHS decided to release two videos in the interest of transparency,” officials said. A staff nurse was near the incident, and video shows she did not come to Cornelius’ aid. READ: Partial video released in teenager’s Kalamazoo youth center deathFrederick went into cardiac arrest and died the next day at the hospital, according to officials. After Cornelius’ death, officials said all 125 youth at the center were removed and placed in other settings based on their needs.

Cornelius Fredericks, 16, died May 1, two days after he lost consciousness while being restrained by staff at Lakeside Academy. The Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed Fredericks’ manner and cause of death was a homicide. Getting, who called Fredericks’ death a “tragedy beyond description,” said the accused employees are expected to turn themselves in for arraignment but didn’t say when that would happen. Sequel said it fired the three workers involved in Fredericks' death and relieved the executive director of Lakeside Academy of his duties. Earlier Wednesday, attorney Geoffrey Fieger, who represents Fredericks’ family, called for charges to be filed in the teen’s death.

Whitmer said in a statement late Saturday that Sequel Youth and Family Services cannot provide services for facilities licensed by the state agency. “Protecting our most vulnerable is a top priority of my administration, and the senseless death of a youth at Lakeside for Children in Kalamazoo is intolerable and heartbreaking. Cornelius Frederick, 16, pictured at the hospital after being restrained by staff at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo on April 29, 2020. In a special report from MDHHS one staff member allegedly slapped, choked and scratched a student in January. The Associated Press left an email Sunday morning seeking comment from Sequel Family and Youth Services.

LANSING, Mich. – Telephone scammers are posing as human services officials and attempting to steal personal information from unsuspecting Michigan residents, warns Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon and the Michigan State Police. No one should give out personal information to an unsolicited caller. “If you are ever asked by an unsolicited caller to give out personal information, don’t do it,” Nessel said. “MDHHS does not call clients and ask for detailed personal information over the phone,” said MDHHS Director RobertGordon. Those who wish to make a report about scam calls can do so by contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer ProtectionDivision.

The Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services said in a statement on Friday that the person was one of two in the county to contract the virus. (WDIV)KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Officials in Kalamazoo County say a person who contracted a mosquito-borne virus called eastern equine encephalitis has died. Mlive reports that the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services said in a statement Friday that the person was one of two in the county to contract the virus. Read more on the deadly virus here:Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.