Michael Symonds

Latinx Festival to bring food, music and a back-to-school giveaway to Kalamazoo Latin American culture will be on full display Saturday at the 4th annual Kalamazoo Latinx Festival.

“I hope that they can get to hear some music that they enjoy. And I hope that they have fun. I hope they get to see that Kalamazoo is quite a diverse community.”
#Latinx #ICE

KDPS suspends the use of masks by undercover officers after community concerns The announcement comes as masked immigration officers carry out raids around the country.

"At this time I believe this is the right step to avoid contributing further to public fear or uncertainty."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social
#Kalamazoo #KDPS #Masks

70-Year-Old activist makes stop in Kalamazoo in cross-country bike ride for Gaza After biking over 1,000 miles, a 70-year-old activist will be greeted by the Kalamazoo Non-violent Opponents of War when he arrives Tuesday night to talk about the war in Gaza.

“It all adds up. All the stuff, all these little actions, these vigils, fasts, bike rides, meeting with congressmen, protests. It's all part of a big movement to end this genocide.”
@nhpeaceaction.bsky.social
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

Calhoun County ranks among the top counties for diabetes deaths, but local groups are trying to change that Calhoun County has a diabetes problem, in the top quarter of death rates in the state. But there are those who are trying to help.

"We want to help them learn to control their diabetic condition so they minimize the impact on other health issues but also live a more active and a more fulfilling life."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

"Pick and choose": Pavilion Estates ban on window ACs is inconsistent, say residents Residents of a South Bend mobile home park braced for a ban this summer on window-unit air conditioners. It’s been delayed, but a Kalamazoo County mobile home park owned by the same company does ban w...

"I don't honestly see how that's legal or humane.”
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

NorthPointe Woods greenhouse brings fresh produce to senior residents A Battle Creek-based senior living facility will show off its self-sustaining greenhouse this Thursday.

"This is very important not only just to the staff and to the residents, but also to the families of our residents."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

“I am Potawatomi:” Short film and workshop puts spotlight on endangered indigenous language The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is hosting a screening of "Bodewadmi Ndaw" Thursday, which covers the near death and current revitalization of the Potawatomi language.

"There was a big term; ‘beat the Indian out of them.’ And I think that definitely came through and unfortunately was incredibly successful."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social
@kiarts.bsky.social

Alleged bomb-throwing near Gobles leads to charges including terrorism Van Buren County deputies were met with an explosion when they attempted to arrest a fugitive in Pine Grove Township.

Van Buren County deputies were met with an explosion when they attempted to arrest a fugitive in Pine Grove Township.
@reportforamerica.bsky.social
#Terrorism

Tenant advocates aim to get renters' rights on the ballot in Kalamazoo Organizers with a statewide group are seeking signatures with the goal of putting two proposals before city voters.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm from renters in the area.”
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

MDHHS raises funding rates, but a Cass County mental health agency says it isn't enough Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network says the state has increased its funding to help pay for mental health services. But its CEO says they still face a budget crisis.

"The mid year rate amendment helped push our cash flow issues into the spring of 2026. MDHHS is still underfunding the CMH system."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social
#MentalHealth #MDHHS

If you don't have the right tool for the job, Community Homeworks' new library might If you’re a Kalamazoo County resident with a project in mind, but no equipment to get it done, Community Homeworks' new tool library may have what you need.

“We really want this to be a resource to the community to empower people to tackle the things that they want and need to do."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

Trump's budget bill could cut services for disabled students, educators say The version of President Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” that passed the US House would cut Medicaid funds to at least some school districts.

"We are educating kids today. We are going to educate kids tomorrow. We sure would like not being hamstrung as we do that, and this Big Beautiful Bill doesn't help us achieve what we need."
@reportforamerica.bsky.social

Why's That: What's with the barbed wire and antennas at this Allegan County 'home'? Just northwest of the small town of Allegan sits what looks like a normal family house, but it's surrounded by a barbed wire fence and large antennas. So, what happened here?

“They had a whole company of infantry stationed here, guarding it during the war."
#FCC #WW2 #ColdWar #Radio

"It took the gatekeepers away:" Professor discusses how Black Twitter reshaped media representation Sherri Williams is an Associate Professor and Researcher of media, race and representation at American University and she grew up in Kalamazoo. Her most recent book, Black Social Television, will be t...

"Black Americans have had to be defensive of our images throughout the time that we've been in this country because our images have been so distorted and used against us to justify our oppression."

Upjohn Institute panel highlights Kalamazoo Promise anniversary and career education 20 years of the Kalamazoo Promise and a new career education center were key talking points at a Upjohn Institute panel Wednesday.

The Upjohn Institute Community Breakfast highlighted the 20th anniversary of the Kalamazoo Promise and a new career and technical education center Wednesday.
From WMUK's @michaelsymonds.bsky.social

With jobs at stake, Ascension Borgess nurses call for clarifications from Beacon Health A union for nurses at two Ascension Borgess hospitals said Beacon has been vague about requirements for members to stay on staff.

“Nurses would rather update their resume and start a job at a different facility rather than live with the stress of the uncertainty."

Rural residents hope new ownership brings more services to their local hospitals Rural hospitals in Plainwell and Dowagiac, currently owned by Ascension, will soon belong to the Beacon Health System. That's if a sale goes through as expected this summer.

“They're not such a hospital anymore. They're like a quick-fix, send them to the bigger hospitals.”

One year later, Pavilion Estate tornado victims continue to face hardship It’s been a year since a tornado destroyed dozens of homes in Kalamazoo County and damaged hundreds more. A mobile home park in Pavilion Township took some of the worst damage. But even after a year, ...

"They're living with a generator going. They can't even have power hooked up.”
#FEMA #Tornado

One year after the May 7 tornado, Kalamazoo County is still rebuilding Wednesday marks one year since a tornado ripped through Texas Township, Portage and Pavilion Township. Portage will mark the event with a ceremony.

“You want to remember what happened, you want to remember the community response, you want to also remember so you can be prepared for the future because weather is fickle and you never know when it might happen again.”
#portage #disaster #tornado

Protesters will gather in Portage Saturday to rally against the Trump Administration Demonstrators will once again take to the sidewalks of South Westnedge Avenue near the Crossroads Mall to protest various actions of the president's second term.

“Every day when the administration is doing something surprisingly terrible again and again and again, I think it just keeps people motivated all the more.”
@kzooindivisible.bsky.social
@indivisible.org

WMU international students will move forward with a lawsuit challenging SEVIS deletions The federal government has reinstated the SEVIS records of several international students at Western Michigan University. But a lawsuit that includes some of the students is still moving forward.

“We will not back down. We will take this to the very end if necessary. We'll take it to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. We are not going to stop defending these students."
#ICE #WMU #Trump

Gaping sinkhole closes road in Battle Creek The collapse has closed a portion of Riverside Drive, from Columbia Avenue to Territorial Road East.

No injuries were reported, though one car was damaged.

The Kalamazoo County Democrats plan a veteran-focused protest against DOGE this weekend The Kalamazoo area has seen a range of protests recently against actions of the second Trump administration.

Saturday’s protest is organized by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, focusing on how DOGE cuts have affected military veterans.
@kzoodems.bsky.social

Local mental health agencies say they're headed for a funding crisis, and it's on MDHHS to fix it The CEO of Cass County's Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network is among those who say funding from the state has not kept up with the cost of care.

"MDHHS has underfunded not only us, but the entire county mental health, community mental health system to the tune of, for our region, approximately $25 million per year"
#MDHHS #MentalHealth

A judge orders Homeland Security to restore the SEVIS records of three WMU international students The temporary order comes after at least six international students from Western Michigan University had their records terminated by the Department of Homeland Security.

The temporary order states that Homeland Security cannot deport the students due to their terminated records
#WMU #ICE #Trump #DHS

A petition urges Southwestern Michigan College to rethink its choice of interim leader Southwestern Michigan College named Brent Brewer its next interim President in February. The petition points to allegations of domestic violence Brewer faced in 2023.

“Is this appointment going to make them feel safe? Is it going to make them feel supported? Or will it make them feel silenced?”
@julie1nish.bsky.social

"One day you have it, one day you don't”: Community leaders express uncertainty about federal grants Trump administration efforts to cut off Inflation Reduction Act funding have thrown projects into disarray in several Southwest Michigan communities.

"This is not a political exercise. This is impacting people's lives, and you need to hear from them."

One visa cancelled, three other international students' status in question at WMU International students in Michigan and around the US have had visas revoked or jeopardized in recent days.

Western said it's working with the affected students to determine their options.
#WMU #ICE #HomelandSecurity #Trump

From civil rights to predatory colleges, what closing the DOE could mean for higher education Closing the Department of Education could allow civil rights laws to go unenforced, and unscrupulous for-profit colleges to flourish, according to an Upjohn Institute researcher.

"There's tremendous local autonomy, but there are national laws. And if you don't have the ability to enforce those laws, those laws are meaningless."
@upjohninstitute.bsky.social

Trump wants to gut federal library agency, but rural Southwest Michigan libraries say it provides vital funding Librarians say a push by President Donald Trump to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will have disproportionate impact on rural libraries.

“If you live in a smaller community, I can almost promise you your local library is going to struggle to maintain these services. And honestly, they might not be able to maintain them.”
#IMLS #Trump #Libraries