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Kalamazoo commissioners reluctantly adopt Healthcare Action Committee resolution; set date to consider moratorium
Commissioners said their “hands were tied” after unanimously adopting a resolution Monday to set the election date and determine ballot language for a proposed city charter amendment that would establish a Citizens’ Healthcare Action Committee.
Officials criticized what they described as an out-of-town organization taking advantage of and misinforming residents. Mayor David Anderson described the organization’s funding as “dark money,” said he does not support the initiative, and will “work from now until November 4 to make sure that’s communicated.”
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Watershed Voice is an independent, nonprofit civic news magazine based in Three Rivers, Michigan. We seek to highlight solutions to your pressing concerns in an effort to make our community a better place.
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Juvenile arrested after armed confrontation with Cass County deputies
A juvenile was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly pointing a firearm at Cass County sheriff’s deputies and later threatening them with knives, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission
Commissioners are expected to consider paying down $3 million in outstanding debt connected to past Sturgis Hospital improvements, approve annual utility rates, and hold a public hearing on the city’s proposed 2026-27 budget. Commissioners will also consider issuing up to $800K in bonds for the Doyle Community Center roof project.
This will be the first meeting where interim City Manager Doug Terry will serve as the lone city manager after former City Manager Andrew Kuk’s final meeting on Wednesday, July 22.
What drove turnout in St. Joseph County’s August primary?
County records show 12,200 ballots were cast in Tuesday’s primary election. By comparison, 13,544 ballots were cast during the August 2024 primary, when turnout reached about 27%, and 13,472 ballots were cast during the August 2020 primary, which saw roughly 29% turnout. This year’s election saw 1,344 fewer ballots cast than in 2024 — a decrease of about 9.9%.
As of August 5, St. Joseph County had 49,226 registered voters, putting overall turnout for Tuesday’s primary at approximately 25%.
Huss Project’s Back to School Celebration returns Saturday with free backpacks, community resources
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Huss Project, 1008 Eighth St. in Three Rivers, alongside the Huss Project Farmers Market and Second Saturday Market Art Market.
School-aged children accompanied by an adult caregiver can receive a free backpack filled with school supplies while supplies last. Throughout the day, local organizations will offer information about community services and host kid-friendly activities as part of the event’s annual Community Carnival.
Listen: Good Grief. Podcast, Episode 4
In the fourth episode of the Good Grief. Podcast, Watershed Voice’s Aundrea Sayrie examines one of the biggest misconceptions about grief – “[it] only happens when someone dies.”
“As I reflected I realized something that on one hand, the level of grief I experienced losing my mom was unlike anything I had ever experienced. But on the other, it was quietly familiar.
“Not in its intensity. But in its depth. In its ache. I began to recognize grief at the edge of nearly every significant loss I’d experienced since childhood. I simply hadn’t known to call it grief.”
2026 Primary Election results part 2: El-Sayed wins Democratic Senate nomination, incumbent Steve Carra advances
El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic nomination, receiving 48.48% of the vote (740,950 votes), while Stevens received 47.51% (726,057 votes). Former candidate Mallory McMorrow, who withdrew from the race in early July, still received more than 50,000 votes. While some votes are still being counted across the state, the Associated Press has called the race for El-Sayed.
