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‘Money out of politics’ will be on Michiganders’ ballots this November

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State
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September 3, 2026

The ballot proposal would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities from making certain direct or indirect political contributions. It would also restrict government contractors with more than $250,000 annually in qualifying contracts, along with certain people and organizations affiliated with those companies, from contributing to candidates in jurisdictions that awarded the contracts. 

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Michigan counties, towns spend $30B a year. Could collaboration get more done?
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News
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August 12, 2026

Berrien County leaders recently established a new nonprofit that works to keep housing affordable. It’s an example of cooperation that policymakers wish happened more often among the state’s 1,856 counties, cities, townships and villages. Collectively, those local governments spend more than $30 billion a year, according to US Census data, including $1.7 billion in state revenue sharing.

Watershed Voice sends out candidate questionnaires for August primary election
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News
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July 16, 2026

This Thursday, July 16, Watershed Voice sent out candidate questionnaires to candidates in the following August primary elections: State Senate District 17, State House District 36, and Three Rivers City Commission 2nd District.  Candidates in those elections will have exactly one week, until Thursday, July 23 to complete the questionnaires. Once completed, Watershed Voice will publish the responses in the order they are received the week before the August 4 election.

Fibrosan announces $16.8 million Cass County investment, 32 jobs planned
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Dowagiac
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June 30, 2026

The investment is expected to generate at least $16,850,000 in capital investment while creating 32 new jobs in the region. To support the project, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) approved a $200,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

Contested state and local races set for St. Joseph County primary ballot
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News
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May 20, 2026

St. Joseph County voters will decide a number of competitive federal, state, and local races when they head to the polls for Michigan’s August 4 primary election. Three Rivers voters in the city’s 2nd District will also have a competitive local race. Josh Hoeppner, Maurice D. Kelly, and incumbent Steven Haigh are seeking the seat. Because the office is nonpartisan, the top vote-getter in the primary will advance according to the city’s election rules. 

Cass commissioners reverse course, approve Lawless Park funding
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Dowagiac
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April 14, 2026

In March, commissioners were asked to approve use of $249,192 from the Bombardie bequest to help close a funding gap in the park improvement project, which was initially denied in a 4-4 vote. In a 5-3 vote on April 9, commissioners reversed course and approved the request. The Bombardie bequest stems from a donation made more than two decades ago by Charles Bombardie, who left 10% of his estate to Cass County Parks. County documents say $249,192 remained in the fund before Thursday’s vote, with the money restricted for park purposes.  During Thursday’s discussion, Commissioner Samuel Barrera read from the last will and testament of Charles Bombardie, dated 2001, and argued the county should honor the donor’s intent by using the money for park improvements.

Michigan lawmaker explores changes to public notice rules, raising transparency concerns
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Three Rivers
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March 26, 2026

Municipalities pay newspapers to publish these notices, with costs varying based on the number and length of postings. According to recent Three Rivers City Commission agenda packets, the city paid $740 to the Three Rivers Commercial-News for fiscal year 2026 public notices. A separate payment of $290 for the same category was recorded February 13. If lawmakers pursue changes, they could alter where and how notices are published, potentially shifting some requirements away from newspapers. However, state Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport) has said she is not seeking to eliminate public notice requirements altogether.

Kalamazoo City Commission tables Safe Routes to School contract amid public pushback
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Kalamazoo
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February 17, 2026

Commissioners voted unanimously to table the item and revisit it at a future meeting. City staff said they plan to prepare additional information, including visuals, and hold a meeting to gather resident feedback before returning to the commission. “If we postpone it to one more meeting, it’s not going to have a delay on receiving the funds,” Commissioner Jae Slaby said. “It will not jeopardize these funds. It will not jeopardize the contract. So why not just have the due diligence done and send the message to the community that we are hearing their concerns?”

Journalists and advocates gather in Kalamazoo to discuss affordable housing
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Kalamazoo
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February 6, 2026

Panelists included journalists who regularly cover housing and community issues — Watershed Voice editor-in-chief and founder Alek Haak-Frost, Brad Devereaux of MLive, Jordyn Hermani of Bridge Michigan, and freelance journalist Al Jones, project editor for On the Ground Kalamazoo — as well as housing advocates Gwendolyn Hooker of Kalamazoo-based Hope Through Navigation, Shanay Settles of the Calhoun County Health Department, and Patsy Moore of Mount Zion Baptist Church and Legacy Senior Living.

Michigan mental health service shift blocked by Court of Claims
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News
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February 3, 2026

The dispute began last fall, when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a request that would have consolidated Michigan’s 10 Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) regions—funded primarily through Medicaid behavioral health dollars—into three “super-regions.” Regional PIHPs later learned that they, as the current providers, were excluded from bidding because they are statutorily restricted to operating within their designated regions. The PIHPs filed a lawsuit, arguing the RFP violated Michigan law and threatened locally administered mental health care that has existed since the 1990s.

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