Michigan lawmakers went down to the wire in approving a new budget. In the end, a middle-of-the-night, two-hour shutdown happened – but did not last. Still, a stopgap spending extension kept the government running before the new, $81 billion plan was passed in...
In his last periodic legislative update on Community Matters, weeks before the threshold of the Michigan budget deadline (the one that would definitively shut the government down), Rep. Steve Frisbie – Republican from Battle Creek – expressed confidence...
Since 2018, the City of Battle Creek has been selected to receive the Michigan Medicaid CHIP Lead Hazard Control Community Development Grant. Fiscal year 2026 is included. The grant was approved for a total of $1,345,000. In this episode of BC City Connection, Battle...
This week, Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives passed a state budget. Just ahead of that, Rep. Steve Frisbie, (R-Pennfield) joined Community Matters, expressing optimism that budget negotiations would begin in earnest soon. Frisbie called the law...
Many school districts – unlike decades of the past – have returned teachers and students to the classroom before Labor Day. Among them, Battle Creek's Pennfield Schools. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer joins Community Matters grateful for school...
July 1 has come and gone and MIchigan lawmakers still have not passed a state budget. By law, the budget should be passed by that date, but the law holds no teeth should that not happen. Meanwhile, Michigan public schools are welcoming students back without knowing...
A plan to reimagine Battle Creek fire stations is coming to fruition. In this episode of BC CIty Connection, Battle Creek Fire Department Battalion Chief Cody Titus discusses how the changes will advance firefighting in the city. Newly appointed Battle Creek Chief...
Kalamazoo Democrat Sean McCann – term limited in the Michigan House of Representatives – wants to unseat Republican U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga of Holland. Huizenga represents Michigan's 4th Congressional House District in Washington, a district...
The search for Battle Creek's next city manager reached a point previously where finalists for the job were set to meet with the public. Then, after one of the candidates withdrew, the city stopped the process temporarily. That was back in April 2025; now, a new...
The City of Battle Creek is actively addressing elevated total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) in the water system, a maximum contaminant level violation. The municipalities affected include the City of Battle Creek, Springfield, Emmett Township and a portion of Pennfield...