tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24437368775739919502011-04-21T16:35:58.518-07:00WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.comBlogger10761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-91126416532796415882009-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:002009-05-07T08:53:23.729-07:00

The funeral was scheduled Thursday for a Kalamazoo County teen killed in a reported murder/suicide. 16-year old Tanika Heard will be laid to rest a week after she was shot to death by 67-year old Nicholas Arbutina. Heard’s foster sister, 15-year old Brianna Washington was also shot, but is recovering. She tells police Arbutina tried to sexually assault Heard, then shot them both when she

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-47073827992466932502009-05-07T08:51:00.000-07:002009-05-07T08:52:26.132-07:00

A Branch County man accused in the shooting death of his wife will stand trial. A judge ruled yesterday that there is sufficient evidence to try Tom Foley for the murder of Dee Dee Foley, a popular Union City teacher who was gunned down in her home near Girard in February. Foley’s attorney argued his client is accused simply because police failed to find any other suspects. The Branch County

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-27039300959668898472009-05-07T08:50:00.001-07:002009-05-07T08:50:28.768-07:00

A Kalamazoo teen at the center of a controversial civil suit is in the Kent County Jail. This week, the City of Kalamazoo paid 175-thousand dollars to a trust for 17-year old Michael Goldman. A multi-million dollar excessive force and racial profiling suit was filed after Goldman was injured by a public safety officer last year. Goldman had some 20 arrests on his record…some for serious

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-40907017222621676662009-05-07T08:47:00.000-07:002009-05-07T08:49:42.036-07:00

United Solar Ovonic is temporarily closing its solar panel production factories in Greenville and Auburn Hills. Beginning May 17, workers at the two Greenville plants will be furloughed for four weeks while employees at a plant in Auburn Hills will be laid off for three weeks. The company is also offering voluntary severance packages. Spokesman Mark Trinske says the installation of

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-67479285900013592322009-05-06T09:30:00.001-07:002009-05-06T09:30:50.979-07:00

Turnout was light Tuesday as just over 6-percent of registered voters in Calhoun County went to the polls. In the race for Kellogg Community College Board of Trustees, Jill Booth and Matthew Davis were elected. Kirk Lee won the Democratic Primary for the 7th District County Commission seat. Karen Helen-Reid Evans and William Burton were selected for the Battle Creek School Board. Other

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-13342757699789164412009-05-06T09:29:00.001-07:002009-05-06T09:29:54.494-07:00

Governor Jennifer Granholm’s executive order budget cuts will mean less money for Battle Creek. The reduction in revenue sharing announced yesterday translates into a loss of 180 to 200-thousand dollars for Battle Creek’s current budget year. The city made a 50-thousand dollar budget adjustment earlier this year, which will offset some of the reduction. But another budget adjustment may be

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-47941291191588163772009-05-06T09:28:00.000-07:002009-05-06T09:29:03.533-07:00

The suspect accused of shooting a fellow group home resident in Branch County will stand trial. 50-year old Kenneth Kalasz was ruled competent Tuesday to face an open-murder charge in the death of 55-year old Donald Miller, who was shot and killed February 10th. Police arrested Kalasz at the scene, the Country Meadows foster care facility near Reading. Investigators said he admitted shooting

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-64018242090930928692009-05-06T09:27:00.001-07:002009-05-06T09:27:36.511-07:00

Police agencies in Branch County are investigating widespread damage from vandalism. Michigan State Police, the Branch County Sheriff’s Department and Bronson Police responded to numerous reports of property damage to buildings, vehicles, mail boxes and fields throughout the entire county. Anyone with information is asked to call any Branch County police agency.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-9692060456417038382009-05-05T09:14:00.001-07:002009-05-05T09:14:34.245-07:00

A Fort Wayne man accused in the deaths of his mother and daughter is being held in the Calhoun County Jail without bond. 41-year old Johan Vanniekerk was arraigned Monday on two counts of murder and one count of first degree child abuse. The bodies of 72-year old Brenda and three-year old Laura Vanniekerk were found in a motel room in Marshall Friday. The suspect was found in another room.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-17138193268626388882009-05-05T09:13:00.000-07:002009-05-05T09:14:03.408-07:00

A woman who lost three children in a Kalamazoo County house fire on April 25th died from her injuries just hours before their funeral. The funeral was held Monday for four children who died at the scene of the fire. Family members say 22-year old Daniela Adams went back into the burning house several times, trying to save the children. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition and

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-29668737561293045142009-05-04T09:55:00.002-07:002009-05-04T09:56:19.016-07:00

State Police have released the name of their Fugitive of the Month for May. 33-year old Nikki Luis Jeffries is wanted for two counts of Felony Privacy Invasion related to a third offense domestic assault. He’s described as Hispanic…about 5’8”, 195 pounds with black hair or possibly bald with brown eyes. Anyone with information about Nikki Luis Jeffries is asked to call Silent Observer. You

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-42745758640250360462009-05-04T09:55:00.001-07:002009-05-04T09:55:33.766-07:00

Two women and one man were arrested in Kalamazoo Sunday after officers investigated a report of two subjects with a gun. Police went to the 200 block of Old Orchard Place, where they found two women in a car fitting the description. Police found a loaded handgun in the car and arrested the 41 and 34-yearold woman. A 26-year old man was also arrested at the scene for interfering with officers

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-20125558988667802032009-05-04T09:52:00.000-07:002009-05-04T09:54:40.635-07:00

Dozens of schools across southern Michigan are closed in hopes of curtailing the spread of H1N1 flu. State and local health officials as of late Sunday night said there were 39 probable cases in Michigan. They're waiting for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm the results, although state-level testing its expected to begin soon. Two cases already have been

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-43139997675672497902009-05-03T21:45:00.001-07:002009-05-03T21:47:17.982-07:00

Police have arrested a Fort Wayne man in the deaths of his 72-year-old mother and 3-year-old daughter. Acting police Chief Scott McDonald says the 40-year-old man was arrested Sunday upon his release from Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. All three were found Friday night at a motel in Marshall. The victims' names were not immediately released and the suspect's name was withheld pending arraignment

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-13225463753364775852009-05-03T21:44:00.000-07:002009-05-03T21:45:17.692-07:00

Investigators in Kalamazoo are looking into an extreme act of vandalism at an apartment complex. Officers were called to a complex on Alamo Hills just after 9:30 Saturday night. Residents were reporting water pouring through the building. Officials say someone went into a laundry room on the 3rd floor and tipped over the machines, breaking the pipes in the walls. Water seeped throughout the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-64473549824932121892009-05-03T21:43:00.000-07:002009-05-03T21:44:44.419-07:00

Two people are recovering after a traffic crash Saturday night. Battle Creek Police officers were dispatched to M37 near Creekview Drive after a 3 vehicle crash was reported shortly before 9pm. One of the cars had flipped over, trapping one person inside, and ejecting another from the car. No one was injured in either of the other two vehicles involved. The car reportedly flipped over after the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-56582889668859541732009-05-02T20:23:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:24:43.513-07:00

Two deaths in Marshall may be related to a suspect being sought it Indiana. Police were called to the Comfort Inn in Marshall near Battle Creek Friday night. They found two people dead and one injured in a room. Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne Police Department in Indiana was investigating a felony domestic battery and had reason to believe their suspect was in Marshall. They say a 40-year-old is

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-82303055609578741572009-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:23:01.158-07:00

An elderly woman from Kent County was killed Saturday afternoon while riding in a golf cart. 80-year-old Ruth Sarniak of Lowell was crossing the road at around 4:30 when a vehicle came upon her too quickly resulting in a crash. Speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the accident. Coincidently, another fatal accident happened not too far from the site of the golf cart accident Friday

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-29293835535830058672009-05-02T20:18:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:19:23.322-07:00

A woman crashed her vehicle into a tree while being chased by a car driven by her fiancée according to Portage Police. It happened around 3am Saturday morning. Officers say the two were speeding and arguing on their cell phones when they drove through a flashing red light and veered off the road. The 21-year-old Kalamazoo woman was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. The fiancee was

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-86853431411309635032009-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:002009-05-02T20:18:39.635-07:00

Michigan residents are using less electricity, gasoline, and natural gas. We're expected to continue to use less as well. Electricity rates are likely to rise however, while gasoline and natural gas rates stay steady or drop for the rest of the year. The reason is because Consumer’s Energy and Detroit Edison are asking for higher rates. That means your electric bills will probably go up despite

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-14145450733010869592009-05-01T09:19:00.001-07:002009-05-01T09:19:20.140-07:00

The Kellogg Company’s seemingly recession proof operations continue to show a profit. The Battle Creek-based cereal and snack food giant reported a 2-percent improvement in profits for the first quarter of 2009. This, despite the tough economic climate and continued negative effects of the recent peanut butter recall. Kellogg earned 321-million dollars in the first three months of the year,

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-61079507374389238752009-05-01T09:18:00.001-07:002009-05-01T09:18:54.422-07:00

Police investigators say two teenage girls, allegedly shot by a Kalamazoo County man had worked for him, doing chores around his house for about a year, prior to Wednesday’s violence. 16-year old Tanika Heard was killed and her foster sister, 15-year old Brianna Washington was wounded. Washington says 67-year old Nicholas Arbutina tried to sexually assault Heard, then shot them when she fought

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-19346499970628039952009-05-01T09:17:00.001-07:002009-05-01T09:17:53.838-07:00

A Portage man has died from injuries he suffered in a Cass County crash Sunday. 79-year old Charles Runions apparently ran a stop sign near Cassopolis. The car rolled several times. A witness pulled Runions from the wreck before it burst into flames. He died on Thursday.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-46554268594346186842009-05-01T09:14:00.001-07:002009-05-01T09:17:16.052-07:00

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she plans to finish her term as Michigan's governor that runs through the end of2010. Her remarks were in response to reports she is likely to get some consideration for a Supreme Court nomination. The governor also said all the current justices on the Supreme Court have experience as judges in lower courts and she does not.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-46100798958322455082009-04-30T09:59:00.002-07:002009-04-30T10:00:25.166-07:00

Officers responding to a report of a shooting near Galesburg Wednesday night discovered a murder/suicide. Police found a 67-year old man dead in his Miller Drive home just after 7PM. A 15-year old girl was also found dead in the house. Another 15-year old girl who had been shot managed to run to a nearby gas station to get help. Police are investigating the relationship between the three, but

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-65971530216551006822009-04-30T09:59:00.001-07:002009-04-30T09:59:43.537-07:00

A Battle Creek man faces multiple charges after he reportedly held his former girlfriend at his home against her will for four days. Police say 62-year old Allen Ware forced the 26-year old woman into his car in Portage and took her to his home on Frelinghuysen Avenue. They say he threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. He gave her a cell phone on Monday, which she used to send a text

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-81943924143184803862009-04-30T09:58:00.000-07:002009-04-30T09:59:10.994-07:00

A 37-year old Bellevue man is expected in court for arraignment today in connection with a fatal hit-and-run from last summer. 51-year old Richard Clarke of Battle Creek was killed while riding his motorcycle in Pennfield Township on the night of July 9th. Investigators determined there was another vehicle involved in the crash, but had left the scene. New information led detectives to the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-24101595177159798292009-04-30T09:57:00.002-07:002009-04-30T09:58:12.174-07:00

Battle Creek State Representative Kate Segal has announced nearly 2-million dollars for neighborhood stabilization. Michigan State Housing Development Authority grants from the Federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act will be used to renovate eight properties that are either abandoned or in foreclosure. They will also pay for the demolition of 72 blighted or vacant properties. Segal says the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-16217766752843931602009-04-30T09:57:00.001-07:002009-04-30T09:57:36.207-07:00

Officers with the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team busted three meth labs in Kalamazoo County Wednesday. Officers first discovered a one-pot meth lab and dump site in the 52-hundred block of Everhard Street in Cooper Township at about 10AM. At about the same time, officers made a traffic stop in Comstock Township and found a one-pot meth cook in the car. The 23-year old driver was arrested.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-64475654828307713492009-04-30T09:55:00.000-07:002009-04-30T09:56:54.806-07:00

Governor Granholm says people shouldn't panic after news of Michigan's first confirmed swine flu case. The governor held a press conference to detail the state's response to the swine flu outbreak. She said the state is stockpiling more than 1 million doses of anti-viral drugs. A 34-year-old woman in Livingston County is recovering at home from swine flu. Her husband and 3-year-old

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-30005733397907874982009-04-29T09:00:00.001-07:002009-04-29T09:01:04.276-07:00

A Branch County man, charged with murder in the death of his wife was scheduled to be in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Thomas Foley is accused of shooting Dee Dee Foley to death in their home near Girard in February. The victim was an elementary school teacher in Union City for almost 20 years. A judge will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-8900621285823548802009-04-29T08:58:00.001-07:002009-04-29T08:58:42.074-07:00

A Tekonsha teen is hospitalized in critical condition after a rollover accident Tuesday. Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputies say 18-year old Emily Duty was eastbound on Jackson Road just after 10AM, when her vehicle left the roadway, overturned and struck a tree. She was airlifted from the scene to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Investigators say she was not wearing a seatbelt, and they believe

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-91729274831932803632009-04-29T08:57:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:58:13.386-07:00

Students at the Endeavor Charter Academy in Battle Creek are helping a Hastings family after a house fire. Two adults and seven children were injured in the April 17th blaze. Two of the children suffered serious burns and one remains hospitalized. They also lost nearly all of their belongings. The custodian at Endeavor is a cousin of the Hastings family. He posted a request for old clothes in

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-54465025326442719472009-04-29T08:56:00.000-07:002009-04-29T08:57:40.918-07:00

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she plans to issue an executive order next week laying out cuts to resolve a multimillion dollar budget shortfall. The Democrat governor says the executive order should be out next Tuesday. Michigan is a facing an estimated budget shortfall of $785-million in the current budget year. Money from the federal stimulus could fill in some of that budget

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-49517850102276072452009-04-29T08:54:00.001-07:002009-04-29T08:55:34.995-07:00

A judge has modified the sentence of a girl who was 13 when she killed her grandmother with morphine. Lenawee County Judge Margaret Noe last year sentenced 16-year-old Kristina Adkins to life in prison for second-degree murder in the 2006 poisoning of 53-year-old Virginia Bentley. Adkins pleaded guilty Oct. 10. She would have been eligible for parole after 15 years, but her lawyer

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-66895884702251561462009-04-28T09:00:00.002-07:002009-04-28T09:02:09.806-07:00

A Battle Creek man, who police say accidentally shot himself has died. Police were called to the 100 block of Upton Avenue just after 5PM Monday, where they found 21-year old Michael Asher suffering with a gunshot wound to the neck. He was taken to Battle Creek Health System and transferred to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he died early this morning. A witness told police Asher had just

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-81477362546723143942009-04-28T09:00:00.001-07:002009-04-28T09:00:50.167-07:00

Investigators now say there were 16 people in a Kalamazoo County rental home Saturday when a fire broke out that left four children dead. So far officials believe the fire was an accident, but they have not identified the cause. Autopsies showed that all four children died from smoke inhalation. The landlord told investigators there were working smoke detectors in the house, but that has not

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-60535019476131344802009-04-28T08:58:00.001-07:002009-04-28T09:00:14.849-07:00

Health officials are suggesting ways to avoid swine flu after a 34-year-old Michigan woman who recently vacationed in Texas is recovering at home with the state's first suspected case. People are urged to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands frequently and stay home from work and school if they're sick. The woman lives with her husband and their young child in

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-1839957121412470932009-04-28T08:56:00.001-07:002009-04-28T08:57:26.576-07:00

Michigan State University says it will close its money-losing Brook Lodge Hotel & Conference Resort by Dec. 31. The school says the conference center near Augusta in Kalamazoo County has lost almost $10 million dollars in nine years. Michigan State says it will help the 22 full-time workers at Brook Lodge to apply for other jobs at the school. The former Pharmacia Corp. donated the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-77240070696845562742009-04-27T09:34:00.000-07:002009-04-27T09:35:06.994-07:00

An investigation is underway after police shot and killed a suspect in Emmett Township early Sunday morning. Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputies and State Troopers were called to the area of Beadle Lake Road and Columbia Avenue for a domestic dispute. Officers encountered 51-year old Russell Clemence holding a knife. Police repeatedly told him to drop it. He refused and was shot. Efforts to

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-78757719345396790312009-04-27T09:33:00.000-07:002009-04-27T09:34:13.909-07:00

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army in Kalamazoo are pooling their resources after a deadly fire in Texas Township. Four children…ages three to six, died in the fire early Saturday. A five year old boy and a 22-year old woman were critically injured. Whitney Funeral Home has offered to provide funeral services at no cost to the families. Investigators have not determined the cause of the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-73592448748462554372009-04-27T09:32:00.002-07:002009-04-27T09:33:57.423-07:00

Battle Creek is among ten cities in Michigan expecting ‘Promise Zone’ designation by the Granholm administration. Promise Zones are loosely based on the Kalamazoo Promise, a program which pays college tuition for all students graduating from the Kalamazoo Public Schools. The main difference is that the Kalamazoo Promise is entirely funded by private donations. Promise Zone scholarships will be

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-71336695306990406042009-04-27T09:32:00.001-07:002009-04-27T09:32:30.380-07:00

Police are looking for four suspects after a home invasion late Sunday night in Kalamazoo. Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at an apartment in the 700 block of Keenway Circle. The victims said the four broke the door down and one held them at gunpoint while the others took a TV, video games and a cell phone. Police believe the men fled the area in a waiting vehicle. They are

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-87855118891206543602009-04-27T09:28:00.000-07:002009-04-27T09:30:25.327-07:00

A top Democrat senator wants independent investigators to determine whether any Bush administration officials should be prosecuted for authorizing harsh interrogation techniques of suspected terrorists. Michigan Sen. Carl Levin says no politicians should be involved in making decisions about prosecutions. Levin heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, which came out with a report

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-19815869772250051502009-04-24T09:22:00.001-07:002009-04-24T09:22:40.899-07:00

Two men will stand trial for a fatal beating in Battle Creek. Rick Stevens died last November, a short time after he was beaten and robbed not far from his home. 18-year old George Price and 20-year old Deleo Richardson-Powell both face charges including open murder and larceny. Reports say Stevens walked away from the attack, but collapsed and died about an hour later. The two accused men

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-25143030262261037712009-04-24T09:21:00.002-07:002009-04-24T09:22:03.923-07:00

Battle Creek Police say a man who claimed to be the victim of a drive-by shooting later admitted he accidentally shot himself. The 35-year old first told police he was standing in his yard on Greenwood, when someone in a passing car fired a shot, striking him in the leg. He was questioned a second time at the hospital after it was discovered that the shot appeared to have been self-inflicted.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-9450976364323912042009-04-24T09:21:00.001-07:002009-04-24T09:21:39.508-07:00

A Jackson County man will spend up to 20-years in prison for leaving his fiancée to die after crashing his motorcycle. 48-year old Richard Pickett claimed he didn’t recall much about the fatal crash, but he was convicted of failing to stop at an accident, resulting in serious impairment or death. A witness said after the crash, Pickett got up, asked Bonnie Lynn Arnett to come with him, then

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-58949781013628776252009-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:002009-04-24T09:21:05.103-07:00

A plan advancing in Congress could help Michigan police departments replace many of the 1,900 law enforcement officers they've lost since 2002. The House approved the Community Oriented Policing Services legislation yesterday. It now goes to the Senate. The bill authorizes spending $1.8 billion a year over the next five years for the COPS program, paying to hire and retain about 50,000

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-90120659722743300612009-04-24T09:16:00.001-07:002009-04-24T09:17:27.761-07:00

General Motors will temporarily close 13 assembly plants in the U.S. and Mexico as it tries to reduce its backlog of unsold vehicles amid slumping sales. About 24,000 workers will be idled after the closures begin next month. Shutdown weeks vary by factory, but some will be closed for nine or 10 weeks. GM normally shuts down its assembly plants for two weeks each summer to prepare for the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-83765350473110474912009-04-23T09:06:00.004-07:002009-04-23T09:07:04.475-07:00

Battle Creek cab driver, David Hebbler has been upgraded to fair condition at a Kalamazoo hospital as he recovers from multiple stab wounds. He was attacked late Tuesday afternoon by 24-year old Anthony Boards of Battle Creek. Police say Boards admitted trying to rob Hebbler and then stabbing him repeatedly when he resisted. He was arraigned Wednesday on charges of Attempted Murder, Armed

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-16038810960666750952009-04-23T09:06:00.003-07:002009-04-23T09:06:37.331-07:00

One of two brothers injured in a Hastings house fire last week is home from the hospital. 7-year old Jaedyn Sinclair and his 11-year old brother Devin suffered serious burns in a fire…touched off by a stove…accidentally left unattended while the family slept. Their mother and her two other children were treated for minor injuries. The younger boy was released from the hospital Wednesday. His

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-1210025932038121522009-04-23T09:06:00.001-07:002009-04-23T09:06:17.677-07:00

A Battle Creek woman faces a charge of felonious domestic assault for stabbing her boyfriend with a broken bottle. The 46-year old woman was taken into custody Tuesday evening. She told police her 48-year old boyfriend woke up angry, started an argument and broke a gin bottle on her head. She stabbed him in the chest with the broken bottle. The boyfriend denies hitting the woman and has not

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-60493327354652358022009-04-22T08:33:00.003-07:002009-04-22T08:33:53.947-07:00

One man is in the hospital with serious wounds and another is in jail after an attempted murder and robbery Tuesday. Battle Creek Police say a cab driver was attacked by a knife-wielding robber in the 300 block of Riverside just before 5PM. The driver said his fare wouldn’t pay, then demanded money and began stabbing him when he refused. He suffered multiple stab wounds to the face and chest.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-19998055901789920352009-04-22T08:33:00.001-07:002009-04-22T08:33:15.484-07:00

A 24-year old Lansing man was arrested by Battle Creek Police on drug and other charges after a high speed chase earlier this week. Officers made a routine traffic stop near Michigan Avenue and Elm Street, but the suspect sped away through residential areas at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour. He finally crashed his car at the southbound ramp from I-194 to Columbia Avenue. He faces charges of

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-37941517761259718872009-04-21T09:21:00.002-07:002009-04-21T09:22:10.172-07:00

Former Battle Creek State Representative Mike Nofs announced today he will run for the state senate. Michigan’s 19th Senate District seat has been vacant since former Senator Mark Schauer left Lansing to take a seat in congress. Nofs held a press conference at the Kellogg Community College Regional Manufacturing and Technology Center to make the announcement.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-32886454086236633162009-04-21T09:21:00.001-07:002009-04-21T09:21:27.492-07:00

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a settlement with the Kellogg Company over claims it falsely advertised benefits of eating one of its products. The FTC said the Battle Creek-based cereal and snack food giant claimed improved attentiveness in children who ate Frosted Mini-Wheats. But the study the ads refer to found improvement in only half of the children who ate the cereal. And of

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-16515217039434798492009-04-21T09:20:00.001-07:002009-04-21T09:20:19.973-07:00

The Bellevue man responsible for the hit-and-run death of a Calhoun County teen was sentenced Monday. Carl Garvison received two to five years in prison after pleading no contest to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Garvison ran over 15-year old Kraig Milsap as the teen walked along Raymond Road in Emmett Township in December of 2007. He fled the scene but was

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-71076695502429346412009-04-20T09:30:00.002-07:002009-04-20T09:31:14.204-07:00

The State Police Bomb Squad was called Sunday evening to the rest area on eastbound I-94 in Battle Creek. At about 7:30…a suspicious object was found near the building at the rest stop. It was hidden under camouflage. The rest area was closed for about two hours while police investigated. It turned out to be part of a geo-caching search event. The so-called geo-caching treasure hunters are

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-20809310630960092342009-04-20T09:30:00.001-07:002009-04-20T09:30:23.292-07:00

Police are investigating after a dog was shot in Kalamazoo Saturday. The owner of the Jack Russell Terrier admits the dog was running loose when it was shot. Injuries to the dog were so extensive it had to be euthanized. The veterinarian was able to remove the 22-slug from the dog’s body. It will be submitted to state police. The dog owners hope it will lead investigators to the shooter.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-59311362689267320272009-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:29:53.012-07:00

The government deadline for the United Auto Workers to reach a deal with Chrysler is 10 days away. Chrysler also has to complete an alliance deal with Italian automaker Fiat by April 30 to get more government aid. Without further help, Chrysler likely would be auctioned off in pieces under bankruptcy court supervision. The Canadian Auto Workers union plans to resume negotiations with

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-50283287880985880552009-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:27:38.779-07:00

Wyoming is proving to be a strong job market for residents of Michigan and other states feeling the brunt of the economic recession. Wyoming has had the nation's lowest unemployment rate for four months running. In February, Wyoming's unemployment rate was 3.9 percent. By comparison, Michigan had the nation's highest jobless rate at 12 percent. Ruben Garcia is among the Michiganians

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-1947292890810752442009-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:002009-04-19T21:35:30.520-07:00

Battle Creek firefighters spent some time fighting a structure fire Saturday afternoon. Just before noon, crews responded to a wood-frame home on South 27th Street. Most of the damage was in the kitchen, as the blaze caused over 110-thousand dollars in destruction. No one was in the building, and no firefighters were hurt. Investigators think the cause of the blaze is an accident.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-20929286709163788302009-04-19T21:33:00.000-07:002009-04-19T21:34:44.209-07:00

A home in Kalamazoo will need some work, after a car went through it. Officers were called to the 1600 block of Park Avenue around 1:45 AM Sunday. When they arrived they found a car parked on the lawn. The driver had reportedly missed the stop sign at the intersection with Virginia and crashed into the front of the home. The hole was roughly 10 by 20 feet in size. The car was completely in the

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-24267599864008765692009-04-19T21:31:00.000-07:002009-04-19T21:33:20.750-07:00

A protest Tea Party in downtown Battle Creek drew large crowds Saturday morning. An estimated 800 people showed up at Friendship Park for WBCK’s “Tax Tea Party.” Participants with protest signs listened to featured speakers and signed petitions. Nearly half a million protesters attended tea parties in hundreds of cities across the U.S. Wednesday to send a message to elected officials. At

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-34761813426292219262009-04-18T19:45:00.001-07:002009-04-18T19:45:38.005-07:00

Two separate fires at vacant properties in Kalamazoo are being investigated. Both happened Saturday morning and one of them is believed to be arson. A vacant building on West Michigan Avenue that used to be a nursing home was apparently set on fire. The blaze was contained and fire-fighters put it out quickly. Evidence at the scene was found to suggest the fire was intentional. Early Saturday

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-27780558901239495242009-04-18T19:44:00.001-07:002009-04-18T19:44:56.090-07:00

The balloons may fly in Calhoun County twice this summer. The Balloon Federation of America would like to hold the 2009 U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds in Marshall this August. About fifty balloonists will compete at the event. The competition is not affiliated with Battle Creek’s annual Field of Flight event coming up in July.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-29696812456911122792009-04-17T08:31:00.002-07:002009-04-17T08:32:22.925-07:00

Police are investigating after a body was discovered just off of the 131 Business Loop in Kalamazoo County. A driver, forced to walk due to car trouble spotted the body just north of Douglas Road in Kalamazoo Township Thursday evening. Police say it was the body of a black male, but they don’t know how long it had been there, or the cause of death. They say the body was intentionally covered

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-81903934233384219682009-04-17T08:31:00.001-07:002009-04-17T08:31:48.427-07:00

The Battle Creek Public School district is facing a 3-point-6 million dollar budget shortfall. One remedy being considered is merging two alternative high schools. Combining South Hill Academy and Operation GRAD would save the district an estimated 470-thousand dollars a year in operating costs. The idea has been under consideration for some time and would likely result in some layoffs. The

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-40165610624813945382009-04-17T08:30:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:31:11.072-07:00

The nation’s second largest mall operator filed for chapter eleven bankruptcy protection Thursday. General Growth Properties operates the Lakeview Square Mall in Battle Creek, The Crossroads in Portage and several others across the state. General Growth officials say customers won’t notice any changes while the company undergoes restructuring.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-89299519135011576122009-04-17T08:28:00.001-07:002009-04-17T08:30:24.241-07:00

A west Michigan man has helped deliver his wife's baby boy despite not knowing she was pregnant. The man called 911 as his wife was in labor. The man told the dispatcher that he had not known his 27-year-old wife was pregnant. He said they recently quit smoking and thought her recent weight gain was related. The couple have two children, and the mother has a third child from a

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-18870832134867362622009-04-17T08:26:00.001-07:002009-04-17T08:28:17.827-07:00

A Kalamazoo-area man who won $10,000 in the Michigan Lottery's Club Keno game has donated his winnings to charity. Soon after winning the money on March 11, Jim Dancy of Richland decided others needed it more than he did. So he gave it all to the Greater Kalamazoo United Way. Dancy says it was the right thing for him to do. Mike Larson is the charity's president and chief executive.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-15854616500007379162009-04-16T09:30:00.001-07:002009-04-16T09:30:40.186-07:00

A pedestrian was hit and killed by a train Wednesday afternoon in Kalamazoo. Public Safety Officers were called to the scene of the accident at West Michigan and Lovell Street at about 4:15. Witnesses said 47-year old David Waller of Kalamazoo was hit trying to beat the train. Detectives are still investigating, but indications are that Waller’s death was an accident.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-24825812904873631092009-04-16T09:29:00.000-07:002009-04-16T09:30:14.940-07:00

Police have released more information after the discovery of a meth lab in downtown Battle Creek Tuesday. Police were called to North McCamly on a domestic assault report. A woman said she was assaulted by a 45-year old Battle Creek man and told police he was making meth inside a building that is being remodeled. He was apparently hired to work on the building, but was arrested on unrelated

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-68823330880768809062009-04-16T09:28:00.000-07:002009-04-16T09:29:20.996-07:00

A Portage man is hospitalized with second degree burns on 50-percent of his body, and police believe meth may be involved. Officers responded to a call on Corstange Road at about 11:30 last night to find the man suffering with burn injuries. He said he was trying to start a car, using a can of starter fluid when it ignited. But police found evidence of a possible meth lab at the scene. The man

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-38526561965972981882009-04-16T09:25:00.000-07:002009-04-16T09:27:44.321-07:00

Gov. Jennifer Granholm says the Obama administration's economic recovery plan will be good for Michigan, despite running up the federal budget deficit. Granholm discussed the plan's likely effects on Michigan during a town hall meeting in Traverse City. She's visiting a number of cities to answer questions about the initiative. The governor said about $18 billion in federal money will

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-55805438852168797742009-04-15T09:17:00.001-07:002009-04-15T09:17:49.100-07:00

Battle Creek Police are seeking arrest warrants against two women after a bizarre incident Monday afternoon. Officers were called to a home on Phelps Avenue on a report of an attempted suicide. When paramedics arrived, the 38-year old woman refused treatment and even tried to bite rescue workers who were trying to help her. Another woman laid on top of the first woman, who had reportedly taken

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-85502086170580969372009-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:002009-04-15T09:17:15.936-07:00

Battle Creek Police shut down a meth making operation downtown on Tuesday. Officers responded to a domestic violence call on McCamly and discovered a meth lab on the second floor of an abandoned building. The area was cordoned off for clean up, which took several hours. There was no report of any arrests related to the discovery.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-40220543247694279882009-04-15T09:15:00.001-07:002009-04-15T09:15:55.759-07:00

A one-million dollar donation has been made to Kalamazoo College. The school was notified earlier this week by the donor’s bank. The generous benefactor wants to remain anonymous, but said the money should go toward funding scholarships for women and minorities.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-69248722670481521162009-04-15T09:12:00.000-07:002009-04-15T09:14:31.897-07:00

A man charged in the slayings of a west Michigan couple has pleaded guilty to two counts of felony murder. Twenty-eight-year-old Timothy Stephan entered the pleas in Grand Rapids. Prosecutors say Robert and Norma Bean were kidnapped from their home, forced to withdraw money from an ATM and then shot to death in a gravel pit in October. The 66-year-old victims lived in Howard City.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-86228291825063912482009-04-14T07:37:00.001-07:002009-04-14T07:37:26.602-07:00

Hastings State Police investigators say the death of a Barry County teen over the weekend was an accident. 15-year old Donavin Prough was discovered by friends in his Johnstown Township home Friday with a blood pressure collar inflated around his neck. He was taken to the hospital and put on life support, but was pronounced dead Saturday. Prough was an 8th grade student at Hastings Middle

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-31701136486121281412009-04-14T07:36:00.003-07:002009-04-14T07:36:59.156-07:00

Battle Creek Police made four arrests after a fight early Sunday morning. Police were called to a bar on East Columbia on a report of a fight inside. When officers arrived, things had settled down, but one 25-year old man was arrested for disorderly conduct. Police then made a traffic stop outside the bar, believing the three men in the car had been involved in the fight. All three were then

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-15189697420203210972009-04-14T07:36:00.001-07:002009-04-14T07:36:28.074-07:00

Police are looking for two suspects after a reported assault in Battle Creek. A 27-year old woman said she fought with another woman early Sunday morning. After the fight, the victim says the other woman called two men, who she says broke down the door of her home in the 100 block of Walters Avenue and assaulted her.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-74200331491134548652009-04-14T07:34:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:36:07.715-07:00

Michigan leaders are announcing plans for tax credits to attract battery makers for electric and hybrid vehicles to the state. The incentives are designed to bolster the case for why Michigan companies should get a piece of $2 billion in federal stimulus money set aside for the development of advanced batteries. The U.S. now has no large-scale production plant for the lithium-ion battery,

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-77946522984640735272009-04-14T07:32:00.001-07:002009-04-14T07:33:33.868-07:00

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation extending unemployment benefits for an extra seven weeks. The governor says jobless workers now can receive benefits for up to 79 weeks while they look for other work. They already were eligible for 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits, 33 weeks of federal help and 13 weeks of extended benefits. Those extended benefits now will be available

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-86983106136376449212009-04-13T09:15:00.001-07:002009-04-13T09:15:32.573-07:00

A Battle Creek teen is jailed on a charge of possessing burglary tools. Police stopped the 16-year old near Van Buren and Division Streets. He was carrying a screw driver and had a backpack hidden under his jacket. Police found broken vehicle glass in the backpack. The suspect had been arrested late last month on a charge of larceny from a vehicle. Police say he matched the description of

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-7560144352444113092009-04-13T09:14:00.003-07:002009-04-13T09:14:57.162-07:00

Battle Creek Police made an arrest after a rollover accident early Saturday. They found the vehicle near Bedford and Halbert Roads. The 18-year old driver had left the accident scene, but was located a short distance away. He told police he lost control of the car when he swerved to miss a deer, but did not intend to make an emergency call. The officers determined the teen had been drinking

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-16736646265819753812009-04-13T09:14:00.001-07:002009-04-13T09:14:30.314-07:00

Some St. Joseph County residents are still fighting a proposed CAFO, or concentrated animal feeding operation in Leonidas Township. The Department of Environmental Quality has already approved the CAFO, where up to 23-hundred cows could be located. But area residents are concerned about the environmental impact and possible decreasing property values. The group has until the middle of next

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-23395041341191825162009-04-13T09:12:00.000-07:002009-04-13T09:13:28.764-07:00

The British government is considering giving consumers a cash bonus to trade in their old cars and buy new ones in a bid to help the country's ailing automotive industry. A similar plan in Germany has given auto sales there a big boost. One industry group says new car registrations in March reached their highest level since 1992, thanks to the bonus. France has introduced a similar

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-53759952127002581712009-04-13T09:11:00.001-07:002009-04-13T09:12:10.317-07:00

Livingston County Jail inmates who want to meet one-on-one with clergy don't have a prayer -- at least for now. Undersheriff Michael Murphy says the visits were halted in March. He acknowledges the decision was made without notifying area clergy, but jail officials were concerned about security at a facility where only six deputies and an administrator watch up to 280 inmates each day.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-5059618951265676442009-04-12T21:37:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:38:27.098-07:00

Public Safety officials in Kalamazoo are looking into a fire after a mother and daughter had to be rescued. Crews were called to Village Apartments on Lilac Lane around 4:30 AM Sunday. A ladder truck rescued a 43-year-old woman and her 8-year-old daughter from a third floor balcony after they were trapped by smoke. The flames were quickly put out, so damage was limited to the exterior stairwell

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-18255869233794545692009-04-11T19:17:00.001-07:002009-04-11T19:17:47.729-07:00

Cass County authorities are investigating the deaths of two elderly individuals. Deputies found the bodies of 61-year-old Sue Adams and 63-year-old Dennis Adams Friday night in their Cass County home. The department says the deaths don't appear to be of natural causes. The bodies were taken to Grand Rapids for autopsies.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-69281516327469111082009-04-11T19:16:00.000-07:002009-04-11T19:17:14.052-07:00

Dot net, not dot com… Remember that before you buy any tickets for a show at the Allegan County Fair this fall. A ticket scalper website out of Australia is using allegancountyfair.com to try and scam people by charging higher prices for the big name shows coming to the event. The real website is allegancountyfair.net. Unfortunately, it’s too late for some. The fair cannot reimburse people who

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-82035059290066662902009-04-11T18:54:00.000-07:002009-04-11T19:16:18.489-07:00

In a very rare “death penalty” case here in Michigan, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided that a murder suspect on death row will stay on death row. The dispute had to do with a murder that was committed on federal land within Michigan’s state borders. In 2002, a federal jury chose a death sentence for Marvin Gabrion. He was convicted of drowning Rachel Timmerman back in 1997 at Oxford Lake in

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-62453602271089739692009-04-10T08:11:00.001-07:002009-04-10T08:11:32.873-07:00

A Kalamazoo woman is in jail…accused of severely injuring her 11-month old daughter. 18-year old Shakela Butler is charged with First Degree Child Abuse. The baby was admitted to the hospital and placed in intensive care a week ago. She has skull fractures and bleeding on the brain, but doctors say she’s in fair condition. The injuries are consistent with shaken baby syndrome and being

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-3778290790018704342009-04-10T08:10:00.000-07:002009-04-10T08:11:10.937-07:00

Battle Creek Police are looking for two teens after a cab driver said they assaulted and tried to rob him. The driver said he picked up the 14 and 15-year olds on North Wabash early Wednesday. He says they tried to keep their faces hidden with the hoods they wore and wouldn’t pay when they reached their destination on Freedom Lane. The driver told them to get out, but they refused and demanded

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-32038761448351306652009-04-10T08:09:00.000-07:002009-04-10T08:10:20.307-07:00

The two suspects being charged as adults in the violent beating of a bicyclist in Kalamazoo have been bound over for trial. A judge ruled there is enough evidence against Jacobi Washington and Jamel Coleman to try them. They’re charged with rioting and assault with intent to murder after allegedly attacking Timothy Stafford in February. Police say Stafford was knocked off his bike and badly

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-15677493468830764922009-04-10T08:05:00.000-07:002009-04-10T08:08:29.263-07:00

A burned Iraqi boy has arrived in Lansing with the National Guard physician's assistant who brought him to Michigan for medical treatment. Major David Howell and the 12-year-old, Mohammed, were honored with a welcome ceremony at the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The boy was an infant when he was burned along the left side of his face, head and body by an exploding

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-56089984353961197342009-04-09T08:30:00.002-07:002009-04-09T08:31:20.614-07:00

Police are investigating after two bottle bombs were set off this week in a Battle Creek neighborhood. Officers were called early Tuesday to a home on Lark Street when one of the bombs exploded in the garage. The other went off behind a nearby house. There were no injuries and no damage was reported. No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-88775903273524152642009-04-09T08:30:00.001-07:002009-04-09T08:30:29.005-07:00

A Battle Creek couple faces numerous charges after police conducted an investigation of suspected drug activity in the first block of Inn Road. Police went to the suspected drug house early Tuesday evening, where they found marijuana, cocaine and a gun. A 28-year old man and a 26-year old woman were arrested on charges including drug possession and weapons violations.

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2443736877573991950.post-21437487834324846892009-04-09T08:29:00.001-07:002009-04-09T08:29:49.954-07:00

A 17-year old suspect was arrested on drug charges twice on the same day. Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers spotted the teen Wednesday afternoon near Westnedge and Ada , rolling a joint. He was arrested…then released after being booked for possession and posting a 100 dollar bond. About an hour later, officers noticed the same suspect in the same location, rolling another joint. Police found

WBCK Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011646972901632417noreply@blogger.com0