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Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) teachers picketed Wednesday evening after saying they still lack updated contracts, marking a third consecutive school year without a new deal; KPS and the Kalamazoo Education Association entered mediation Tuesday night.

Colon will mark the 100th anniversary of Houdini’s death Saturday, Oct.

31 with free Halloween events, including a 3 p.m. escape stunt where Matt Kalita will try to free himself from an 85-gallon water-filled steel barrel in front of FAB Magic Co., plus free shows, cider, trick-or-treating, and a costume contest.

MLive picked 78 top junior boys soccer players from across the state and is asking readers to vote in a statewide poll through 10 a.m. Nov.

2 (Portage nominees include Marshall Huntington, Brayden Meninga, and Nick Tarpley).

Readers can vote for Michigan’s top junior girls cross country runner from a list of 50+ nominees, including Gracie Carlisle and Avery Scott (Portage Central) and Ainsley Kelm (Portage Northern); voting closes 10 a.m. Monday, Nov.

2, and the winner will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Portage Central finished the regular season 8-1 after beating St. Joseph 28-14 and is No. 14 in MLive’s Top 25, and the Mustangs will meet Hudsonville in Round 1 of the playoffs.

The Associated Press released final 2026 high school football rankings after the regular season, placing Portage Central No. 10 in Division 1 (8-1).

The Michigan Association of State Universities released its Fall 2026 preliminary report showing public university enrollment fell to 254,107 students, down from 259,330 last year.

West Michigan schools mirror the trend: Western Michigan is down to 16,696 (-3.66%), Grand Valley to 21,382, and Ferris to 9,386 (Fall 2026).

MLive identified 70 Kalamazoo-area high school players to watch as the 2026 playoffs kick off Friday, Oct.

30, with standouts from Portage Central, Portage Northern, Paw Paw, Vicksburg and other local teams set to shape the run to Ford Field.