Daily
Portage
Thursday, April 17th, 2025
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Good morning, Portage. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 17th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Next month marks one year since a tornado hit Portage and left a lot of debris behind. At a recent city council meeting, residents raised concerns about wildfire risks from dry trees and a pack of howling coyotes moving into the Gourdneck State Game Area—Michigan's DNR said the wildfire risk is low and coyotes can be driven away while work continues to restore the 2000-acre habitat. WWMT
- ➤ Portage City Council approved up to $450K for tornado relief funds to be distributed by After the Storm — the decision was made during a Tuesday, April 15 meeting to help residents affected by the 2024 tornado. MLive
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ A strip mall in the 2000 block of West Centre Avenue is being rebuilt nearly a year after a tornado destroyed the building in May 2024 + its new design includes improved support beams. Pizza Hut is expected to reopen in two months + other businesses, including a fitness center and restaurant, have shown interest. MLive
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Gov. Whitmer announced the Ticket to Tuition sweepstakes that gives Michigan students who complete the FAFSA for the first time a chance to win up to $50,000—part of nearly $1 million in prizes to help cover college costs. Students must text to enter after submitting the FAFSA for next school year and the winners will be drawn on May 21 with funds deposited into their education savings accounts. MLive
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Arbor Day is coming on April 25 and many locals plan to plant trees that clean the air, lower energy costs, and boost property values—Michigan DNR offers resources detailing ten benefits and tips for selecting the right tree. Local conservation districts also can help with details on nearby tree plantings. MLive
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Portage City Council approved a $3.6 million contract for infrastructure work at Stanwood Crossings—an $18M income-based housing project that will build 42 single-family homes on a 14-acre site near Austin Lake and West Lake. Road and utility work will begin this spring and home construction will start in the summer. MLive
- ➤ Mark Totten, a former U.S. attorney from Kalamazoo, announced yesterday his candidacy for Michigan attorney general to succeed Dana Nessel, who is term limited. He said his focus is on fighting violent crime — protecting children online, protecting seniors from fraud, and preserving civil rights and democracy. WKZO
- ➤ A Michigan Supreme Court decision last week ruled that 19 and 20-year-olds convicted of first-degree murder must be resentenced because their prefrontal cortices were not fully developed, making their original sentences unconstitutional. West Michigan prosecutors reported that their offices will work to reschedule 26 cases—including 11 in Kalamazoo and nine in Calhoun—in the next six months — a task that will add to their current workload. WWMT
SHOP NEWS
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SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ WMU football head coach Lance Taylor said the team will add players using the NCAA transfer portal that opened Wednesday and remains open until April 25. The portal has more than 2,200 players and he plans to use them to fix holes on both defense and offense — a move aimed at strengthening the roster. MLive
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Portage Free Tree Giveaway
10 AM – 1 PM — Ramona Park — Free trees for residents — Help restore Portage’s natural landscape post-tornado with a free tree giveaway event.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Energy and persistence conquer all things.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Portage
Welcome to the Daily Portage, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Portage, Michigan community. If you like the Daily Portage, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Portage.
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