Good morning, Portage.

A former WMU exchange student from the Dominican Republic was arraigned on four counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct after being extradited from Miami for an alleged assault on a 20-year-old student in March 2010—he is set to appear in Kalamazoo County District Court on August 7 with a preliminary examination scheduled for August 14.

A former WMU exchange student—40-year-old Al Allan De Los Santos Mueses from the Dominican Republic—was arrested on four counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for allegedly assaulting a student in his apartment in March 2010 after meeting her at a campus recreation center, and he will appear in court on August 7 after being extradited from Miami.

Ramona Park Beach in Portage has reopened after water tests (conducted Wednesday) showed the water meets Michigan's Water Quality Standards for contact recreation (following an earlier closure due to high E. coli levels).

The city approved a $1.8M contract with Severance Electric Company to add a traffic signal at the four-way intersection of Portage Road and Forest Drive—buildings were demolished last December to create space.

Work will begin mid-August with lane closures on Portage Road and is expected to finish this fall.

Today, the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan launches its 35th annual Parade of Homes that runs through August 9.

Ten brand-new homes ranging from 1,300 to 5,600 square feet are available for tours on select days — tickets cost $10 at each home or $8 in advance.

Michigan ranks 7th for pickleball venues per 100,000 people, with new indoor and outdoor courts opening across the state.

PickleRage opened a year ago in West Bloomfield and will soon launch a facility in Portage — a move that meets the growing demand for the sport.

BrickUniverse LEGO Fan Expo - VIP

9-10:30 a.m. — Kalamazoo County Expo Center — VIP Admission $28.99 — Experience the largest collection of LEGO creations under one roof and meet professional artists.

Stewardship Day

9:00 a.m. — Gourdneck State Game Area north-east parking lot — Free (Registration required) — Participate in invasive species removal and support local public lands in Portage.