Category Archives: Kalamazoo News
Battle Creek firefighters respond to multi-unit fire at Arbors apartments
BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - A fire damaged four apartments at Arbors of Battle Creek shortly after noon Saturday, displacing residents and killing two cats. The Battle Creek Fire Department respon...
Jan 03, 2026
Echo Valley opens with new owners
COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - Echo Valley in Comstock Township is now open for the winter under new ownership. Hank and Sarah Avink bought the toboggan run and sledding hill from Melody Stirk, ...
Jan 02, 2026
Portage pole barn burns after fireworks malfunctioned
PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - A pole barn in Portage suffered fire damage Wednesday when a fireworks display inside the barn malfunctioned and exploded. Firefighters were called to the location on Holida...
Jan 02, 2026 Portage fire truck. (Photo courtesy City of Portage).
First babies of 2026 born in West Michigan
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - Kalamazoo's Bronson Birthplace welcomed the first baby born in west Michigan in 2026 with the birth of Timothy Kilmartin at 12:19 a.m. on New Year's Day. The first baby bo...
Jan 02, 2026
Seven Kalamazoo homicides in past three years still unsolved
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - Kalamazoo Public Safety investigators have seven homicides in the past three years that have not been solved. They are urging the public to help by speaking up if they kno...
Jan 02, 2026 KDPS seeks suspect in weapon seizure (Photo by Jeana Gondek)
SNAP benefit requirements changing in 2026
LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits have changes they will face starting January 1st. As part of President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful...
Dec 31, 2025 SNAP logo
Cannabis wholesale tax takes effect Thursday
LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - The 24% wholesale tax on cannabis takes effect Thursday in Michigan. The tax was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget and is lower than the 32% wholesale tax that h...
Dec 31, 2025 jeremyn / Depositphotos.com
Fuel taxes changing in Michigan Thursday
LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - The tax Michiganders pay on fuel is changing Thursday as the fuel tax increases to 52.4-cents a gallon from 31-cents. However, the 6% sales tax on fuel will go away and the ...
Dec 31, 2025 A Shell gas pump in Coldwater M (Midwest Communications Inc 2020)
Kalamazoo Wings resume play with strike against ECHL over
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - The ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings will resume their 2025-26 season tonight when they host the Toledo Walleye at Wings Event Center. The Professional Hockey Players' Association a...
Dec 31, 2025
AUDIO: Local efforts underway to celebrate America's 250th birthday in 2026
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - 2026 will be more than just a regular year, it is also the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A local committee has already been working ...
Dec 31, 2025
