More for-profit schools coming to Michigan?
The Republican-led legislature is planning to resume its push to allow more charter schools in the state. The Associated Press reports the discussions will start in the House Education Committee this week:
The education committee has scheduled hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday on the legislation that would end some numerical and geographical limits on charter schools. It narrowly passed the Republican-led Senate in October. The state has roughly 250 charter schools. Supporters say more should be allowed to boost educational options in public schools. Democrats say it appears to be an effort to help charter schools that are sometimes run by for-profit companies at the expense of other schools. Democratic Sen. Rebekah Warren of Ann Arbor on Tuesday plans to propose a constitutional amendment to ban for-profit schools. It's unlikely that proposal would advance in the Republican-led Legislature.
Remembering Frederik Meijer
The man who started "Meijer Thrifty Acres" with his father in 1962 died last Friday at the age of 91 after suffering a stroke. Michigan Radio's Lindsey Smith reported on today's public visitation:
Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi says they’re expecting at least 10,000 people to travel to Grand Rapids Tuesday for the public visitation. “The Meijer family wanted to give the community an opportunity to pay their respects to Fred because he meant so much to so many people, not just in Grand Rapids but really in the state of Michigan,” Guglielmi said.
The public visitation will take place at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids from from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a private funeral tomorrow at a Grand Rapids church.
Wet weather, rain turning to snow
The rain is falling, and the National Weather Service says snow is on the way.
Counties in the south and southeast part of the state have a mix of winter storm watches, flood watches, and flood warnings.
Rain will fall until late afternoon. That could turn to snow later with accumulations of around an inch. Later tonight the winds will pick up and snow accumulations could be around 2 to 6 inches for much of the south and southeast part of the state.
