If you've been looking for this week's restaurant review, you may have noticed something a little different.

This week, we're pressing pause.

Recent lettuce recalls have affected restaurants across our area, forcing many of our favorite local establishments to temporarily remove salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other menu items that normally feature fresh lettuce. These changes weren't made because restaurants wanted to alter their menus—they made them because protecting their customers comes first.

The Battle Creek Community Foundation has received a $500,000 contribution from the Mars Snacking Foundation Better Community Fund to expand long-term support for food access and basic-needs programs across the Battle Creek area.

The gift is part of $1.7 million in grants awarded by the Mars Snacking Foundation to organizations serving Battle Creek and Calhoun County. The $500,000 contribution will strengthen the Equitable Well-Being and Food Access Fund, a permanent endowment established to support food access, personal-care necessities, and community resilience initiatives.

About the Equitable Well-Being and Food Access Fund

Battle Creek Police Department is hosting a combination hunter and bow hunter education field day on August 1, allowing participants to complete both certification requirements in a single program. This convenient option helps new hunters satisfy Michigan legal requirements while learning essential safety skills.

Who Needs Hunter Education?

Michigan law requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1960, to complete an approved hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. This requirement applies to both firearm hunters and bow hunters.

Students can complete key enrollment steps and enter a drawing for free tuition credits at Kellogg Community College Express Enrollment Event on August 8 in Battle Creek.

The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KCC campus, 450 North Ave., Battle Creek. Current and prospective students can receive financial aid assistance, complete placement testing, meet with academic advisors, and register for fall classes during a single visit.

Win Free Credit Hours

Attendees will also have a chance to win three free credit hours for the fall semester through a prize drawing.

What to Bring

Battle Creek residents are in for an enjoyable stretch of midsummer weather as the week begins, with sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and refreshingly low humidity creating ideal conditions for spending time outdoors.

Wednesday will be the coolest day of the forecast, with highs only reaching the mid-70s under hazy sunshine.

Pleasant weather continues Thursday and Friday as temperatures gradually climb into the upper 70s and low 80s, while cool overnight lows in the 50s provide a welcome break from the recent heat.

Saturday brings more sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s, making it another excellent day for festivals, golf, boating, and other outdoor activities.

Summer is showing no signs of slowing down in Battle Creek and Calhoun County. From July 22 through August 5, the community calendar is filled with live entertainment, outdoor activities, local markets, sporting events, and family-friendly gatherings that make it easy to enjoy everything the Cereal City has to offer.

Music fans can look forward to two more evenings of the popular Vibe @ 5 Concert Series at Friendship Park, while baseball enthusiasts can cheer on the Battle Creek Battle Jacks during back-to-back home weekend series at MCCU Field. Weekly favorites like the BC Farmers Market and Truckin' Tuesdays continue to showcase local vendors, fresh produce, delicious food, and the vibrant spirit of downtown Battle Creek.

Community involvement also takes center stage with neighborhood meetings, recreational basketball, and opportunities to connect with local organizations throughout Calhoun County. Whether you're looking for a relaxing evening of live music, a fun family outing, or a chance to support local businesses, the next two weeks offer something for everyone.

As July gives way to August, now is the perfect time

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an air quality alert for West Michigan as smoke from wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota drifts into the region. The alert, which targets sensitive groups, warns residents about elevated levels of fine particulate matter that could impact health.

What Is Causing the Air Quality Alert?

Wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota have sent massive plumes of smoke southward, carried by weather patterns into Michigan. This smoke contains fine particulate matter - tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause health problems.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy monitors air quality across the state through its network of monitoring stations. When particulate levels reach unhealthy

Michigans congressional delegation has sent a strongly worded letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney demanding action on wildfire smoke drifting across the border into Michigan communities. The bipartisan letter, signed by Representatives John James, Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar, and Lisa McClain, expresses mounting frustration over what they describe as three consecutive years of Canadian inaction.

A History of Unfulfilled Promises

This is not the first time Michigan lawmakers have raised concerns about Canadian wildfire smoke. Last year, Representatives James and Bergman each wrote individual letters to Canadian officials warning about the health impacts of smoke pouring across the border.

A Michigan couple has filed a $75,000 lawsuit against Taco Bell and Taylor Fresh Foods after contracting cyclosporiasis from contaminated shredded lettuce. The case is part of a larger FDA and CDC investigation into a nationwide outbreak that has affected thousands. Taylor Farms has issued a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.

The FDA has revealed that an initial positive test result for Cyclospora in Taylor Farms lettuce was actually a false positive. The announcement comes as the CDC and FDA continue investigating a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting Michigan and four other states. Despite the false positive, Taylor Farms has not been cleared as the potential source, and the voluntary recall remains in effect.

As high temperatures move into Michigan, Consumers Energy is urging residents to take steps to stay cool and manage energy costs. The utility company has shared practical tips to help reduce strain on cooling systems and lower electricity bills during periods of extreme heat.

With summer heat waves becoming more common in the Battle Creek area and across the state, these energy-saving strategies can make a significant difference in both comfort and monthly expenses.

Six Tips to Lower Your Energy Bills

Weekly Featured Home: 1055 Woodland Beach, Battle Creek

If you've always dreamed of spending your summers on the lake but thought waterfront living was out of reach, this week's Featured Home may be exactly what you've been waiting for.

Located in the desirable Woodland Beach neighborhood within the Harper Creek School District, 1055 Woodland Beach offers something many buyers are searching for, comfortable living with deeded access to beautiful Beadle Lake, one of the area's favorite all-sports lakes.

Spend just a few minutes scrolling through the recent adoption photos from the Calhoun County Animal Shelter, and one thing becomes impossible to ignore.

The smiles are everywhere.

The new pet parents are beaming.

The dogs seem to stand a little taller.

Even the cats, known for taking life at their own pace, look surprisingly relaxed as they settle into loving arms. It's a collection of moments that reminds us why animal adoption changes lives...not just for the pets, but for the people who welcome them home.

The Calhoun County Animal Center is over capacity, and every adoption could save a life.

As temperatures climb across Southwest Michigan, many of us are looking forward to relaxing in the comfort of air conditioning, enjoying backyard barbecues, and spending time with family.

For more than 36 dogs at the Calhoun County Animal Center, summer looks very different.

Instead of a cool home and a comfortable couch, they're spending their days in kennels, waiting for someone to give them a second chance.

The shelter is currently overflowing with dogs, including Buck, KJ, Hallie, Amelia, Scarlett, and dozens of others—each with their own personality, their own story, and one thing in common:

They're waiting for someone to choose them.

The Battle Creek and Calhoun County job market continues to offer excellent opportunities for job seekers as employers across the region remain in hiring mode.

Manufacturing continues to drive much of the local employment activity, with companies such as WK Kellogg Co., Post Consumer Brands, Ford's BlueOval Battery Park, DENSO, and other area manufacturers seeking production, maintenance, engineering, and skilled trade talent.

Healthcare organizations, retailers, restaurants, hotels, logistics companies, schools, government agencies, and financial institutions are also advertising a steady stream of openings, providing opportunities for applicants at nearly every experience level.

Whether you're searching for your first job, a career change, seasonal employment, or a long-term profession, this remains one of the strongest hiring periods of the year in Southwest Michigan.

McDonald's restaurants across Michigan are looking to fill 2,500 positions at nearly 500 locations during a one-day hiring blitz on July 29. Walk-in interviews run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with opportunities for students, parents, and career seekers alike. The positions come with valuable education benefits including tuition assistance through the Archways to Opportunity program.