Democrats vowed Wednesday to push new gun-control legislation and to try to revive stalled bills in Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature following a mass shooting that left four high school students dead and others with serious injuries. But GOP leaders, who have long opposed such measures and have favored looser restrictions, did not immediately commit to policy changes. “We can’t do nothing,” Sen. Rosemary …

Michigan reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Nov. 28, while St. Joseph County reported 265 cases and four deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, St. Joseph County had reported 408 cases and six deaths. Throughout the pandemic St. Joseph County has reported 9,687 cases and 132 deaths. Within Michigan, the highest number of cases on …

A structural engineer said one of the oldest buildings in St. Joseph County is beyond repair and, out of safety-related concerns, should be razed. Members of the White Pigeon Village Council assembled Wednesday during a special meeting to hear a report from Mark Wilson, representing Elkhart-based engineering firm Jones Petrie Rafinski. His 45-minute presentation centered on the buildings at 100 …

State Rep. Steve Carra announced he is drafting legislation to allow schools to maintain lockboxes for teachers to secure personal weapons in case of an attack. Carra said his plan would allow faculty and staff – for the purpose of protecting students and others from imminent and malicious harm – to store lawfully owned firearms or tasers in a secure …

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at a Michigan high school. Authorities on Wednesday revealed that his parents were summoned just a few hours before the bloodshed. No motive was offered by Oakland County authorities, a day after violence at Oxford High School. But sheriff’s …

James Ortman, age 57, of Sturgis, died on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Arrangements by Hackman Family Funeral Homes.

Verna Schlabach, age 71, of Centreville, died on Monday, November 29, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. She was born December 23, 1949 in Sturgis, a daughter of Henry and Emma (Borkholder) Borkholder. Verna graduated from Sturgis High School in 1968. On December 24, 1971 she married Raymond D Schlabach at Locust Grove Mennonite Church. Verna was a lifelong …

Parveena Gayen, age 70, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 from injuries in an auto accident on November 23rd in St. Joseph County. She was born in Delhi, India on Dec. 16, 1950 the daughter of Hidayat and Sosan (Mall) Masih. She was married to Manoj Gayen on Oct. 21, 1975 in Hapur, India. They came to the …

An allegation of financial misconduct leveled at Colon Community Schools Superintendent Penny Brockway will be investigated by Thrun Law Firm of Grand Rapids. The matter was approved Monday by the district’s board of education during a special meeting. According to the motion, the district will also contact the Michigan Department of Education Title and Grant Funding office as part of …

St. Joseph County was one of 16 counties in the state to receive funding through Recreational Passport grants. In all, nearly $2 million was awarded through the 11-year-old program. Specifically, the $150,000 grant was allocated to the city of Sturgis for development of its long-planned splash pad. The amount was the most available and was given to seven other entities.