State legislators have given their final approval to a proposal banning motorists from using handheld cellphones on Indiana roads to combat distracted driving. The Indiana House voted 81-11 and the Senate 49-1 on Tuesday in favor of the bill. The measure permits cellphone use by drivers only with hands-free or voice-operated technology, except in emergencies. The new law will take …

A school district in southwestern Michigan is dropping its Redskins nickname and mascot after the superintendent urged school board members to end the contentious name. The Paw Paw school board voted 6-1 on Monday to retire the Redskins nickname by the end of the school year. Superintendent Rick Reo said last week he believes the district originally chose Redskins to …

Elijah Scott “Peanut” Singleton, age 14 days, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020, at his home. He was born Feb. 20, 2020, in Three Rivers. Elijah is survived by his parents, Hannah Farler and Jesse Singleton of Burr Oak; two sisters, Jemma Singleton and Shy-Ann Singleton; two brothers, Jaxzon Singleton and Skylar Singleton; grandparents Jerry and Tina Farler of Burr …

Larry Lee Shoppell, age 64, passed away at his home in rural Shipshewana, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.  He was born in Coldwater,  on February 28, 1956 and had lived in the Michiana area most of his life except for 3 years he served in the U.S. Army in Colorado and Germany.  He was last employed by Syndicate in Middlebury. …

Michigan’s top election official says to expect later-than-typical results from next week’s presidential primary because of a surge of absentee ballots and other factors. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Thursday that election is the first major statewide contest since voters in 2018 authorized no-reason absentee voting and same-day voter registration. Absentee ballot requests are up 80% compared to the …

Art Van Furniture will close all company-owned stores in at least five states as the retailer heads toward liquidation after more than 60 years in business. Liquidation sales are expected to start Friday. Art Van spokeswoman Diane Charles says in a statement Thursday that the “company’s brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging retail environment.” Archie …

Mary Katherine Hopkins, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, March 3, 2020, at Brentwood at Elkhart Independent Living in Elkhart. She was born April 2, 1935, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Frederick H. and Verena May (Schuermann) Hilgendorf. Mary was a lifelong Sturgis resident a member of the first graduating class of Holy Angels Catholic School …

Norma Jean Oliver, age 87, of Constantine, entered into her Heavenly Chapter on Friday, February 28, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family. Norma was born in Indianapolis on March 20, 1932, a daughter of R.E. and Mary Laura (Toliver) Kimball. She graduated from Niles High School in 1950, she furthered her education at County Normal School and received …

Eva Mae Smith, age 94, longtime Sturgis resident, died Tuesday morning, March 2, 2020, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born on July 26, 1925, in Whitley County, Ind., to Fred and Della (Montz) Englarth, and moved to Sturgis as a girl with her family. She graduated from Sturgis High School in 1943. After living in Highland Park to …

Kelly Jean Goldman, age 50, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning March 3, 2020 at her home surrounded by family. She was born September 19, 1969 in Sturgis, daughter of Roy and Sharon (Frohriep) Frohriep. Kelly was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1988. She furthered her education at the International Business …