Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday it is her “hope” that K-12 schools can reopen for in-person instruction in the fall and created an advisory council to recommend ways to ensure a safe and equitable return. The governor, who closed schools in March to curb the coronavirus, stopped short of saying schools definitely will be allowed to reopen in late August …

Michigan will confront multibillion-dollar declines in tax revenue and record-high enrollment in government health insurance programs — a double whammy from the coronavirus pandemic that may lead to major cuts in services. Legislative experts and top officials in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration agreed to revised budget estimates Friday after hearing economic forecasts. The steep downward revision from revenue estimates issued just four …

Jackie Lee (Fitch) Losik, age 61, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 10, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Jackie was born on November 1, 1958, a daughter to Richard Senior and Harriet (Bell) Fitch in Three Rivers Michigan. Jackie attended Coldwater High School and lived most of her adult life in the Colon area. Jackie was married …

Tami R. Walters of Sturgis died on Monday, May 11, 2020, at her home. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon.

Jorgelina Isaias, age 64, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, May 11, 2020, at her home. She was born June 25, 1955, in Guera Melena, Cuba, a daughter of the late Pedro and Jorgelina (Gutierez) Gomez. At the age of 11, Jorgelina came to Chicago from Cuba and resided there until moving to Sturgis in 2004. She and her husband, …

Carmen George, age 58, died on Friday, May 8, 2020. In accordance with family wishes cremation will be conducted and memorial services will held at a date. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Sigmond John Carlisi, age 72, of Constantine, died May 5, 2020 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born December 12, 1947 in New Orleans. On January 25, 1969, he married Carol J. Sides in Chicago. Surviving are his wife, Carol; son Steven (Michelle) Carlisi of Three Rivers, daughter Debra (Stephen) Meredith of Lake Forest, IL, and daughter Julie …

Dick Stefan, age 83, of White Pigeon, formerly of Palos Park, IL, passed away peacefully at home on May 2, 2020. Born in Chicago on February 15, 1937 to Joseph and Christina Stefan. Dick met Sally Toigo when he interviewed her for a job at Acme Steel in Riverdale, IL. She got the job, won his heart, and they have …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday that she wants 450,000 Michiganders to be tested for the coronavirus this month, an average of nearly 15,000 a day, a critical goal because social-distancing cannot go on indefinitely until a vaccine is developed. Testing is on the rise. Tests first surpassed 10,000 in a day less than two weeks ago and stayed above that …

Jody Lee Chapman Boyd, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday afternoon May 10, 2020, at her home. She was born June 12, 1960, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Richard and Joye (Gay) Chapman. Jody resided her entire life in St. Joseph County and was a member of Centreville class of 1979. On Oct. 18, 1996, she …