The closure of doctors’ offices across Michigan during the new coronavirus pandemic has spurred a statewide surge in the embrace of telemedicine, a practice that allows doctors to treat patients remotely by phone or computer, officials said. Hospitals and doctors have moved quickly to adopt the technology after government agencies and lawmakers removed regulatory obstacles starting in early March. Experts …

Michigan has reported 111 new deaths from COVID-19, raising the state’s pandemic death toll to nearly 1,400 as its confirmed coronavirus cases approached 24,000. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, meanwhile, announced Saturday that 13 new or expanded COVID-19 drive-through testing sites would begin operating around the state under a plan to increase the state’s daily testing by about 40 percent. The state …

Iowa-based recreational vehicle manufacturer Winnebago Industries says the company plans to begin reopening its northern Indiana plants in May after closing them in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Winnebago and other RV manufacturers temporarily idled their manufacturing plants after stay-at-home orders were issued in Indiana and other states where RVs are produced. Winnebago spokesman Sam Jefson tells the South Bend …

On Friday at 12:26am, Three Rivers Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Thomas St for a reported shooting. Officers located a 17-year-old female victim with a gunshot wound to the head. The suspect fled the scene and was later believed to be in the area of Walnut Meadow Apartments (300 block of Erie St). Officers were able to …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order through April, saying it must continue longer to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has sickened more than 21,000 people and contributed to nearly 1,100 deaths. Meanwhile, a Detroit-area health care system with hundreds of COVID-19 patients is seeing “glimmers of hope” as the number of people sent home exceeds the number …

Phillip Kenneth Carlson, age 54, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at Three Rivers Health. He was born on September 14, 1965, in Minneapolis, MN to Earl and Margaret (Alberts) Carlson. Phil enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Upsala High School in 1983. He served as Electronic Warfare Systems Technician and EW Instructor. His …

Tyler Robert Whelpley, age 27, of Union, MI passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of Thursday, April 2, 2020. He was born in Muskegon on April 10, 1992 the son of William Whelpley and Lyndee (Clements) Fisher. Tyler had the biggest heart when it came to helping others and loved spending time with his little sister. He enjoyed fishing …

Laura Gay, age 85, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Sunday afternoon, April 5, 2020. Gay was born August 10, 1934, in Holland, Mich., a daughter of the late Cecil and Una (Glidden) Knapp. She graduated from Lawrence High School and attended Moody Bible College. She was employed for several years at Malnights …

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature has lengthened Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus emergency declaration by 23 days, through April, rather than adopt a 70-day extension she sought into mid-June. Republicans say they had to vote Tuesday to keep Whitmer’s emergency declaration from expiring. But Democrats say it would not have lapsed because she issued a declaration last week, meaning legislators did …

Officials say Michigan deaths from the coronavirus rose 16% in the largest daily jump since the pandemic hit the state. The state reported 118 additional deaths related to the respiratory disease caused by the virus, raising the total to 845. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 10% to nearly 19,000. Gov Gretchen Whitmer says “it’s another tough 24 hours” …