The windows on certain Michigan State Police cars automatically roll down in high temperatures, one of the key changes after two dogs died of heat stroke in Livingston County in 2013, the department said. Michigan State Police publicly confirmed the deaths this week — more than two years later — in response to a WDIV-TV report about a lawsuit related …

The Kalamazoo Wings are winless in their first four games of the season. After dropping a 5-2 decision to the Toledo Walleye at home on Friday night, the K-Wings found themselves on the short end of a 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night. On Friday, the K-Wings received goals from Tyler Shattock and Alex Mallet. The Walleye …

Larry E. Wagner, Sr. age 77, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2015 at Three Rivers Health. He was born July 6, 1938 in Elkhart, IN a son of Gerald and Erma (Routsong) Wagner. Larry graduated from Elkhart High School in 1956 and attended Indiana University at Bloomington. On September 2, he married Nancy Krallman in Elkhart, IN.  He worked …

Betty Jane Cox, age 92, of Vandalia, MI passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015 at home. She was born April 12, 1923 in Dowagiac, MI the daughter of Floyd and Lola (Franklin) Hunsburger. On May 31, 1943 in Bryan, OH she married Richard E. Cox who preceded her in death. Betty was the township clerk for Penn Township for many …

Robert Michael “Bonezy” Schabes, age 58 of White Pigeon died Wednesday Oct. 21, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Chicago on April 18, 1957 the son of Robert John and Joan Marie (Murray) Schabes. He attended primary school in Chicago and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1975. He was a welder, and had …

St. Joseph County’s animal control director position is being overseen by the sheriff’s department while a search for a successor to Tom Miller continues. Two matters related to animal control took place during Tuesday’s county commission meeting. First, commissioners endorsed a request to fill the position of animal control officer/facility supervisor. Later, it was announced that longtime employee Brooke Bingaman …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week voted in favor of a $1.2 billion legislative package to fix Michigan’s transportation system, including a bill he introduced that increases the use of competitive bidding for local road and bridge projects. Miller said House Bill 4610 expands the use of competitive bidding to keep the costs of road and bridge repair more affordable …

An Elkhart-based company was selected Tuesday to lead a sewer infrastructure project at a county park in Fawn River Township. Commissioners accepted the lowest of three bids, which was submitted by C&E Excavating for almost $104,000. County administrator Pat Yoder said he will have a meeting next week with company officials to go over the full scope of the project. …

Police are releasing no new information about two murders that occurred late this summer in St. Joseph County, but officials continue to investigate the two separate homicides. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough this week said police are awaiting results from the Michigan State Police crime lab regarding evidence collected at both scenes. About 4 a.m. Aug. 31, the body …

Colon Elementary School will be the location of a benefit magic show Saturday. Five acts over the course of an hour will take part in the fourth annual “Sharing the Magic” event, which will help address a critical need at the Colon Food Pantry. Event organizer Rick Fisher said admission to the show is a box or can of a …