New coronavirus cases leaped in Michigan during the week ending Sunday, rising 16.3 percent, as 26,768 cases were reported. Meanwhile, St. Joseph County reported 262 COVID-19 cases and one related death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 215 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic, St. Joseph County has reported 7,622 cases and 111 deaths. Michigan ranked …

Beacon Health System and Three Rivers Health officials on Monday announced they have finalized an agreement for the 60-bed, acute-care facility to become the eighth hospital in the non-profit Beacon Health System and the first in the state of Michigan. Under the agreement, Beacon Health System has committed to investing more than $20 million over the next five years at …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is offering Pfizer vaccine booster doses to residents who previously received two doses of Pfizer vaccine, with the second dose being at least six months ago. Agency officials said at least one of the following criteria also must be met: 65 years of age or older, 18 or older with underlying medical conditions, or working …

Here’s a reminder that the 10th annual St. Joseph County United Way Mega Raffle fundraiser takes place next week. Executive Director Kelly Hostetler said 330 tickets are available. They are $100 each and the drawing takes place Oct. 14. Additional prizes include $500 for the first ticket drawn and $100 for several more after that. There are prizes of $1,000 …

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste and electronics recycling was deemed “typical” for the fall event at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the four-hour program netted 6,000 pounds of household hazardous waste, 35,000 pounds of electronics and 850 tires. Committee secretary Pat Kulikowski said the last few collections have seen a …

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County said speed and alcohol may have been factors in a crash that left a teenager dead and four passengers injured. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called around 11:30 p.m. Friday to Mason Street, near Gordon Road, in Mason Township. Upon arriving on scene, deputies located a 2004 Saturn Ion on its roof in a …

Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Ron Moag said two positive cases of COVID-19 associated with high school students were reported to the district Friday. Moag said all schools will remain open. He also said anyone identified as a close contact will be notified by district administrators as part of its COVID-19 investigation process. He also said the district is following …

A collision between two semi-trucks Thursday in Sturgis sent one driver to the hospital, according to emergency officials. Public safety officers were dispatched shortly before 5:30 a.m. to the intersection of Lakeview Avenue and U.S. 12, where they found a semi-trailer had rear-ended another semi. The driver of the second truck was unresponsive, removed from the vehicle and taken by ambulance …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is being forced to rescind last week’s public-health order requiring that employers, educational institutions and persons in Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph counties quarantine after a close-contact exposure with a person infected with COVID-19 – or face a loss of approximately $1 million in state budget funding. The order was rescinded as of Thursday …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a stolen truck on a trailer from a location in Mendon Township. The incident occurred between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators said suspects stole a pickup and the trailer it was sitting on from a location in the 27000 block of M-60. The truck is a 2001 Ford F250, red on …