Republicans who control the Michigan Senate are making the reduction of auto insurance rates a top priority. The first bill introduced in the new two-year session could let older drivers use Medicare or other health insurance to cover their medical costs in an accident. Younger drivers could opt out of Michigan’s mandatory unlimited medical coverage and choose less coverage. The …

NEW YORK (AP) — Sears will live on— at least for now. The company’s chairman and largest shareholder and chairman, Eddie Lampert, won a bankruptcy auction for Sears in New York, averting liquidation of the iconic chain, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The person agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to …

Rebecca “Becky” Sue Montcalm, age 70, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Rose Arbor of Kalamazoo. She was born on July 25, 1948 to Walter and Miriam (McDonald) Gregory in Three Rivers. Becky graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1966. She was employed for many years at American Axle & Manufacturing …

The Kalamazoo Wings (16-18-0-2) earned their first victory of 2019 on Sunday evening as they defeated the Fort Wayne Komets by a score of 5-3. Taking the lead at the halfway point of the first period, the Komets Shawn Szydlowski scored for the 1-0 advantage.  Late in the period, the K-Wings Zach Diamantoni scored his first professional goal to the …

Norman “Mike” D. Rumsey, 80, of Howe, Indiana formerly of Bronson, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2019 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home in Bronson. A funeral service will take place on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral …

The date for members of the St. Joseph County Planning Commission to hear details of a proposed solar-panel development in Mendon Township has been set. The planning commission will assemble at 7 p.m. Jan. 30. Location of the meeting, however, remains a moving target. Commission secretary Pat Kulikowski said the panel typically meets in the parks and recreation department’s office. …

Glen Oaks Community College is moving forward with a renovation project at a cost of nearly $7 million. Its board of trustees last week voted to approve planning for the project and follows a recent announcement that the college has received nearly $3.5 million in capital outlay funding from the state. The funding requires a 50/50 institution match and since …

St. Joseph County was one of several counties in the state Friday to stage a program marking the 50th anniversary of Michigan’s district court system. In Centreville, current and former judges, staff, members of the bar and courthouse personnel were present in District Court Judge Jeff Middleton’s courtroom to recognize the milestone and share memories of the early days. Middleton …

Southwest Enforcement Team assisted in a drug raid Tuesday in Kalamazoo. The investigation, which began about six months ago, led to the arrest of two men – one from Kalamazoo and the other from California. Lt. Jim Lass said investigators learned a drug-trafficking organization had delivered more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico and police were aware a shipment …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the county’s Parks and Recreation five-year plan next week. Details of the long-range plan were provided during this week’s executive committee meeting and county commissioners agreed the matter should be subject to a public hearing. It will take place at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, which starts at …