State Rep. Aaron Miller has commended his House colleagues for joining him in approving landmark legislation that opens state government to more public scrutiny. Miller said the 11 bills make the governor and lieutenant governor subject to the Freedom of Information Act and creates a similar disclosure requirement for state representatives and senators called the Legislative Open Records Act. Miller …

Authorities have identified two fishermen who died after the boat they were riding in capsized in a lake in southwestern Michigan. Michigan State Police say a 45-year-old man Douglas Charles McIntyre of Decatur and 64-year-old Robert E. Novick of Evergreen Park, Illinois, were found in Keeler Lake on Saturday evening and were pronounced dead at separate hospitals. Rescue crews were …

A new coffee shop and cafe in downtown Kalamazoo is almost completely staffed by ex-offenders as part of a culinary arts program at Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program. The Walnut & Park Cafe officially opened last week. The shop serves coffees ground by the Water Street Coffee Roaster along with homemade baked goods, breakfast and lunch dishes. Program graduates earn certifications …

William Henry (Hank) Feist, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home at Park Place Assisted Living in Kalamazoo, on Friday, March 17, 2017 at the age of 90. Hank joined his beloved wife, Leitha (Lee) Mae Feist, who preceded him in death in April 2006 after (56) years of marriage, and their loving grandson, Matthew Paul Nadelin (1981-2007; Joana Feist-Lindstrom). …

Two roads and four bridges will receive attention this summer, as the St. Joseph County Road Commission has announced its 2017 road and bridge projects. Road commission manager Chris Minger said the work will take place on Nottawa Road in Mendon and Nottawa townships, and White School Road in Sturgis Township. The Nottawa Road work will feature a crush-and-shape process …

Municipal officials made history last week when they hired Colon’s first village manager. Michael “Mitch” Mitchell was offered the full-time position during the village council’s regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. A Niles native, Mitchell has government experience in five Michigan communities and most recently worked as a real estate agent in Hillsdale County. The 47-year-old Mitchell started work Wednesday, a hit-the-ground-running …

St. Joseph County Commission On Aging Director Tim Stoll has been instructed to determine the feasibility and potential cost of a new senior center built on county-owned property in Fabius Township. The proposed facility would replace the Three Rivers senior center, which is housed in the south half of the Three Rivers Public Library building. County commissioners discussed the issue …

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was eight-tenths of a percent greater than the same month one year earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.3 percent January unemployment rate marked an increase from December’s 3.5 percent. Still, St. Joseph County remained below the state unemployment average, which was …

The luck of the Irish was not with the Kalamazoo Wings (33-27-1-3) on Friday night as they lost to the visiting Indy Fuel by a 6-5 margin, but a little magic must have traveled with them to Indy the next night as they defeated the Fuel 5-1. The two teams gave the standing room only crowd of 5,363 at Wings …

Mary Louanne Miller, 83, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, March 18. 2017, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness. She was born Oct. 16, 1933, in Three Rivers, the daughter of Newman and Jeanette (Combs) Drew. She lived in the White Pigeon area all of her life and was a graduate and valedictorian of the White Pigeon …