Government

Michigan election officials would begin processing absentee ballots two days before the Nov. 8 election under legislation approved Wednesday in hopes of avoiding delays in counting, with absentee voting expected to remain a popular option. Michigan is one of several key swing states that allows no-excuse mail-in ballots but doesn’t allow local election offices to begin processing ballots until 7 a.m. on …

An Indiana resident was hospitalized after being involved in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday in Constantine Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said the 26-year-old Mishawaka resident was driving north at 12:30 p.m. on U.S. 131, near Graber Road, when their vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a southbound semi tractor-trailer driven by a 56-year-old Florida resident. The driver of the …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the larceny of a utility vehicle from a business in Park Township. Investigators said a 2013 John Deere Gator was stolen from GreenMark Equipment between 6 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The incident occurred at GreenMark’s location in the 16000 block of Heimbach Road.

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash Wednesday in Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said authorities were notified shortly before 11 a.m. to an injury crash on U.S. 12 at Union Road. Investigators said Marcellus resident Martha Cramer, 44, was driving east on U.S. 12. She failed to yield before attempting to turn north onto Union Road. She …

Battle Creek police said Friday they have arrested three teens in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed a 2-year-old boy. Kai Rowan Turner was shot once in the head around 2:20 a.m. Tuesday when someone fired multiple shots into a home and then fled the scene. The boy later died at a hospital. The suspects all are in their mid to …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said a Mendon man is in custody after being involved in a standoff with authorities over the weekend. Lillywhite said deputies responded around 9 p.m. Saturday to a location in town in response to a report of domestic violence. Authorities said the home was in the vicinity of Mendon Elementary School. Lillywhite said deputies …

A 52-year-old Sturgis woman will be sentenced next month on drug-related offenses. St. Joseph County Prosecutor David Marvin said Stephani Webb was convicted by a jury last week and found guilty of possession of methamphetamine and possession of hydrocodone, a controlled substance. Marvin said Webb was arrested Aug. 30 in the 200 block of Michigan Avenue in Three Rivers. She …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident reported last week in Sturgis Township. According to a department media release, the incident occurred between 9:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and noon Sept. 13 at Heartland Storage in the 68000 block of White School Road. Authorities said the suspect cut a hole in the fencing along the north end of the …

The name of the man fatally injured in a 2-vehicle crash west of Three Rivers Monday evening has been released. He is identified as 77-year-old E. John Boroughf of Lawton. He was reportedly northbound on Youngs Prairie Road, when he apparently failed to stop at the M-60 intersection, and collided with a westbound truck driven by a 43-year-old Constantine man, …

A Lawton man died as the result of injuries sustained in a 2-vehicle crash Monday evening shortly after 8:00, at the intersection of M-60 and Youngs Prairie Road, west of Three Rivers. County sheriff’s deputies said the 77-year-old Lawton man was northbound on Youngs Prairie, and he reportedly failed to stop at the M-60 intersection. He collided with a westbound …