Government

Body found in Three Rivers

A dead body was found Monday afternoon in a wooded area in Three Rivers. Three Rivers Police Chief Scott Boling said the department was alerted shortly after 1 p.m. to the discovery of the body in the 300 block of Second Avenue. Boling said authorities were notified by a person walking their dog. Boling said the body was found between …

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Two acquitted, jury hung on two more in Whitmer kidnap plot

A jury on Friday acquitted two men of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldn’t reach verdicts against the two alleged leaders, a stunning defeat for the government after a weekslong trial that centered on an FBI sting operation just before the 2020 election. The decisions were announced a few hours after the jury said it was …

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Michigan governor sues to secure abortion rights, vacate ban

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer filed a lawsuit Thursday asking a Michigan court to recognize the right to get an abortion under the state constitution and to overturn a 176-year-old ban in the state that might take effect again if the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade ruling is vacated. The Democratic governor’s preemptive lawsuit, which was filed in Oakland County against …

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Whitmer signs bill to speed pre-approvals of health care

Michigan insurers that require health providers to get pre-approval to cover treatment will have to promptly respond to doctors’ requests or those requests will be automatically granted under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday. Supporters said the law will speed delays in care and provide more transparency around the process known as prior authorization. Starting in June 2023, a non-urgent …

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GOP Rep. Upton, who voted to impeach Trump, won’t run again

Longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton, who voted to impeach President Donald Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, announced Tuesday he will not run for a 19th term in Congress. Upton, 68, is the fourth of 10 Republicans who backed impeachment to not seek reelection, joining Reps. John Katko of New York, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Anthony Gonzalez of …

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New vehicles must average 40 mpg by 2026, up from 28 mpg

New vehicles sold in the U.S. will have to average at least 40 miles per gallon of gasoline in 2026, up from about 28 mpg, under new federal rules unveiled Friday that undo a rollback of standards enacted under President Donald Trump. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its new fuel economy requirements are the strongest to date and the maximum …

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs over $4.7B for infrastructure

Michigan is investing more than $4.7 billion to improve infrastructure, including drinking water upgrades, internet access and fixing roads, bridges and dams. The spending plan includes some of the biggest infrastructure investments in state history, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday before signing the bipartisan legislation in Grand Rapids. About $4 billion comes from federal funds, including COVID-19 recovery funds and the Infrastructure …

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Couple accused in Indiana barn burnings face more charges

A couple accused of torching eight barns last year in a northern Indiana county now face charges alleging that they also set fire to an Amish school in an adjacent county. Joseph Hershberger, 41, and Sherry Thomas, 32, were charged in December in Elkhart County with eight counts of arson for the barn burnings, the first of which occurred in …

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Applications sought for Sturgis City Commission

Sturgis City Commission is seeking applications to fill the seat recently vacated by Karl Littman. The seat is for the 4th Precinct, which covers the boundary of Sturgis north of East Chicago Road and east of North Prospect Street. To qualify for consideration, prospective applicants must be a registered voter in the 4th Precinct. Correspondence with name, address, phone number, …

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Shaffer announces candidacy

Lockport Township resident Rick Shaffer has announced his candidacy for Second District St. Joseph County Commissioner. Shaffer has served as a county commissioner on two previous occasions. On the ballot during the Aug. 4 primary election, the second district seat will represent Florence and Lockport townships, part of Fabius Township, and part of the city of Three Rivers. It is …

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