Government

State Rep. Aaron Miller has praised bipartisan passage of the House budget for the coming fiscal year, noting every school in St. Joseph and Cass counties will receive the maximum per-pupil increase in state funding. Miller, who serves as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said all schools in the 59th House District will receive a $120 …

St. Joseph County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lindsay Oswald has forwarded a media release detailing legislation signed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The new legislation will prevent private companies from charging exorbitant fees for copies of deeds that are available from their county Register of Deeds for only $1 per page. Amy Bissell, president of the Michigan Association of Registers …

The state of Michigan won’t enforce a law that blocks local government officials from talking about a ballot question before an election, under a deal approved Thursday by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge John Corbett O’Meara stopped the law in February with a preliminary injunction, saying the so-called gag order was vague and violated free speech rights. Now, nearly …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners were given an update on a master plan for the county’s newest park during Wednesday’s executive committee meeting. Suzanne Fromson, representing St. Joseph-based Edgewater Resources, reviewed a number of details related to the six-acre Covered Bridge Farm park before commissioners agreed to put the matter on their agenda for a vote …

State Rep. Aaron Miller will be in Dowagiac Saturday to help recognize a member of the city’s fire department. During a ceremony at 1 p.m., Miller will take part in a tribute to James Carpenter. Carpenter has been named the department’s “Firefighter of the Year.” Miller plans to present Carpenter a state tribute for his service to the Dowagiac community.

State police are investigating reports of gunshots fired last week in White Pigeon Township. Agency officials said troopers were called around 5 p.m. April 20 to the 17000 block of Tomahawk Trail, where residents reported hearing gunshots. A second call was placed from a nearby residence reporting the same information. Troopers found that a camper and a boat had been …

A Three Rivers residence sustained damage following an attic fire late Monday. Three Rivers fire officials were called at 11:20 p.m. to the 100 block of Wood Street regarding smoke emitting from the roofline. The fire was extinguished quickly and all occupants were able to evacuate safely. Investigators were expected to return to the location Tuesday, but an initial report …

The Sturgis Township Planning Commission has approved sign permits for three new businesses. Biggby Coffee will open Monday in the renovated storefront that previously housed Fawn River Meats on Fawn River Road, east of South Centerville Road. Planning commissioners on Monday also granted sign plans for TSC and Dunham Sports, two businesses that will share the former Kmart building on …

State Rep. Aaron Miller today intends to introduce a resolution in the House declaring April 28 as “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” in Michigan. Miller drafted the resolution calling on parents to take a daughter or son to their workplaces so the children can see the many employment opportunities that exist in Michigan. He will bring his …

St. Joseph County Treasurer Judie Ratering has filed for re-election for a second four-year term. Ratering recently submitted to the county clerk’s office paperwork with enough signatures to be on the ballot in the August primary. Sturgis resident Gwen Donmeyer has also declared her candidacy. The 56-year-old Ratering was appointed by a statutory committee in February 2012 from a pool …