Government

Officials say Michigan’s seat belt use rate is remaining steady from a year ago. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning says Wednesday that a direct observation survey conducted statewide by the Wayne State University Transportation Research Group found the rate was 93 percent. The state’s record was 98 percent in 2009. Law enforcement officers from police departments, sheriff’s offices …

Authorities say they plan to request a charge against an SUV driver after a motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash in western Michigan. Police say the motorcycle and a SUV collided at an intersection about 1:20 a.m. Sunday in Kalamazoo. The SUV’s driver fled, leaving the SUV at the intersection. Police say 34-year-old motorcyclist Robert Vern Pueblo of Plainwell …

Authorities say the driver of a minivan who died along with his two passengers when they were struck by a passenger train in western Michigan last year had methamphetamine in his system. A Michigan State Police report obtained by the Kalamazoo Gazette under the Freedom of Information Act says blood from 21-year-old Joshua Cartwright tested positive for meth. Kalamazoo County …

Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested three people Tuesday after executing search warrants at two separate locations. Around 5: 30 p. m., police raided a home in the 53000 block of North Fisher Lake Road in Park Township. Officers arrested one man and one woman at the home. Police seized 20 marijuana plants as well as …

State police are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred at a residence this week in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, the incident occurred around 10 a.m. Tuesday in the 62000 block of Brick Chapel Road, near Garber Road, where two cars pulled into the driveway. A witness saw two suspects in hooded sweatshirts run to the rear …

Michigan State Police are investigating the suspicious death of a man at a home in the 53000 block of Buckhorn Road in Park Township. Troopers were called to the home around 7 p.m. Monday to investigate a suspicious situation. Police found that buildings on the property had been burglarized. Police then checked the home, and found a break-in had occurred …

Members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested three people Tuesday after executing search warrants at two separate locations. Around 5: 30 p. m., police raided a home in the 53000 block of North Fisher Lake Road in Park Township. Officers arrested one man and one woman at the home. Police seized 20 marijuana plants as well as …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced that a Sturgis apartment complex will receive funding to rehabilitate units to provide affordable housing for low-income families and individuals. Miller said the Michigan State Housing Development Authority recently awarded more than $14 million for 20 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects in 14 counties. The Gateway Village project will receive a tax credit …

A Jones man was airlifted to a Kalamazoo hospital after he was involved in a one-vehicle accident last weekend in Newburg Township. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called at 2:07 a.m. Saturday to Born Street, near Patterson Hill Road. Deputies found 50-year-old Kenneth Duke trapped inside his vehicle after it had run off the road and struck …

A 21-year veteran with the White Pigeon Police Department retired last week. Chief Lynn “Dutch” Baker, who held the department’s top position for 20 years, worked his final shift Friday. Baker said he especially enjoyed working with the younger officers who have come through his department. Another milestone under Baker was the creation of a drug fund that led to …