Government

State Rep. Aaron Miller participated Thursday in a Capitol news conference to reveal priorities for the current legislative session to foster job growth and strengthen Michigan’s economy. House Republican lawmakers outlined their top priorities as the 2015-16 legislative session got under way. Miller said the plan focuses on continuing the process of balancing the state budget early and eliminating bureaucratic …

Members of the department responsible for clearing the roadways and making vehicular movement possible earlier this week were acknowledged Tuesday by Sheriff Brad Balk and members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. During the citizen comments portion of the commission meeting, Balk said communication between road commission manager Chris Minger, commission Chairman John Dobberteen, emergency management director Scott …

A Kalamazoo man was issued a traffic citation following a two-vehicle accident this week in Lockport Township. State police said 21-year-old James Matlock was driving south on U.S. 131 shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, when he turned left onto North Main Street in front of a northbound vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, 58-year-old Joseph Mrocezk was unable to …

The Three Rivers DDA/Main Street Design Committee recently awarded two grants for signage improvements. Pin-Up Salon and Northside Beverage received the grants, which were made possible through the DDA’s rebate program. The program awards rebates to property and business owners who improve signage, awnings and/or painting. The rebates cover up to 25 percent of costs, with maximum amounts of $200 …

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk said the department last month recognized a day designated for support of law enforcement nationwide. Jan. 9 was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, an occasion endorsed by the Michigan Sheriff’s Association. Balk said the event was staged in conjunction with the group Concerns of Police Survivors. According to Balk, the event was created in response …

Constantine Police Chief Mark Honeysett said an area near Constantine High School will see a greater presence in response to complaints about reckless driving by students at the end of the school day. Honeysett said complaints stem from the manner students operate their vehicles on Falcon Drive and Riverside Drive. Honeysett said he has sent a letter to parents of …

The Michigan Senate Tuesday on a 28-9 vote approved legislation designed to speed up the process for obtaining a concealed weapons permit in Michigan. Specifically, the bills eliminate county gun boards and transfers the permit procedure to county clerks, sheriffs and the Michigan State Police. An earlier version of the measure had been vetoed by Governor Rick Snyder, who said it also …

An Illinois man sustained serious injuries last weekend following an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in Colon Township. State police said Nicholas Leth, 25, of Palos Heights, Ill., was driving the four-wheel ATV on the ice-covered Palmer Lake at 5:10 p.m. Saturday when he lost control and it flipped over, landing on top of him. Leth sustained injuries to his …

A standalone garage was destroyed by fire last week in Lockport Township. Fire officials said the blaze was reported shortly before noon Friday at a residence on Schweitzer Road. Cause of the blaze remains under investigation. No injuries were reported and no other building was damaged.

A warning has been issued to Western Michigan University students following an armed robbery at a campus residence hall. The Kalamazoo school says in a statement the male student was robbed at gunpoint about 4:40 p.m. Sunday in the third floor hallway of LeFevre Hall. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports police are seeking two suspects. The school says “extreme caution is …