Government

Authorities in southern Indiana are refining their search for a Michigan kayaker who remains missing after two days of searching. Indiana conservation officers said Monday they planned to focus search efforts a short distance downriver from where 27-year-old Enrique Quinonez of Kalamazoo, went under the surface of the Flatrock River at Columbus. Search efforts that were suspended Monday afternoon were …

The Meijer grocery chain has confirmed it is looking into a new store in Sturgis. Later this month, the Sturgis Planning Commission will review site plans provided by the store regarding a site at South Centerville Road and West South Street. The location is north of the Sturgis Walmart. Preliminary plans call for a building just under 200,000-square-feet, though its …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services will begin its twice-a-year hydrant flushing this upcoming weekend. Amy Roth, DPS director, said the flushing will start at 11 p.m. Sunday. She said crews expect flushing to continue Sunday through Thursday nights through the end of May. Each flushing will take place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The work will begin …

A Sturgis man faces a number of charges after he led police on a vehicle pursuit over the weekend in Burr Oak Township. State police officials said Corey Roggow, 33, failed to pull over at 5:25 p.m. Sunday after he was observed not wearing a seatbelt. Roggow drove a 1989 GMC pickup east on Hackman Road near M-66 then allegedly …

Detroit police say they have arrested two more men in connection with the severe mob beating of a suburban motorist who had accidentally hit a 10-year-old boy who stepped in front of his truck. Sgt. Michael Woody said a 30-year-old man was arrested Sunday night and a 24-year-old on Monday afternoon. That brings to four the number arrested in the …

February’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County decreased by one-tenth of a percent compared to a month earlier. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed St. Joseph County’s 6.8 percent February unemployment rate was more than January’s 6.9 percent. February’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percent less than the same month one year earlier, …

A 15-year-old student has been charged with arson following an incident last week at Sturgis High School. According to Sturgis police, a paper-towel dispenser was intentionally set on fire in a bathroom shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday. Fire crews arrived to find a moderate amount of smoke but no fire. With the aid of school-security video, district officials and law-enforcement …

The Three Rivers Department of Public Services has announced it is ending its suggested water-trickle notice. Most of the water services that were frozen over the winter months have now thawed, and frost is out of the ground in most areas, DPS officials said. The suggested measure was noted a month ago.

Results of a needs-assessment questionnaire, distributed jointly by Sturgis Hospital and Three Rivers Health, have been released. The fifth of five fields focuses on maternal and infant health. According to the St. Joseph County 2012 Community Health Needs Assessment, issues associated with teen pregnancies, teen births and poor birth outcomes ranked in the top five health concerns. More than half …

Authorities say the body of a woman has been found in a northwestern Indiana lake near where they conducted a January search for a missing Michigan doctor. Indiana State Police say a fisherman on Lake Charles in the town of Porter reported something suspicious Sunday morning. They say divers helped recover a female body dressed in dark clothing. Police say …