Government

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Friday that all 131 Michigan Secretary of State branch offices will be changing operations to slow the spread of the coronavirus. During a three-week period starting today, branches will only offer services for critical transactions that must be conducted in-person and only by appointment. Walk-ins will be asked to make an appointment, for the …

Effective March 16th, 2020, COA offices will be closed, including Enrichment Centers in Sturgis and Three Rivers. All activities and programs will be canceled at both centers. Services to clients in their home will be limited to once per week meals on wheels delivery and limited support to seniors who require personal care. Seniors who use these services will receive …

A millage request by Glen Oaks Community College was defeated Tuesday. By a margin of about 55 percent opposed to 45 percent in favor, the college failed in its request to secure half a mill increase over a five-year period. The request was seeking what amounted to $1 million a year and would have addressed maintenance, technology, safety and infrastructure …

Voters in Cass County’s Newberg Township have approved a request for maintaining fire, first responder and ambulance services. The results from Tuesday’s election show 195 votes in favor of the five-year request, while 65 opposed the measure. More than 20 percent of the township’s voters took part in the election. As a result, the township will collect more than $83,000 …

A 56-year-old Sturgis woman died Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in White Pigeon Township. The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. on U.S. 12 near Hillandale Road in the Klinger Lake area. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, Karen Lynette Napier, 56, was driving west on U.S. 12 when her vehicle left the south side of the road and …

A home at Fish Lake was destroyed by fire Sunday. Firefighters from four departments responded to the blaze in the 63000 block of Pine Drive, about 8 miles northwest of Sturgis. Everyone inside the home exited safely, officials said, adding no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still unknown, authorities said. Tri-Township Fire Chief, Max Kulpinski said …

State legislators have given their final approval to a proposal banning motorists from using handheld cellphones on Indiana roads to combat distracted driving. The Indiana House voted 81-11 and the Senate 49-1 on Tuesday in favor of the bill. The measure permits cellphone use by drivers only with hands-free or voice-operated technology, except in emergencies. The new law will take …

Michigan’s top election official says to expect later-than-typical results from next week’s presidential primary because of a surge of absentee ballots and other factors. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Thursday that election is the first major statewide contest since voters in 2018 authorized no-reason absentee voting and same-day voter registration. Absentee ballot requests are up 80% compared to the …

It’s not too late: Voters who used an absentee ballot for Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary election can change their preference and vote again. At least eight Democratic candidates have dropped out of the race since Michigan absentee ballots were printed, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Pete Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, and businessmen Tom Steyer …

Teresa Doehring, St. Joseph County administrator, announced that Tuesday’s county commission meeting has been canceled. County officials are scheduled to not meet again until their March 11 executive committee meeting, followed by the next regularly scheduled county commission meeting March 17.