Government

Michigan Department of Transportation has launched a new, online dashboard to make information about the condition of all bridges on state and local road systems easily accessible to the public. Replacing a more limited version from 2018, the Michigan Bridge Conditions dashboard is now online, providing data on more than 11,000 bridges across the state. Matt Chynoweth, head of the …

The city of Three Rivers will soon begin looking for a new member to join its city commission. During last week’s meeting, Norm Stutesman announced he will be moving out of the city and as a result will be forced to vacate his seat. His resignation becomes effective Monday. Stutesman joined the seven-member commission in January 2017 to replace Diane …

A state police patrol car was struck and a trooper injured over the weekend during an incident on ice-covered I-94 in Calhoun County. According to a department media release, the trooper was investigating an accident at 4:15 a.m. Saturday near mile marker 92 in the eastbound lane. The trooper was on the shoulder of the freeway investigating a one-vehicle crash, …

State police troopers are investigating damage to a business in Park Township. According to a department media release, a split-rail fence outside a business in the 52000 block of U.S. 131 was damaged between noon Saturday and 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. The wood fence, which stood outside Stephenson Farm and Market, was damaged by a southbound vehicle that appears to have …

An Ypsilanti woman was injured Sunday morning at 5:45 in a single vehicle crash on M-60 just west of Jones near Timberlane Drive. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Katharine Aris, age 50, was driving a semi-tractor trailer rig eastbound when her vehicle crashed on the south side of the road, spilling approximately 100 gallons of fuel and oil. …

New Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is urging lawmakers to let absentee ballots be counted before Election Day and to make other changes following the passage of a ballot initiative that expanded voting options in Michigan. The Democrat says the number of absentee ballots is expected to increase significantly now that people can vote absentee for any reason. She wants …

Three people were reappointed this week to St. Joseph County’s Agricultural Preservation Board. County commissioners on Tuesday renewed the three-year terms of Mendon Township resident Larry Rice and Sturgis-area resident John Fair. Commissioner representative Dan Czajkowski of White Pigeon was also reappointed, though his term is for a one-year period. In a separate move, commissioners agreed to name Angie Price, …

Authorities say four cattle died when the trailer hauling them crashed in icy and snowy conditions in southwestern Michigan. Michigan State Police officials say the semi-trailer was hauling more than 30 cattle early Wednesday when it flipped on Interstate 94 in Van Buren County’s Lawrence Township. Two people in the vehicle weren’t injured. The crash scene took several hours to …

Three matters of new business, including an agreement to help fund a portion of the U.S. 131 Trail, will appear before the Three Rivers City Commission this evening. Mayor Tom Lowry and commissioners will discuss whether to support an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the city’s share of money for a trail to run along the east …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will propose a 45-cent increase in Michigan’s gasoline and diesel taxes to fix the roads, phased in later this year and in 2020. A spokeswoman for the Democrat confirmed her plan Monday, a day before she presents it to the Republican-led Legislature. Tiffany Brown says Whitmer also will propose “protections to help offset the cost to people’s …