News

January’s unemployment rate in St. Joseph County increased by more than 1percent from December. Figures from the monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget show St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate jumped from 5 percent in December to 6.3 percent in January. Meanwhile, Cass County experienced an increase in its unemployment figures from December to January. …

Beacon Health Systems will host a career fair next month at its Three Rivers Health location. Event organizers said the opportunity will be ideal for anyone considering a career in healthcare or interested in finding out more about Three Rivers Health. The career fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 8 o’clock on April …

The Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees recently approved a new, two-year contract agreement with the Glen Oaks Support Staff Employees. It is retroactive to Feb. 2. College officials said the contract includes several key updates focused on employee compensation, equity, and modernized policies. Changes of note include a pay increase for current employees; updated pay scale with new …

As Michigan lawmakers debate a state-wide ban on cellphones in the classroom in order to keep students focused, Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School has implemented a no-cell-phone policy this academic year. ABC News Channel 57 looked into the situation. It found that the no-cell-phone policy at the Cassopolis school was implemented at the beginning of the academic year. The policy …

Michigan Public Service Commission recently approved a 2.8% rate increase for customers using Consumers Energy, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced last week. The rate hike will allow the energy company to collect an additional $1.5 million in revenue, according to Nessel. Consumers Energy originally requested a combined $325 million rate hike, however, that request was lowered to $154 million …

More changes are afoot within South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority. Vicksburg Village Council members were recently provided an update on the agency and its impending membership changes. Details were shared by council member Carl Keller, who serves as the village’s liaison to the SKCFA board. Keller had previously discussed Brady Township’s plan to exit what is currently a six-community membership …

Here’s a reminder that St. Joseph County United Way is in the midst of its 2025 Golf Cart Raffle. Up for grabs is a 2025 Classic Evolution. It is Arctic gray in color and can reach a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. It has luxury steering, an extended roof and flip-flop rear seat. Tickets are $40 each, or …

A Cass County man won a substantial amount of money in a recent Powerball drawing. Numbers on a ticket owned by Robert Cusumano, 65, matched all five white balls, but not the Powerball number, to claim a $1 million award. The drawing took place March 1. Cusumano purchased his $6 ticket – which contained three different entries – at Big …

A man riding a skateboard on a state highway was struck and killed shortly before 3:30 a.m. Thursday in Sturgis Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies said the incident occurred on M-66 near Bogen Road. Authorities were called after a southbound Ford F-150 struck the pedestrian. Despite lifesaving attempts by emergency personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the …

St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners took another step toward a major renovation of its 50-year-old courts building. During their monthly meeting Tuesday, the seven-member panel OK’d a plan to authorize up to $6 million in bonds to help finance the projected $10.5 million undertaking. Commissioner Ken Malone said the issue was the center of concerns expressed by more than …