News

A Michigan city violated the U.S. Constitution by chalking tires to enforce parking limits, but it won’t be forced to refund thousands of tickets in the class-action case, a judge said. Saginaw must only pay vehicle owners “nominal damages” of $1.00 for each marking, U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington said Monday. “The basic problem is that chalking is relatively harmless,” …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tested positive for COVID-19. The Democratic governor said in a statement that she tested positive for the virus Monday evening and is experiencing mild symptoms. Whitmer said she plans to follow proper guidance and protocols, while maintaining a remote schedule. Whitmer said all of her close contacts from Monday will be notified. “I am grateful …

An 11-year-old girl from Constantine died in a two-vehicle crash Sunday in Constantine Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called at 2:45 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of Klett Road and Quaker Street. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said a 49-year-old woman from Bristol, Ind., was driving south on Klett Road. She told authorities she did not …

The process to recall White Pigeon Village President Tyler Royce is moving forward after a 126-signature petition was turned in last week. St. Joseph County Clerk Lindsay Oswald said the next step involves a process to determine sufficiency of the petition papers. If sufficiency is determined, Oswald will then have to verify that the signatures are of registered voters who …

Michigan reported more than 20,000 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, an increase from more than 19,600 the week before of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 107 cases and no deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 109 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 14,536 …

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton announced a substantial grant on Tuesday to benefit Glen Oaks Community College. Upton said the $900,000 grant will implement a safe, effective and cost-efficient distance-learning model for Glen Oaks’ students, with an emphasis on high-school dual-enrolled students. The grant project features the installation of videoconferencing technology to allow instructors to broadcast synchronous live instruction from their …

After several hours of preliminary examination testimony Thursday in the open murder case against Michael Lafler, St. Joseph County prosecutor David Marvin asked Lafler be bound over for trial. Judge Jeff Middleton continued the $1 million bond for Lafler in the death of Chelsea Wallen, 33, during an incident Oct. 15 in her Colon home. Kalamazoo defense attorney Anastase Markou …

Two children were found safe after being taken last week from their Centreville residence. According to Michigan State Police, the girls, 11 and 6 years of age, were reported missing from the yard of their foster parents at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Authorities said the girls were allegedly taken by their biological mother, Samantha Prewitt, who law-enforcement officials said had previously …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has been notified by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy of untreated manure that overflowed from a waste storage structure last week in Branch County’s Algansee Township. EGLE staff members have been on site and have observed manure three to four miles downstream, and at the water inlet of Marble Lake. Residents and …

Members of the Constantine Village Council are expected to move forward with creating special-assessment districts for fire protection, police protection and ambulance services. The move is a result of voter-backed requests sought by the village. The three, separate proposals passed by approximately a 3-to-2 margin. Council members are now expected to conduct a public hearing and discuss setting up the …