News

Over 55,000 more claimants won’t have to pay back unemployment overpayments totaling $431 million from the Michigan unemployment agency during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state announced Wednesday. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has to date waived more than $4.3 billion of overpayments to residents, totaling 400,000 claimants who were improperly awarded pandemic unemployment benefits. Many were worried about having to …

A draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision reverberated in political battleground Michigan, where a near-total abortion ban may take effect again after nearly 50 years and is unlikely to be changed by the Republican-led Legislature. There is increased attention in Michigan on the state courts, where Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Planned Parenthood — …

Congressman Fred Upton is the 2022 Liberty Bell recipient. Issued annually since 1985 by the St. Joseph County Bar Association, the Liberty Bell Award is presented to a non-lawyer, individual or organization within the St. Joseph County community. The recipient is acknowledged for making an outstanding contribution to the community by promoting a better understanding of the Constitution and Bill …

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has notified Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency of a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a backyard flock in Branch County. MDARD and health agency officials are working with the poultry owner. The risk to humans is low, unless direct contact with sick or dead birds has been made. MDARD …

Two new ambulances and a fire truck were the focus of a tour given to city officials last week. Sturgis Director of Public Safety Ryan Banaszak showed off and demonstrated the features of both 2022 ambulances, as well as a refurbished 2005 Deep South tanker fire truck. The ambulances, which sit on a Ford E350 chassis, are imprinted with the …

Two finalists have been named for the job of Colon Community Schools superintendent. The district’s board of education is staging a special meeting next week to interview the pair. Starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the meeting will see the board conduct second-round interviews with Rachel Kowalski and Mike Rasmussen. Kowalski is the former director of teaching and learning at Clintondale …

Sturgis-area resident Daniel Silich was sentenced Monday to between nine and 15 years in prison after pleading no contest to manslaughter with a motor vehicle last year. Silich, 43, was driving a vehicle that struck three children in April 2021 on Ralston Road in Branch County’s Sherwood Township. Landen Risner, 13, died from head injuries after he was airlifted from …

A Sturgis man was injured this week after the motorcycle he was driving was struck by a vehicle in Nottawa Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 5:40 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of Nottawa Road and M-86. Investigators said a pickup driven by a 23-year-old Burr Oak man was stopped on Nottawa Road. He attempted to proceed …

A Michigan woman who was among the oldest living Americans has died at age 114. Irene Dunham died Sunday, son Bruce Dunham told the Lansing State Journal. Her mind was sharp but “her body just finally gave up,” he said Monday. Gerontology Research Group had Dunham listed as the 10th oldest living person in the world and the third oldest in the …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education chose Chad Brady as its permanent superintendent following a second interview Saturday. Board president Jeff Troyer said Brady’s three months as interim superintendent have been good training and allowed Brady the opportunity to handle the duties in a trial capacity. Brady, 44, has served as interim superintendent since Feb. 1. He had been high …