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State Rep. Steve Carra announced he is drafting legislation to allow schools to maintain lockboxes for teachers to secure personal weapons in case of an attack. Carra said his plan would allow faculty and staff – for the purpose of protecting students and others from imminent and malicious harm – to store lawfully owned firearms or tasers in a secure …

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at a Michigan high school. Authorities on Wednesday revealed that his parents were summoned just a few hours before the bloodshed. No motive was offered by Oakland County authorities, a day after violence at Oxford High School. But sheriff’s …

An allegation of financial misconduct leveled at Colon Community Schools Superintendent Penny Brockway will be investigated by Thrun Law Firm of Grand Rapids. The matter was approved Monday by the district’s board of education during a special meeting. According to the motion, the district will also contact the Michigan Department of Education Title and Grant Funding office as part of …

St. Joseph County was one of 16 counties in the state to receive funding through Recreational Passport grants. In all, nearly $2 million was awarded through the 11-year-old program. Specifically, the $150,000 grant was allocated to the city of Sturgis for development of its long-planned splash pad. The amount was the most available and was given to seven other entities.

The River Country Recreation Authority has announced the completion of the Meyer Broadway Park Trail, connecting Three Rivers HealthTRAC with Meyer Broadway County Park. An opening celebration will be held in Spring 2022, but the trail is open for use. The trail is the culmination of years of effort that ultimately led to the formation of an authority, which required a …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration said Tuesday it wants lawmakers to quickly allocate $300 million in federal pandemic rescue funding to support COVID-19 testing at schools amid a fourth surge of infections in Michigan. The money was included in the relief law approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in March. It is set to expire next summer and is part …

The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging has received nearly $6,000 from Area Agency on Aging as part of a grant supporting a program called “No Wrong Door System” It is a technology grant for COA members to use a variety of devices in its Sturgis and Three Rivers centers to help combat social isolation, bring virtual access to people seeking supports and services, and develop innovative services. Agency director Pam Riley …

A Branch County man was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for his role in the sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl. Peter Casey, 30, was sentenced recently, along with 37-year-old Shannon Moore of Kalamazoo. Casey was sentenced on six different offenses. The case began in March 2019 when the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children followed …

Two St. Joseph County farmers are participating this week in state-level, leadership-development programs sponsored by Michigan Farm Bureau. It provides “Young Farmer” members, ages 18-35, with several competitive opportunities to hone their talents and measure themselves against peers from across the state. Riley Brazo and Marcia Cripps, both of Sturgis, will represent the organization’s five-county southwestern region in the final …

Michigan’s number of hospitalized adults with confirmed COVID-19 cases reached a new pandemic high Monday, nearing 4,200 as the state continued to confront surging infections. The total of 4,185 cases surpassed the previous record of 4,158, which was set seven months ago when fewer residents were vaccinated. More than one-fifth of COVID patients in Michigan hospitals were in intensive care. …