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Gyms, movie theaters and other businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic would receive state grants under a $185 million spending bill that won initial legislative approval Thursday. The 96-6 vote in the House came more than a month after the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer enacted $409 million in aid for businesses that lost money — funded with federal discretionary COVID-19 aid. …

A teenager from England was arrested after attempting to blackmail a Branch County girl over an inappropriate photo sent via Snap Chat. Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched Wednesday to a location in Sherwood Township. Authorities said an 11-year-old child accidentally sent an inappropriate photo to another person, claiming to be a 15-year-old female. The suspect then started to attempt …

Glen Oaks Community College is seeking help in selecting individuals for three awards presented annually in the spring. They are: the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Fellows Award, and the E. J. Shaheen Teaching Excellence Award. Recipients are recognized during the college’s commencement ceremonies in the spring. The Distinguished Alumni Award is offered by the Glen Oaks Foundation annually to a …

State police troopers were dispatched shortly after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to eastbound I-94, near mile-marker 92 in response to a jackknifed semi. Eastbound lanes were closed until approximately 9 a.m. before the crash could be cleared from the roadway. Traffic was routed off the highway at the Helmer Road exit. Weather and speed are believed to be a factor, officials …

A semitrailer was left dangling from an Indiana Toll Road overpass for hours Wednesday after it slid off the tollway amid icy, frigid conditions that caused other accidents, state police said. A car traveling in front of the FedEx semitrailer lost its traction and skidded about 9 a.m. Wednesday, prompting the truck’s driver to swerve near Mishawaka, just east of …

Deaths exceeded births in Michigan in 2020, a rare result influenced by COVID-19, statistics show. “We can blame a lot of deaths on COVID,” demographer Kurt Metzger told the Detroit Free Press, “but the fact is the trend of increasing deaths and decreasing births is a problem for Michigan outside of COVID.” Slightly more than 117,000 people died in 2020, while …

Centreville Public Schools Board of Education on Monday named Chad Brady interim superintendent. Brady, 44, will spend the week transitioning from his current role as junior high/high school principal. His term of employment as interim superintendent is Feb. 1 through July 31. Now in his fourth year as a Centreville employee, Brady said afterward he is fortunate to walk into …

An agenda regarding Centreville Public Schools and its permanent superintendent was established Monday. Now that the district has secured junior high/senior high principal Chad Brady as interim superintendent through the end of July, board members are now turning their attention to filling the position permanently. The board has retained the services of Patrick Kreger, a consultant with Michigan Association of …

After three days of a boil-water order, the city of Bronson on Tuesday lifted the advisory. The declaration was made after lab samples came back negative for the presence of bacteria for two consecutive days. City manager Brandon Mersman says the advisory was a precautionary measure because of a drop in pressure in the municipality’s water supply due to equipment …

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman has issued a statement regarding today’s court procedures. Stutesman said administration of St. Joseph County Courts met last week and received input from the Public Health Director for the county. As a result, the decision was made to adjourn the circuit jury trial scheduled for today. However, all other matters will continue …