News

State Rep. Steve Carra has helped introduce a plan to allow law-abiding residents to carry a firearm without a permit. House Bills 4863-68 would repeal the requirement that a citizen who legally owns a firearm obtain a permit to carry it. The plan would authorize anyone not otherwise prohibited from carrying a firearm to carry anywhere that open or concealed-carry …

Michigan’s main funds will take in an estimated $3.5 billion more in taxes than previously forecast thanks to increased consumer spending of federal stimulus checks and other coronavirus relief funds, state officials said Friday. The big surplus, spread over this fiscal year and next, will give Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-controlled Legislature additional budget flexibility at a time $6.5 …

The Michigan Supreme Court said it won’t be the next umpire in a dispute over an eye injury at a high school tennis practice. But the 4-3 decision Friday was as close as a ball falling near the white line. Bradley Trecha suffered a permanent eye injury when a ball struck him at practice at Fenton High School in 2016. …

A White Pigeon man was injured this week after the motorcycle he was driving was involved in an accident in Florence Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 4:30 p.m. Monday to Banker Road and Burgener Road in response to a-car-versus-motorcycle incident. The 53-year-old motorcycle driver was traveling north on Burgener Road when he disregarded a stop sign …

The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport conducted an emergency drill starting on Friday (5-21-21). Area police, fire and emergency agencies converged on the airport to practice procedures necessary in the event of an actual emergency. It was part of a drill to support the requirements to exercise the Airport Emergency Plan every three years, according to Anton Bjorkman, assistant director of …

Members of the Three Rivers City Commission approved a pair of ordinances to allow recreational marijuana facilities. Two ordinances approved Tuesday will allow recreational marijuana establishments as special-exception uses. Meanwhile, the second detailed how and where they are able to locate within the city. Municipal officials said it’s likely applications for permits by November. In addition, stipulations will require that …

Michigan will fully lift outdoor capacity limits on June 1 and, starting July 1, end indoor gathering caps that were put in place to curb COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday in a major loosening of economic restrictions. The state has limited occupancy in restaurants and other venues since March 2020, when the coronavirus hit. The announcement, which includes raising …

A St. Joseph County steering committee, formed to identify the fate of nearly $12 million in federal funds, held its first meeting this week. Though specifics of the meeting weren’t stated, St. Joseph County Administrator Teresa Doehring told commissioners Tuesday that the gathering was a good starting point. It took place earlier in the day Tuesday. The parties involved were …

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has been awarded $1 million from Kalamazoo River Natural Resources Damages Assessment settlement funds to purchase a 140-acre property in Allegan County. The property, the Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve, is located just outside downtown Allegan and along the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. Conservancy officials said the heart of the property features 100 upland acres of mostly …

A number of minor details were taken care of at Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. First, commissioners approved the $8,900 purchase of a mobile/video recording system for animal control officer Greg Musser and his vehicle. Commissioners also approved an exception to the hiring freeze, granting undersheriff Jason Bingaman’s request for a typist/clerk. The position pays about $57,000 …