News

New coronavirus cases leaped in Michigan in the week ending Sunday, rising 23 percent, as 34,552 cases were reported. The previous week had 28,080 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. St. Joseph County reported 233 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 229 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it …

After voting in favor of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill on Friday, Republican Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan received a threatening voicemail in which the caller repeatedly called him a “traitor” and said he hopes the congressman, his family and staff all die. The voicemail, provided by Upton’s office, was played during an appearance by the Michigan Republican on CNN’s “AC360” and is …

A Michigan high school runner who finished second in a state championship race was disqualified for expressing four-letter words of joy as he crossed the finish line. Garrett Winter, a senior at Parchment High School, ran the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 27 seconds, a personal best. But officials said his profanities Saturday at the end of the Division 2 …

Michigan Department of Transportation officials said work to rebuild 2.7 miles of eastbound I-94 between Lovers Lane and Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo County has been delayed by a couple months, pushing back the reopening date for the eastbound lanes. The two-year, $87 million project still is on track for completion in mid-November 2022, but the original plan to reopen the …

The village of Constantine is offering a community event to help celebrate the holiday season. The “Adopt-A-Pole” program calls for decorating light poles on South Washington Street, as well as East and West Water streets. Pole adoption is free and the opportunity is ideal for businesses, schools, clubs, service clubs, church groups and families, event organizers said. Decorating begins Nov. …

Centreville Public Schools announced its elementary school will revert to virtual learning starting today and lasting through Monday. An exception is the district’s three kindergarten classes, which will return today after being taught remotely over the past week. Meanwhile, the district’s junior and senior high will continue to meet for face-to-face instruction. District officials said the measure is due to …

A Coldwater man was injured after the vehicle he was driving was struck by a car that failed to obey a stop sign in Branch County’s Coldwater Township. Michigan State Police troopers responded around 9 p.m. Nov. 2 to a two-vehicle, personal-injury crash at Hodunk Road near Barnhart Road. Investigators said Coldwater resident Armando Ortiz, 24, was driving south on …

Students at Central Elementary School in White Pigeon will be taught virtually this week. The district announced the plan Thursday and it went into effect Friday. The measure is being employed due to a number of positive cases of COVID-19 and contact tracing, resulting in a staff shortage. The school will return to in-person learning Nov. 15. Parent-teacher conferences scheduled …

A “round up” program approved by Sturgis municipal officials in May is underway. Its goal is to help build charitable funds. The plan involves rounding up a customer’s utility bill and is a collaboration between the city and Sturgis Area Community Foundation. City manager Mike Hughes, and Lindsay Richardson, executive director of Sturgis Area Community Foundation, said city residents have …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency will start offering Pfizer vaccine to children 5-11 years of age beginning Tuesday. The agency’s scheduling website is prepared to accept pediatric-dose appointments. Tuesday’s clinic will be at the Dearth Center in Coldwater, followed by Nov. 13 at Three Rivers Middle School. Agency officials said the results seen in the 5-11-year-old study group demonstrated …