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A teenager who was 13 when accused of killing another youth in northern Indiana was sentenced Thursday to 63 years in prison. Alphonso James III, now 16, was convicted of murder in the death of 18-year-old Jaren Minies in Elkhart on Sept. 12, 2018. Minies was shot multiple times during a dispute over a gun, money and a video game system. He …

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is asking for patience as scheduling for COVID-19 vaccine appointments become available to category 1B and 65-to-74 year olds. COVID-19 vaccine supplies remain limited. As a result, the Coldwater-based agency said it is following prioritization guidelines issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which gives priority to people with greater risk. Any …

State Rep. Steve Carra was sworn in Wednesday for his first term as a Michigan state representative. Carra’s swearing-in was conducted by House Clerk Gary Randall. The 101st Michigan Legislature began session following the ceremony. A Three Rivers resident, Carra said he takes an oath to uphold and defend the United States and Michigan constitutions and to represent the people …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday she hopes to let restaurants reopen for indoor dining on Feb. 1, as her health department extended a two-month ban by an additional two weeks while letting non-contact sports resume this weekend. The plan is to allow dining with mitigation measures, capacity limits and a curfew. Organized non-contact sports and group exercise classes can start …

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the attempted breaking and entering of a storage unit. The incident occurred at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 57000 Block of North Main Street in Three Rivers. The suspects attempted to enter a storage unit and left in an unknown direction in an older model, light blue Jeep Cherokee Sport.

State Rep. Steve Carra is calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to allow Michigan restaurants to resume indoor dining. Whitmer’s administration has banned indoor dining through Jan. 15. Carra said it’s imperative the governor not further extend the restriction. He said business owners should be allowed to make common-sense decisions best for their workers, customers and business. Carra noted thousands of …

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has announced it met and exceeded its 2020 year-end fundraising goal. Donations surpassed the $40,000 goal, which triggered a matching challenge issued by former SWMLC board chair Dave Coleman. The goal, in fact, was exceeded by 44 percent. SWMLC’s Miko Dargitz said the agency last year was unable to hold regular events or workdays, but volunteers …

An arrest has been made for a Jackson resident who was charged with assault with intent to commit murder and felony firearm. State police said the investigation is the result of a shooting incident that occurred Jan. 5 in Calhoun County’s Albion Township. The investigation started when a witness discovered an unresponsive subject lying on the shoulder of D Drive …

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, Tuesday night issued the following statement on impeachment: “Today the President characterized his inflammatory rhetoric at last Wednesday’s rally as “totally appropriate,” and he expressed no regrets for last week’s violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. This sends exactly the wrong signal to those of us who support the very core of our democratic …

Michigan has banned the open carry of guns in the state Capitol a week after an armed mob rioted in the U.S. Capitol and following a protest in the statehouse last year. Moves to ban weapons at the statehouse have been pushed since April, when protesters opposed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions, some armed with long rifles and other …