News

Here’s a reminder that a local entity is staging a collection of personal-hygiene products to benefit St. Joseph County’s homeless population. The drive – which concludes Nov. 30 – is being overseen by the St. Joseph County Housing Task Force to help stock hygiene closets at UCAP in Three Rivers, Building Hope Free Store in Centreville and Friday Friendship Meal …

Sturgis Kiwanis recently honored the Sturgis High School Key Club’s November students of the month. Lydia Boland, a senior, is the Key Club secretary. Meanwhile, Alexis Camacho Cardenas, a junior, is in his second year in the club. The students were invited to a recent Kiwanis luncheon, where they were given a certificate in recognition of their service to Key …

An Amtrak train heading to Chicago with 200 passengers derailed after striking an unoccupied vehicle and a tow truck in southwestern Michigan, authorities said Friday. “The engineer and approximately 10 passengers received non-life threatening injuries and were treated by local ambulance services,” the Berrien County sheriff’s office said. The train derailed but remained upright. The crash happened Thursday evening near …

Sturgis Housing Commission recently received a grant through the Affordable Connectivity Program. The grant offers low-income and struggling households an opportunity to secure internet access. Offered through the federal government, the grant offers $30 a month discount toward broadband service and a one-time discount of $100 toward a device to use on the internet. A number of qualifiers are in …

A special land-use request and site-plan review for a proposed apartment development in Sturgis were approved Tuesday by the city’s planning commission. Spire Development is proposing to develop St. Joseph Street Lofts, a high-density apartment complex at 303 St. Joseph St. – the former Paramount Furniture Co. site. The property, vacant since 1996, is owned by the city’s economic development …

State Rep. Steve Carra said he plans to introduce a bill early next year to prohibit legislators from signing non-disclosure agreements. Recent reporting revealed nearly one in five Michigan lawmakers have signed so-called secrecy pacts that compel a legislator’s silence regarding their knowledge of taxpayer-funded projects, he said. Carra said while creating a business-friendly environment in Michigan is a noble …

United Auto Workers union members have voted to approve a new contract with General Motors, making the company the first Detroit automaker to get a ratified deal that could end a contentious labor dispute and a series of punishing strikes. A vote-tracking spreadsheet on the union’s website shows that with all local union offices reporting, the contract passed by just over …

It appears St. Joseph County Animal Control will be getting a new service vehicle. During their executive committee meeting Tuesday, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners fielded a request from Undersheriff Jason Bingaman, who explained the agency’s previous vehicle was rear-ended and totaled back in September. The collision involved animal control’s 2016 Chevy Tahoe. He said the county’s insurance company …

Frank Perez was selected as Sturgis mayor this week. The appointment was confirmed Monday following a vote by the Sturgis City Commission. Incumbent mayor Jeff Mullins, who served for two years, received three votes during the nomination process. Aaron Miller, the sitting vice mayor, was returned to his position in a 5-4 vote. After Perez was affirmed as mayor, he …

Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a backyard flock from Cass County. This is the first case of HPAI in Cass County since the disease was first detected in the state in 2022 and the first confirmed case in Michigan since March 2023. Agency officials said as the fall migration …