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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that she will not cede her authority to issue certain COVID-19 restrictions, calling Republicans’ attempt to hold back federal pandemic relief funding unless she changes course “cruel and reckless.” The Democratic governor urged GOP lawmakers to “shift their perspective to looking forward” and stop “digging in” on their continued opposition to state health department orders …

Police said they solved the murder of a Battle Creek woman more than 30 years later, after a newly discovered blood sample connected a man to the fatal stabbing. But no charges will be filed because Roger Plato was killed in 1988, three days before Gayle Barrus’ body was found by hunters in Calhoun County, prosecutor David Gilbert said. Nonetheless, …

Former St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was sentenced to one year of probation and other conditions Thursday. Appearing via Zoom before Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Vincent Westra, the 41-year-old McDonough learned his fate after pleading guilty to the charge of operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired. In exchange for McDonough’s guilty plea, Westra agreed to drop two …

Financial support for sheriff’s deputies to enhance patrol of a major route in St. Joseph County is expected to be approved next week. During their executive committee meeting Wednesday, commissioners heard a report from board chairman Dennis Allen. Allen shared that he and commissioner Jared Hoffmaster met Tuesday with members of a traffic-safety committee comprised of Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, Undersheriff …

St. Joseph County officials are expected to debate whether to back a petition that supports high school athletes and their right to play winter sports. With the exception of bowling and swimming, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has imposed a moratorium on winter sports until Feb. 21. Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster broached the subject during the county commission’s executive committee meeting Wednesday. He …

Highland Ventures LTD will begin to liquidate and close its 250 remaining Family Video locations throughout the U. S. by mid-February. The last remaining locations in St. Joseph County already had closed. The Sturgis and Three Rivers Family Video stores shuttered almost six months ago. In November, as Sturgis and Three Rivers closed its stores, Family Video launched a #savethevideostore …

St. Joseph County commissioners are poised to modify one of their meeting schedules beginning in February. The matter was raised at their executive committee meeting Wednesday. Commissioner Jared Hoffmaster, who joined the five-member board earlier this month, advised commissioners he has a work-related conflict with the second of the commission’s two monthly executive committee meetings. Executive committee meetings are at …

Midwest Energy & Communications has announced it is now accepting applications for its 2021 scholarship program. High school seniors whose families receive monthly service from MEC at their primary residence are invited to apply for one of the four $1,000 college scholarships. Scholarship applications must be submitted by March 15, and awards will be announced in April. Selection for the …

Students and families looking for help paying for college are encouraged to register for a Virtual College Financial Aid Night, provided by Treasury’s MI Student Aid team. Sessions will be available 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of February. Participants will be able to gather information on financial-aid topics such as FAFSA application information, federal and …

Graduating high school seniors and current college students from St. Joseph County are now able to access Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s online scholarship application. With one online application, students may access more than 45 scholarship opportunities. The foundation awarded more than $100,000 in college scholarships last year and has provided more than $1 million in local awards since the start …