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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prevailed Thursday in a high-stakes challenge by Republican lawmakers who sued over her authority to declare emergencies and order sweeping restrictions during the coronavirus outbreak. A 1945 law cited by Whitmer, a Democrat, is not limited to regional emergencies and can have no end date, said Judge Cynthia Stephens of the Court of Claims. The opinion …

A 21-year-old man faces a charge of open murder following an incident Thursday in Three Rivers. According to a media release from the Three Rivers Police Department, police were called at 9:43 a.m. to the 300 block of Middle Street. Upon arrival, investigators found a 59-year-old Three Rivers man dead at the scene. Due to the nature of the incident, …

Michigan Department of Transportation has announced work on M-86 in Colon Township will begin next week. According to agency spokesman Nick Schirripa, the work will take place over a stretch of M-86 from Farrand Road east to Kane Road at the Branch County line. The $987,000 project involves resurfacing the 2.2-mile stretch and includes a new concrete curb and gutter, …

Indiana Michigan Power, on behalf of the American Electric Power Foundation, has announced issuance of grants totaling more than $700,000 to help communities in Indiana and Michigan amid the coronavirus pandemic. The funds throughout Indiana and Michigan will be available to local not-for-profits to support basic human needs such as housing assistance, shelter and food for those in need and …

Members of the Constantine Village Council decided to put the proposal of adult-use marijuana before the village’s voters. The board voted 6-to-1 Monday at its virtual council meeting. Council members have been discussing the topic since passage of the 2018 Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, and approved eleven licenses for medical marijuana previously. Each licensee pays an annual …

Sturgis school officials voted unanimously Monday to select James Lamb as the next principal at the Middle School. Lamb currently serves as assistant principal at the high school. He will succeed Chris Gerbers, who recently accepted an administrative position in Indiana, closer to his home. Lamb officially starts Aug. 1. Lamb has been employed at Sturgis Public Schools the past …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday further relaxed stay-at-home restrictions, lifting a ban on nonessential health procedures late next week and letting residents immediately gather socially in small groups before the Memorial Day weekend. Retail businesses can reopen by appointment only, starting Tuesday, as long as there are no more than 10 customers inside at a time. People are required to …

An arraignment for St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, who was cited last week for driving while intoxicated, has been delayed until June. McDonough was to appear in St. Joseph County 3B District Court today (Thursday) but court officials said the case has been assigned to Judge Vincent Westra of Kalamazoo County 8th District Court. The new court date is …

St. Joseph County’s second death related to COVID-19 was confirmed Tuesday by Emergency Management Director Erin Goff. Addressing St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners, Goff said the county also had an increase in its total number of confirmed cases, which stood at 90 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. The figure represented three new cases from the previous day. The new …

Two area high schools plan events Friday to honor their graduating seniors. Colon High School’s 29 seniors are invited to be a part of “Senior Send-Off” at 2 p.m. Friday. The drive-around-town event begins and ends at the high school and will cover most major streets in the village, as well as Elm Street and Frank Avenue. Meanwhile, Centreville High …