News

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency reports that the number of coronavirus-positive cases in the tri-county jurisdiction as of 3 p.m. Monday was 40 in St. Joseph County, 131 in Hillsdale County and 66 cases in Branch County. The figures represent two additional cases in St. Joseph County compared to the previous 24 hours and a difference of one fewer …

Michigan hospitals and physicians have “broad discretion” to decide whether to continue delaying procedures during the pandemic, the state said in new guidance issued in the face of pressure to let providers do more as the curve of coronavirus cases flattens. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive and chief deputy health director, announced the memo Monday, a day after sending …

St. Joseph County government will begin the week with nearly 70 employees furloughed from their jobs. During a special meeting Friday, St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved letters of understanding with the various unions to which impacted employees belong. With projected 2020 revenue expected to fall way short of what was budgeted for the 12-month fiscal year, commissioners agreed …

Here’s the latest update from Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the reconstruction of U.S. 131 in Three Rivers. Stage 5 traffic pattern remains in place, meaning all traffic will use the southbound lane of U.S. 131. Meanwhile, some utility-relocation work will continue this week throughout the length of the construction zone. Also, traffic on Michigan Avenue is one-way for westbound …

The coronavirus has claimed another community festival: Centreville’s Covered Bridge Days. Members of the Covered Bridge Days Committee agreed Thursday to cancel the 2020 festival. Chair Vicki Allen said all pros and cons were weighed and in the end, committee members agreed they couldn’t take the risk of keeping the two-day festival on the calendar. Covered Bridge Days was to …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that Michigan’s stay-at-home order remains in effect through May 15 despite Republicans’ refusal to extend her underlying coronavirus emergency declaration, as she amended it to allow construction, real estate and more outdoor work to resume in person next week. The Democratic governor, who may be sued by the GOP-led Legislature, addressed reporters the same day …

A 16-year-old boy has died after going into cardiac arrest while being restrained by staff at a southwestern Michigan facility for teens with behavioral problems. The Kalamazoo Public Safety office says the teen died Friday at a hospital. Officers found him unresponsive Wednesday afternoon at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo. Police say he was taken to a hospital and investigators later …

The Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted Thursday to move the 2020 Three Rivers Water Festival to July. Chamber director Christy Trammell said the difficult decision was made out of concern that the original dates, June 18-20, were simply too close to the current COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the annual community celebration will be July …

Glen Oaks Community College plans to award nearly $300,000 in emergency grants to assist eligible students whose lives and education have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. The funding is part of the overall $6 billion package from the U.S. Department of Education through the Higher Education Emergency Relief fund, and authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security …

The Three Rivers Area Community Foundation is launching a $20 for $20 Gift Card Promotion. When a $20 gift card is purchased through the foundation at the web site threeriversfoundation.com, the purchaser will receive an additional $20 gift card. The goal is to help and support small businesses. The donation will cover the purchase of 250 gift cards putting up …