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Officials say Michigan deaths from the coronavirus rose 16% in the largest daily jump since the pandemic hit the state. The state reported 118 additional deaths related to the respiratory disease caused by the virus, raising the total to 845. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 10% to nearly 19,000. Gov Gretchen Whitmer says “it’s another tough 24 hours” …

If you’re a census slacker and haven’t yet filled out the form for the 2020 head count, the federal government is trying another way to get in touch with you. Starting Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau is mailing out millions of paper forms to homes whose residents haven’t yet answered the once-a-decade questionnaire. About a month into the start of …

The fate of the 2020 community festival season is unclear at the moment, but all eyes are on Three Rivers and Sturgis to see what direction organizers of their respective celebrations take. The two earliest festivals in St. Joseph County, the Three Rivers Water Festival and Sturgis Fest, are the only June events of the eight community celebrations. Cathi Garn …

St. Joe County Resources is tracking by town the percentages of St Joseph County households that have completed the 2020 U.S. Census. Agency officials said progress is being made and would like to remind the public that every 100 people missed in the Census is $2 million dollars that does not come back to local communities in federal funding. From …

A recycling program that required more than a year to develop at Westside Landfill in Fabius Township is on hold for the time being. Eric Shafer, district manager for Waste Management of Michigan, said offering a weekly electronics recycling event was a goal he had in mind for years and was finally able to implement last month. Then, out of …

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature has lengthened Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus emergency declaration by 23 days, through April, rather than adopt a 70-day extension she sought into mid-June. Republicans say they had to vote Tuesday to keep Whitmer’s emergency declaration from expiring. But Democrats say it would not have lapsed because she issued a declaration last week, meaning legislators did …

Officials say Michigan deaths from the coronavirus rose 16% in the largest daily jump since the pandemic hit the state. The state reported 118 additional deaths related to the respiratory disease caused by the virus, raising the total to 845. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 10% to nearly 19,000. Gov Gretchen Whitmer says “it’s another tough 24 hours” …

Michigan Department of Transportation has suspended work on the U.S. 131 redevelopment project in Three Rivers as a precaution against COVID-19. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa said crews will be on hiatus this week and next before resuming April 20. That return date, however, is subject to conditions at that time, Schirripa added. In the meantime, northbound and southbound U.S. 131 will …

A vehicle was stolen from the St. Joseph County Courthouse parking lot last month. Sheriff’s deputies were notified shortly after 5 p.m. March 20 that a dark blue, 2017 GMC Terrain SLT with a temporary Indiana plate was stolen. Through court security camera footage, it was established that the vehicle was taken from a parking lot south of the courthouse. …

Nearly 800,000 people have filed for unemployment benefits in Michigan since mid-March. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday detailed the stunning impact of the coronavirus on the state’s economy. Only businesses deemed essential remain open and Whitmer says her stay-at-home order will be extended in the coming days. She says more people have applied for unemployment aid in the last two …