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Michigan’s top election official says to expect later-than-typical results from next week’s presidential primary because of a surge of absentee ballots and other factors. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Thursday that election is the first major statewide contest since voters in 2018 authorized no-reason absentee voting and same-day voter registration. Absentee ballot requests are up 80% compared to the …

Art Van Furniture will close all company-owned stores in at least five states as the retailer heads toward liquidation after more than 60 years in business. Liquidation sales are expected to start Friday. Art Van spokeswoman Diane Charles says in a statement Thursday that the “company’s brands and operating performance have been hit hard by a challenging retail environment.” Archie …

Firefighters from three departments responded Wednesday to a chimney fire that spread to the attic of a home in Constantine Township. The incident occurred shortly before noon in the 60000 block of Shaffer Road. Mike Haydon, Constantine fire chief, said the blaze was quickly contained and no one was hurt. Fabius-Park Township and Three Rivers City fire departments assisted at …

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating an incident related to an act of vandalism this week in Nottawa Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called to the 24000 block of M-86, where leg posts to two political signs were cut and the signs fell over. The signs were four-by-eight feet in size. Investigators said it appears the incident occurred early Monday …

Area health officers, including Rebecca Burns of Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, are planning for a unified effort to address the growing coronavirus threat. This comes as federal processes increase to follow potential cases, including one in Hillsdale County. Kali Nichols, director of personal health and disease prevention, told the health board last week her office was notified Feb. 8 …

Contaminants above the acceptable health limit were detected in one of a dozen wells tested near White Pigeon Paper Company, officials from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced last week. Paul Andriaachi, environmental health director for the agency, said the test was one of a dozen conducted two weeks ago after discovery of PFAS at the site. Andriaachi said …

It’s not too late: Voters who used an absentee ballot for Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary election can change their preference and vote again. At least eight Democratic candidates have dropped out of the race since Michigan absentee ballots were printed, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Pete Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, and businessmen Tom Steyer …

The parent company of the Three Rivers 6 movie theater has filed for bankruptcy, according to MLive. Goodrich Quality Theaters, which has locations in five states, filed for bankruptcy last week in federal court in Grand Rapids. Kentwood-based Goodrich has estimated liabilities between $10 million and $50 million, according to the MLive report. Company officials indicated some locations might be …

This year’s St. Joseph County “Walk for Warmth” collected more than $12,000. Saturday’s annual one-mile walk was staged in Three Rivers to help low-income, elderly and disabled residents retain home heating throughout the winter. Charles Asher, chief operating officer of Community Action, told volunteers who gathered at Carol Shippy Center, that St. Joseph County is always dependable for raising funds. …

A 40-year-old Ypsilanti man was arrested Thursday after leading police on a chase, then hiding under a mobile home. Just before 5:30 p.m., White Pigeon police attempted to stop a vehicle for a registration violation. The driver fled at a high speed, initiating the pursuit. The man eventually drove into a mobile home park on U.S. 131, and police followed. …