News

Michigan’s seasonally-adjusted jobless rate declined by two-tenths of a percent in September to 8.5 percent, according to data released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. The number of employed and unemployed lowered in September, as the state workforce decreased by 23,000 over the month. The U.S. jobless rate fell by half a percentage point between August and …

St. Joseph County health officials have reported an overall rise in COVID-19 cases over the past three weeks, including 31 on Monday, 19 on Tuesday and 12 on Wednesday last week. Branch-Hillsdale St. Joseph County Health Agency confirmed the increase in identified cases that had its first spike trend Sept. 24. On that day, 20 new cases were reported, the …

Burr Oak village officials have agreed to look into pending complaints against an unnamed village officer. The virtual meeting, held at the Burr Oak school complex Wednesday, opened in public session then entered into closed session to discuss the matter, centering on alleged misuse of village funds and an accompanying investigation. Officials said Thursday that the council, after returning to …

White Pigeon Junior/ Senior High School closed Wednesday and is scheduled to remain shut through next week. District officials said two additional people in the building tested positive for COVID-19. Both were last in the building Oct. 5. After conferring with the local health agency, superintendent Jon Keyer (rhymes with “higher”) and associate superintendent Carrie Erlandson said the decision was …

Glen Oaks Community College Foundation is accepting scholarship applications from new and returning Glen Oaks students for the 2021-22 academic year. Through efforts of the foundation, endowed scholarships and charitable cash gifts provide students with financial assistance to pursue their continuing education. The foundation reported that for the current academic year, 66 students received more than $64,000 in scholarships. A …

Police are seeking help from the community to identify a vehicle whose occupants may have been part of a shooting incident Wednesday in Sturgis. Officers were called to the area of Williams and Jefferson streets around 9:40 a.m. following a report of shots fired. Responding officers learned that multiple shots had been fired from a vehicle and aimed toward a …

A Galesburg motorcyclist was arrested this week after attempting to elude sheriff’s deputies through an area in Lockport and Fabius townships. Authorities attempted to stop the 32-year-old driver around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. 131 near Wilbur Road after observing a traffic violation. Deputies pursued the driver until his motorcycle experienced mechanical issues and came to a stop on U.S. …

State Rep. Aaron Miller and the Michigan House approved several bipartisan measures to continue protecting and helping Michigan families during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller said the proposals would assist workers and job providers, and protect nursing home residents in the wake of the recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling that struck down the governor’s coronavirus-related executive orders. Senate …

Michigan State Police troopers responded to an accidental shooting of a 3-year-old Tuesday evening in Branch County’s California Township. Investigators were called around 6 p.m. to a residence in the 800 block of South Ray Quincy Road. Several children, all under the age of 5, located a loaded pistol in a bedroom while the adults were in another part of …

A Sturgis man died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday in Fawn River Township. Michigan State Police troopers were called at 12:47 p.m. to U.S. 12, near Carls Road, in response to an accident involving injuries. A 2003 Jeep Liberty, driven by a 43-year-old Sturgis man, was westbound on U.S. 12 when a 2001 Ford F-150 crossed the centerline and struck …