News

After a weather-related delay, aerial spraying is planned in four Michigan counties to combat a rare mosquito-borne virus. The state health department says areas in Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties are first on the list Monday night (September 30th). Spraying in 10 other counties hasn’t been scheduled yet. It’s the first aerial treatments in Michigan since 1980. …

A judge has dismissed a murder charge against a 9-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his mother in their Fawn River Township home earlier this year. St. Joseph County Family Division Judge Dave Tomlinson made the ruling Friday. Under state law, the boy was presumed incompetent for trial because he’s not yet 10 years old. WOOD-TV reports the third-grader hugged …

The August unemployment rate in St. Joseph County was 2.1 percent lower than the previous month. The monthly labor-market analysis by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget showed the county’s 4.5 percent August unemployment rate marked a decrease from July’s 6.6 percent. St. Joseph County was slightly above the state unemployment average, which was 4.2 percent in August. …

Here’s the weekly update from Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the U.S. 131 reconstruction project in Three Rivers. Two-way traffic continues to follow northbound 131 at the M-60 intersection toward the south end of the project. Meanwhile, two-way traffic on northbound 131 remains in place at the Hoffman Road/Rocky River bridge area. Also, utility relocation work remains ongoing throughout the …

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and 12 local health departments will be conducting aerial spraying in 14 counties to combat mosquito-borne disease. This action is due to the large geographic distribution and number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases in humans and/or animals, coupled with warm weather projections. Spraying is scheduled to take place starting Sunday, September …

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says there will be no partial government shutdown next week now that the entire state budget is on her desk. The administration emailed all 48,000 state employees Friday afternoon, three days before the deadline to enact the spending plans. There will be no temporary layoffs starting on Tuesday. Department directors told workers that Whitmer “will be …

Tire rims and a tire with rim were stolen from a shed in Fabius Township this week. State police said the incident took place at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 50000 block of Stoldt Road. Two suspects driving a red pickup with a white car-hauler dolly on the back were confronted by the property owner. The suspects fled from the …

Three Rivers Elks Lodge held its 15th annual “Captains Cruise” last month in an effort to raise money for scholarships. About 70 motorcyclists took part in the 114-mile ride. Before the ride, this year’s recipients were introduced. Alexandria Deel, who now attends Ball State for pre-med and psychology, received $1,750; Erin Brady, an Olivet College freshman studying actuarial science, received $900; …

Two Mexican gray wolf pups at a Michigan zoo have died of a rare mosquito-borne virus as health officials work to curb the spread of the virus in people and animals. Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek says results this week confirm the pups that died in early September were killed by Eastern equine encephalitis. Separately, in Kent County, a …

A southwestern Michigan police chief has died after crashing his vehicle into a tree. Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Sgt. Craig Schmaltz says 59-year-old Nashville Police Chief Chris Allen Koster died in the crash about 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Richland Township. Investigators say Koster’s vehicle went off a road and struck a tree. No other passengers were in Koster’s vehicle at the …