News

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman on Friday ordered a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for Zachary Patten in the 2017 murder of Shane Richardson. A Portage resident, Patten was found guilty last month of the killing at Richardson’s home in Florence Township. Patten also was sentenced to two years for a felony-firearm charge and five …

A Three Rivers man was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of 30-year-old Lori Norman. Randall Scott Miller, 33, was charged with one count of open murder. Norman was killed March 25 at her home on Fifth Street in Three Rivers. A months-long investigation into Norman’s death led to an arrest warrant for Miller, authorities said. Miller became a …

A 37-year-old Cass County man was shot last week following a dispute in the community of Vandalia. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 10 p.m. Friday to the 62000 block of Cass Avenue in response to a report of a man shot in the abdomen. First aid was immediately administered to Vandalia resident James Hodges Jr. He was …

Authorities say severe weather that moved through northern Indiana spawned a possible tornado in South Bend that damaged buildings and knocked down trees and power lines. The National Weather Service received reports of a possible tornado as part of storms Sunday night, but it didn’t immediately confirm a tornado. No injuries were reported. A building housing the Growing Kids Learning …

Violence has flared again in the Indiana city where Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is mayor. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit says 27-year-old Brandon Williams of Niles, Michigan, died after a shooting at Kelly’s pub in South Bend. Another 10 people were wounded by gunshots in South Bend early Sunday. A statement says that five of the 10 …

A Michigan man already serving life in prison for a woman’s killing has now been given a second life sentence without the chance of parole for the slaying of his ex-wife’s husband. Zachary Patten received the additional punishment Friday. He was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges last month in the July 2017 death of Shane Richardson at a …

Three Rivers Health has selected American Physician Partners (APP) to enhance the already high level of care it provides to the more than 20,000 patients who visit its Emergency Department annually. APP is one of the nation’s leading providers of emergency department management services to community hospitals nationwide, and they have a strong presence throughout Michigan. “In searching for the …

A proposal allowing local recreational authority boards to spend more of their budgets on improving Michigan communities was unanimously approved in a state House vote this week. House Bill 4408 changes audit requirements from annual to once every two years for authority boards that do not levy taxes. Endorsed by State Rep. Aaron Miller, the bill now advances to the …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has received a state grant toward the purchase of lock boxes – used to provide to the community at no charge – as well as educational materials, to ensure marijuana is locked up around kids now that it’s legal in the state. To kick off the Lock It Up campaign, the Coldwater-based agency ordered …

Nottawa Township officials have agreed to cover their share of costs related to improving Londick Road. Township supervisor Dave Peterson said the matter was discussed late into Monday’s meeting, where the township’s financial picture was reviewed in advance of the start of its 2019-20 fiscal year July 1. Peterson said the township will use funds from each of its next …