News

A union official with International Automotive Components in Mendon said he is optimistic the Mendon plant will be in the running to potentially land a new launch in 2020. Frank “Jimmy” Hines, bargaining chairman of UAW Local 503, said workers have been cleaning and reorganizing, and freeing up floor space in hopes of securing a contract for a new General …

A house fire in White Pigeon early today claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and a young boy. Seven people were injured in the blaze at the home located in the 100-block of West Chicago Road. The fire was reported around 3:30 this morning. A 15-year-old boy was able to get out of the home and call 911. A …

A community meeting Monday at Eastwood Elementary School in Sturgis addressed the impact of a restructuring plan at Sturgis Hospital. Facilitated by State Rep. Aaron Miller, the meeting drew a few hundred people and featured a question-and-answer session with Rob LaBarge, president and CEO. Planned changes at the hospital were announced last week and included the closing of obstetric services …

St. Joseph County will begin the process of searching for a new finance director, as Ryan Post announced he has accepted another job. Post, who joined the county in July 2017, has accepted the role of Van Buren County’s finance director/deputy county administrator. Post lives less than 15 minutes from the Van Buren County Courthouse and said a shorter drive …

One person sustained serious injuries late Friday in a two-vehicle crash in Sherman Township. St. Joseph County sheriff ‘s deputies said a vehicle driven by Natalie Whiteman, 19, of Shipshewana, was westbound on Banker Road when she failed to stop at the intersection of Shimmel Road. Her car was struck by an SUV driven by Carmita Hunter, 47, of Centreville. …

American Airlines says closed-circuit television footage at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport shows a 67-year-old woman in a wheelchair wasn’t left alone nearly as long as her family claims. American released a timeline that shows Olimpia Warsaw was alone 1 ¼ hours after her flight was canceled late Friday — during which time Warsaw twice used a walker to go outside …

A Cracker Barrel restaurant in southwestern Michigan will not reopen after a problem with salmonella. The Kalamazoo County health department says it was told about the closing last week. The agency says private tests revealed significant contamination at the Kalamazoo-area restaurant. Results from state tests are expected this week. The restaurant had reopened after closing in June due to health-code …

American Airlines is investigating how a 67-year-old woman in a wheelchair was left alone overnight at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport when her flight was canceled. The incident, first reported by CBS 2 in Chicago , started Friday night when Olimpia Warsaw’s flight from Chicago to Detroit was canceled and a porter was assigned to take care of her. Her son, …

A significant moment in the redevelopment of the former Three Rivers Inn took place Monday afternoon. The St. Joseph County Commission on Aging is oversaw a ceremonial groundbreaking at the West Broadway Street site. Renamed the Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence, the building will be the new headquarters for the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging’s Three Rivers site, a …

More than 80 employees at the International Automotive Components plant in Mendon are losing their jobs. The news came Friday, according to WWMT. Julie Noyes, IAC communications director, said the company eliminated the jobs because of a General Motors program that is being phased out. She added in a statement that the company does not have replacement business to fill …