News

A judge has sentenced a northern Indiana man to the maximum 130 years in prison for the fatal shootings of two Michigan brothers. Twenty-eight-year-old James Ross Jr. of Goshen was sentenced on two counts of murder Thursday after a jury convicted him last month. Ross was charged with killing 29-year-old Antonio McClain and 25-year-old Anthony McClain of Saginaw, Michigan, in …

Applications for seven additional medical marijuana facilities were approved Monday by the Constantine Village Council. Permits were approved for: JTD Distribution, a grow facility on Industrial Drive; MBWII, a provisioning center at 135 S. Washington St.; Constantine Products, a grow-and-processing facility at 675 Centreville Road; Constantine Products, a provisioning center at 160 N. Washington St.; and Pure Provisioning, a grow …

A Mendon man has been appointed to a county committee. During Tuesday’s 12-minute meeting, St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners agreed to appoint Mendon resident Ivin Riddle to the Department of Health and Human Services Board. He was recommended to the post by Kelly Hostetler, St. Joseph County United Way’s executive director. Commissioners on Tuesday also adopted the county treasurer’s …

The Michigan Primary Care Association has awarded Sen. John Proos its “Champion for the Medically Underserved” award. The annual award recognizes state and local leaders for their work in promoting and protecting affordable, quality health care for Michigan’s medically underserved population. Proos said he is proud a bipartisan criminal-justice reform that enacted in 2017 that focuses on meaningful rehabilitation. As …

Officials from the National Weather Service said the St. Joseph River in Three Rivers is expected to fall below the 7-foot flood stage on Sunday. As of Thursday at 8pm, the river was at 7.6 feet and falling.  

Attorney General Bill Schuette says tips about safety threats in Michigan schools set a record in February with 670 reports. Schuette says there were 119 tips about planned school attacks last month, compared to 146 in all of 2017. Suicide threats were the most-reported tip at 127. It’s the first update on OK2SAY since the Parkland, Florida, school shooting on …

A split House on Wednesday voted to preemptively bar municipalities from regulating what Michigan employers can or cannot ask during job interviews, sparking criticism from Democrats who said such ordinances can help close the wage gap between men and women. The Republican-sponsored bill, which won Senate approval previously, will go to Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday for his expected signature. …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners has approved an agreement with the city of Sturgis regarding a disc golf course. The contract, endorsed by commissioners Tuesday, centers on a plan to develop an 18-hole disc golf course at Cade Lake County Park in Fawn River Township. The city of Sturgis is working with the county and financially supporting the recreational …

The Exchange Club of Sturgis presented its 75th Book of Golden Deeds Award to Frank Iannarelli during a recent meeting at Sturges-Young Auditorium. The award is the highest recognition given by the Exchange Club. Iannarelli, who works at Locey CPA, is president of Sturgis Lion’s Club, advisor to the Sturgis High School Leo Club, Sherman Township clerk, president of Omena …

The Cass County sheriff’s department is continuing to investigate a traffic accident that occurred over the weekend. Authorities said Jared Green, 34, of Dowagiac, was a passenger in a vehicle that went off the road and struck a tree Saturday evening. Green was not wearing a seatbelt; a second passenger in the vehicle was uninjured. Investigators said the driver of …