News

Michigan senators have voted to more quickly phase in a tax break for people who trade in their car for a new one. A 2013 law lets buyers subtract some of the value of their trade-in from the purchase price of a new vehicle for tax purposes. The change is being phased in until 2039. The Republican-controlled Senate unanimously approved …

St. Joseph County commissioners are prepared to take the unprecedented step of offering funds toward the restoration of what is generally considered the worst road in the county. During Wednesday’s executive committee meeting, commissioners agreed to consider a $50,000 allocation toward improving a six-mile stretch of Constantine Road. Commission chairman Allen Balog said the county board has never provided general-fund …

A sanitary-sewer overflow occurred this week in Constantine. The incident took place at 10:50 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of Water Street as a result of critical repairs being conducted on the infrastructure. Village officials said 3,340 gallons of wastewater overflowed from a manhole over the course of the 25-minute event. A contractor was brought in to vacuum and …

State Rep. Aaron Miller this week approved recommendations for the Michigan State Police agency’s 2017-18 budget. The state House endorsed a bill approved by the Michigan State Police Budget Subcommittee, which is chaired by Miller. Included in the plan is the addition of 100 new state police troopers across the state. Miller said there is a need for increased public …

The St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee wishes to advise residents that the annual spring collection of household hazardous waste, electronics, paper, latex and paint takes place in three weeks. Committee officials said they like to give a few weeks’ advance notice so people with items to drop off can begin the process. A few notes about the April 22 …

The Mackinac Bridge’s towers are getting a new paint job in the coming years. The Mackinac Bridge Authority says starting April 6 contractors will begin a nearly two-year project to remove the original lead-based paint from the north tower and repaint it. The new zinc-based paint will be the same color and is expected to last at least 35 years. …

Nearly two dozen workers at Kellogg Co.’s Battle Creek headquarters have been hospitalized as a precaution following a suspected Freon leak. About 200 people were evacuated about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday from the building and 23 were taken to area hospitals for evaluation. Fire officials say the leak originated from a pipe near a copier room on the fifth floor of …

The St. Joseph County Conservation District is hosting a three-hour, bug-collection opportunity at 10 a.m. Saturday at nine separate locations in three different rivers. Conservation District executive director Carolyn Grace said volunteers are needed to collect the aquatic inhabitants as a means of gauging the health of the Portage, Prairie and Rocky rivers. Grace and a team of volunteers – …

State Rep. Aaron Miller on Tuesday voted to increase the state’s allocation for each individual student by $100 as part of a $14.3 billion education budget. Miller, who said Michigan’s future is based on its students and classrooms, is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid. Miller said his endorsement will hopefully lead to kids being proficient …

A Park Township man whose expertise centers on bees is offering a one-day beekeeping course this coming weekend. Bee School will be led 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday by Jonathan Showalter, owner of Beeline Apiaries & Woodenware. The business is located at the one-time bowling alley at the northwest corner of M-60 and Parkville Road in Park Township. A …