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Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has won a second term, defeating Democrat Mark Schauer.  The Republican who downplays party ideology campaigned by touting an economic and fiscal recovery and promising to keep the state on the right path. He also highlighted work to address Detroit’s financial crisis and increased spending on education.  Snyder’s victory makes him the sixth straight Michigan governor …

Democratic Congressman Gary Peters has beaten Republican former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to replace retiring Democrat Carl Levin in the U.S. Senate.  The win Tuesday for Peters, who led Land in nearly all polls for months, prevented Republicans from capturing their first Senate seat in the state in two decades. Republicans had originally hoped Michigan could be …

Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has defeated Democratic challenger Godfrey Dillard in her bid for a second four-year term as Michigan’s top elections and driver services official.  Johnson is a former Oakland County register of deeds and ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2006. She was elected secretary of state in 2010.  This year, Johnson has campaigned on her …

Southwestern Michigan voters have re-elected U.S. Representative Fred Upton to a 15th term.  The Republican from St. Joseph defeated Democrat Paul Clements and two minor-party candidates Tuesday. The 61-year-old Upton has been in the House since 1987.  He is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has broad oversight of the American economy, including cars, health care and …

Michigan voters have rejected two state laws that allow hunting of gray wolves in largely symbolic referendums. One measure would have removed the wolf from the state endangered list and classified it as a game species. The other would have empowered the appointed Natural Resources Commission to decide whether wolves should be hunted. The outcome of today’s election voids both …

Republican Bill Schuette has been re-elected to a second term as Michigan’s attorney general.  Schuette defeated Democrat Mark Totten and other candidates in Tuesday’s general election. The 61-year-old Schuette is a former congressman, state lawmaker and state appeals judge. He has campaigned heavily on being tough on crime.  He has supported funding to process thousands of untested rape evidence kits …

Kalamazoo officials have approved a change to panhandling rules to give people seated in public places the right to be left alone.  The Kalamazoo City Commission voted 6-1 Monday to amend the panhandling ordinance the city adopted in 2006. The change protects people in areas enclosed by fencing or gates, such as sidewalk cafes. It also includes people sitting at …

Ten people in Michigan are undergoing twice-daily checks for symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus. Michigan Department of Community Health spokesperson Jennifer Smith said that all ten are seeing health care professionals twice a day to have their temperatures taken and to be checked for other symptoms. She says the individuals are being monitored based on their travel history, which …

One of the two reactors at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Berrien County is back in service. Indiana Michigan Power took both units off-line early Saturday morning due to rough conditions on Lake Michigan that sent more debris than normal into the three 16-foot intake tunnels from the lake into the plant. The excess resulted in some damage to the …

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation into a one-car crash involving an off-duty Sturgis police officer. Investigators are awaiting toxicology reports before seeking charges against the officer. Sturgis Deputy Police Chief Dave Ives said he is aware of the investigation and that after a criminal investigation is concluded, Sturgis will conduct an internal investigation. The crash occurred …