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A prosecutor says a Michigan motorist accused of running down nine bicyclists, killing five of them, was driving well above the speed limit and didn’t apply his brakes until striking the first victim. Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Kanaby told jurors in his opening statement Tuesday that witnesses will testify they saw 52-year-old Charles Pickett of Battle Creek driving erratically …

A little late for this notification, but better late than never. This is “City-Wide Clean Up Week”. This annual event usually happens around the first part of spring. All this week, city residents can place items at the curb and Waste Management will pick them up. There will also be dumpsters downtown for residents and business owners in the downtown …

A proposed tax increase to fund additional staffing in its police and fire departments will be at the center of a Sturgis City Commission public hearing. According to a media release from director of public safety Geoff Smith, the hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 9 at city hall. The proposed funding would be used to hire an …

A Newberg Township man was arrested on drug-related offenses following a parole check last week. Along with agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team conducted the check April 17 in the 58000 block of M-40. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered heroin and heroin paraphernalia. The parolee, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on charges …

State Rep. Aaron Miller has announced his monthly, in-district office hours with local residents. Emphasizing the importance of being available to the community, Miller said he enjoys the opportunity to connect with people and hear what matters most to them. Miller will hold office hours Friday at three area locations: 6 to 7:30 a.m. at Rachael’s in White Pigeon; 8 …

Indiana Michigan Power’s commitment to greener energy earned it the designation as a 2018 “Environmental Champion” from a study by Market Strategies International. I&M is one of just 43 utility companies in the country given the distinction. To become an Environmental Champion, a utility needs to demonstrate to customers its dedication to supporting the environment by promoting clean energy, empowering …

A trial is expected to run about two weeks for a man involved in a 2016 crash that killed five bicyclists and injured four others in southwestern Michigan. Prospective jurors in the case of Charles Pickett appeared Monday in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court and jury selection is expected to take place Tuesday. The Michigan Supreme Court earlier this year decided …

A sheriff’s office says an internal review found no wrongdoing by deputies after three suspects they were chasing died following a gun shop burglary in southwestern Michigan. The Berrien County sheriff’s office said Monday that the two deputies involved are returning to work while state police and prosecutors review the case. A break-in was reported early April 15 at the …

Lawsuits against St. Joseph County, its board of commissioners and a pair of county officials have been thrown out by a Calhoun County judge. The legal matter was brought upon the county, the county board, former county administrator Pat Yoder and past board chairman Allen Balog by Liz O’Dell. O’Dell, former director of Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services …

Two people were injured in a two-car accident last week in Sturgis. Fire and police personnel were called shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday to an area of South Centerville Road in front of Applebee’s. Rescue personnel found a car laying on its side and a second vehicle leaning against it. The driver and passenger of the car on its side …