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Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation to let Michigan motorists drive faster on at least 1,500 miles of rural highways as long as safety studies say the higher speed limits are OK. The bill enacted Thursday authorizes a 75 mph speed limit on 600 miles of freeways and a 65 mph limit on 900 miles of other roads. The limits …

It’s likely to be harder to sue local governments in Michigan over a fall on a defective sidewalk. Gov. Rick Snyder this week signed a law that gives local governments some extra protection: the so-called open-and-obvious defense that’s long been available to private businesses. Under the defense, a local government can argue that a defect in a sidewalk or other …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week approved three grants. The first accepted Tuesday was an $80,000 federal allocation through the Bryne Justice Assistance Program, administered by Michigan State Police. The funds will cover operations, including salary, related to 45th Circuit Court’s DWI/Drug Court program. Next, commissioners approved a $10,000 federal grant bestowed through the Michigan …

Colon municipal officials have started the process of hiring a village manager. Village president Diane Downs said a 90-day period has passed during which village residents had the opportunity to express comments relevant to the issue. Now, the position is being advertised through various channels, including the Michigan Municipal League. Downs said the village has allocated between $45,000 and $60,000 …

St. Joseph County’s two hospitals have welcomed their 2017 New Year’s babies. Three Rivers Health recorded its first birth of the year Tuesday morning. Parents Joshua Jones and Alysha Newman, a Constantine native, welcomed daughter Taylor Jones. She arrived two weeks before her due date. Meanwhile, Sturgis Hospital saw its first birth of 2017 just a few hours earlier, at …

Happy New Year! My name is Whiskers and I am a big, beautiful orange and white male cat. I am about 2 years old and have a very pink nose. I am friendly but do like to be the Big Guy in the house so would probably do best in a home of my own. Please come in to see …

A Lansing teenager died Wednesday in Cass County after a tree fell on the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 6:35 a.m. to M-40 near Harvey Street in Newberg Township. Investigators were told a pickup driven by 52-year-old Michael Rinehart of Lansing was northbound on M-40 when a tree fell on …

An Indiana man was arrested on charges that include fleeing and eluding following a two-state pursuit that concluded early Wednesday in Cass County. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were advised around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday that a suspect was being pursued stemming from an incident in Elkhart. The chase continued into Cass County, where deputies spotted the vehicle near Calvin Center …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners this week made appointments to the Board of Public Works and the Community Mental Health Board. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners renewed the appointment of David Miars to a three-year term on the Board of Public Works. His term will expire at the end of 2019. Meanwhile, three people were appointed to the CMH …

A Kalamazoo woman has been sentenced in the 2014 death of her infant daughter. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that 23-year-old Tekia Wright was sentenced Monday. Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Pamela Lightvoet sentenced Wright to 28 months to 15 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Her 11-month daughter, Gabrielle, died on June 13, 2014. Prosecutors allege Wright left her …