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Severe storms carrying strong winds and hail caused damage to crops near Traverse City over the weekend. MLive.com reports that apple, grape and cherry crops were hit hard by the storms the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula and the fruit belt near Elk Rapids on Sunday. Winds of up to 100 mph passed through the region, shredding leaves, ripping off …

Here we are already into the month of August. If you think July had some warm weather, just wait until you see what August has to offer. August has a reputation for being about the hottest month of the year. Lake Michigan is now comfortable for swimming. A few things to remember during this warm season would include keeping your …

Health officials in Calhoun County are advising caution after the dangerous giant hogweed plant was spotted in the county. The Calhoun County Public Health Department said Monday that the plant was found in Pennfield Township, and was removed from the site. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports the sap on the plant’s leaves, roots, flower heads, seeds and stem hairs can …

A teenager has been killed in western Michigan in a multi-vehicle crash that’s being blamed on a driver who was distracted by a sandwich and his GPS device. The Ottawa County sheriff’s office says the victim is 13-year-old David Talsma of Hudsonville. He was in a Toyota van driven by a 16-year-old when the vehicle was struck Monday by a …

The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is getting a federal grant worth roughly $3.3 million to help with projects. The grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation was announced Monday by U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. Work supported by the grant includes rehabilitation of the airport’s runway, an extension of its taxiway and installation of taxiway lighting. Stabenow said …

Michigan officials reacted cautiously Monday to the Obama administration’s plan for cutting planet-warming gases from power plants, saying they needed time to study how it would affect the state’s economy and electricity rates. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a 32 percent reduction in carbon dioxide from power plants by 2030. In Michigan, that would mean a cut from …

Storms carrying powerful winds and heavy rain spawned at least one tornado in Michigan, knocked out power to more than 240,000 homes and businesses and caused damage in several summer tourist destinations in the northern Lower Peninsula. A tornado hit Huron County’s Owendale about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, damaging the roof of a school and knocking down trees, the National Weather …

The St. Joseph County Clerk’s Office is expected to complete by the end of the week the validation of signatures turned in Friday as part of the Three Rivers Board of Education recall process. Deputy clerk Phyllis Lung said the procedure is done by entering into a data base the names of those who signed. A computer cross-reference will confirm …

White Pigeon Township officials this week are expected to consider whether to approve the creation of a public pet cemetery. Slated for the northern end of White Pigeon Township Cemetery on Vermont Street, the proposal would have an initial plot of 1,040 graves. The idea was raised at the township’s July meeting and is on Tuesday’s agenda for additional deliberation. …

State police are appealing to the public for help in identifying suspects involved in a rash of larceny-from-vehicle incidents last week in Park Township. According to a department media release, the incidents occurred between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. Wednesday along Buckhorn Road between Heimbach Road and South Fisher Lake Road.