News

Authorities in a southwestern Michigan county are investigating cases from nearly 200 previously untested rape kits that eventually could lead to charges. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting tells the Kalamazoo Gazette for a story Thursday that investigators are trying to prioritize cases approaching the end of time periods where legal action can be taken. Some of the kits are close to 30 …

A shakeup at Tuesday’s Colon Village Council meeting saw the resignation of its president and a council member, and the contract of its village manager not renewed. After 14 months as village president, Diane Downs announced her resignation from the seven-member panel. Nancy Percival, a longtime council member, also announced her resignation, also effective immediately. Later, the board voted to …

A vehicle stolen last month from Kalamazoo was recovered this week in Schoolcraft. Schoolcraft police chief Bryan Campbell said his department was advised at 3 a.m. Wednesday to be on the lookout for a vehicle involved in a retail-theft incident in Three Rivers. The vehicle was spotted parked in a driveway in the 300 block of Duncan Street. Campbell said …

Two vehicles at the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority were damaged while parked in the agency’s garage this week. Chief Bryan Campbell said police were called shortly after 11 p.m. to the corner of Grand and Eliza streets, where a 59-year-old Grand Rapids man had repeatedly run his vehicle into the bay doors of the fire station, damaging the doors …

Michigan has approved a 30-day grace period for displaying a license plate on vehicles. Gov. Rick Snyder signed the bill Wednesday, affording Michiganders 30 days from the time of vehicle registration or renewal to display a registration plate while driving. During the 30-day buffer, drivers are instead required to present paper or electronic verification through the Law Enforcement Information Network …

St. Joseph County is one of 17 counties in the state to be declared a disaster area as the result of flooding from heavy rain and melting snow. Gov. Rick Snyder’s office said Monday’s declarations make state resources available to those areas, including grants of up to $100,000 for reimbursement of local response costs to the flooding, which peaked over …

A Sturgis man was arrested on drug-related charges following a traffic stop earlier this week in Sturgis. According to officers, the suspect’s vehicle was pulled over shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday on South Nottawa Street at Bogen Road following a traffic violation. According to a department media release, the officer in charge of the stop became suspicious of drug activity …

Sheriff’s deputies were called last week to a two-vehicle accident in Burr Oak Township. The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of M-66 and Findley Road. Investigators said a vehicle driven by Sturgis-area resident Shirley Schrock was heading north on M-66 and turned left onto Findley Road, into the path of a southbound vehicle driven by …

Two people were injured Monday morning after a St. Joseph County Transportation Authority bus collided with a semi tractor-trailer in Constantine Township. State police said the bus driven by a 33-year-old Fulton woman was eastbound on Riverside Drive at 7:30 a.m. when it failed to stop at the intersection of U.S. 131. The bus struck the trailer of a northbound …

Three Rivers Police officers are continuing their investigation into a threat of violence at Three Rivers High School last week. A high school student was taken into custody Friday afternoon after threats were reported Thursday to OK2SAY. The suspect was identified and removed from the school by authorities. A search was conducted Friday afternoon, at the student’s home in the …