Government

Democrats vowed Wednesday to push new gun-control legislation and to try to revive stalled bills in Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature following a mass shooting that left four high school students dead and others with serious injuries. But GOP leaders, who have long opposed such measures and have favored looser restrictions, did not immediately commit to policy changes. “We can’t do nothing,” Sen. Rosemary …

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder and terrorism for a shooting that killed four fellow students and injured others at a Michigan high school. Authorities on Wednesday revealed that his parents were summoned just a few hours before the bloodshed. No motive was offered by Oakland County authorities, a day after violence at Oxford High School. But sheriff’s …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration said Tuesday it wants lawmakers to quickly allocate $300 million in federal pandemic rescue funding to support COVID-19 testing at schools amid a fourth surge of infections in Michigan. The money was included in the relief law approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in March. It is set to expire next summer and is part …

A 54-year-old man who shot three people on a city bus in Kalamazoo has died after being wounded while exchanging gunfire with police. Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley said Anthony Oliver died Saturday at a hospital following the 9:15 a.m. shootings at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center. The motive behind the shootings was not immediately clear, Coakley said, adding that …

Members of the Constantine Village Council recently approved a five-year parks and recreation plan. In 2022, the plan calls for installation of a concrete pad at Riverview Park pavilion; chains for swings; painting the cannon and park equipment at Cannon Park; and a new drinking fountain. A year later, the village plans to support construction of a $100,000 splash pad …

The federal government will send 44 military medical staffers to Michigan to help beleaguered hospitals treat COVID-19 patients amid a fourth surge that is the worst in the country, state health officials said Wednesday. It also will open beds at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Detroit for transfers. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sought the assistance at the request of the Michigan …

An $18.6 million transit center will be constructed on the site of the former Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Detroit City Councilmembers on Tuesday approved by a 5-2 vote a plan that calls for buses and passengers to use what had been the fairground’s Dairy Cattle Building. The Coliseum building will be torn down. In past years, it hosted circuses, …

A Three Rivers man was injured in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday in Lockport Township. Sheriff Mark Lillywhite said deputies were called at 9 a.m. to the intersection of M-86 and Neaman Road, just east of Three Rivers. Investigators found that a Ford F-150 was heading west and came to a stop in order for traffic to clear before turning left …

Faced with spiking COVID-19 infections, Michigan health officials issued a public health advisory Friday recommending that everyone over age 2 wear a mask at indoor public settings regardless of their vaccination status. The guidance also says public-facing businesses and other establishments should implement masking policies and encourage compliance. Unvaccinated or immunocompromised people are urged to avoid large crowds and gatherings. The state …

Citing concerns over the leadership in Lansing and the direction of our state, local businessman Scott McGraw has announced his candidacy for state house in St. Joseph and Cass counties. McGraw, a Republican, is the current Sixth District chairman and formerly the Kalamazoo County chairman. “As a small business owner, I have felt the squeeze of government on companies … …