Politics

Michigan’s presidential recount was halted Wednesday after three days, assuring Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the state, when a federal judge said he’ll abide by a court ruling that found the Green Party candidate Jill Stein couldn’t seek another look at the vote. Meanwhile, the fate of Stein’s request for a recount in Pennsylvania must wait at least until a …

President-elect Donald Trump’s lead in Michigan is 10,704 votes over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The state Bureau of Elections said Wednesday that results certified by county canvassing boards show Trump ahead with about 4.8 million votes cast. The result still must be certified by the state at a meeting scheduled for Monday. If it stands, the two-tenths of a percentage point …

Only one of two incumbents on the Three Rivers Community Schools Board of Education will return following the results of Tuesday’s vote. Mike Bosma will be joined by Anne Riopel, Julia Awe and top vote-getter Dan Ryan to four-year terms. Incumbent Carl Barth finished seventh in the eight-person race. Longtime Colon Community Schools board member Ernie Baker was a casualty …

Three Rivers will have 15 more years of street and sidewalk improvements, as a millage-renewal request was passed Tuesday. The 3.7 mills were up for renewal after their formation in 2002. The 3.7 mills generate about $800,000 annually and allow the city to maintain its 49 miles of streets and sidewalks. The measure was approved by nearly 70 percent of …

Allen Balog won his fourth two-year term to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners in Tuesday’s general election. The Three Rivers resident and former mayor of Three Rivers will join John Dobberteen as the only two incumbents returning to the five-member board in January. Representing Flowerfield and Fabius townships, and the city of Three Rivers, the 60-year-old Balog fended …

Aaron Miller fended off a strong campaign from challenger Carol Higgins to retain his seat Tuesday as 59th State House District representative. The 29-year-old Sherman Township resident likened his being contested to a “doctor’s check-up.” Miller is finishing his first two-year term after winning the 2014 general election as a dark horse in a four-candidate field. He said it will …

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen has won a partial term on the state’s highest court. Larsen defeated Wayne County Judge Deborah Thomas and lawyer Kerry Morgan in the election Tuesday. She was appointed to the court in 2015 and now will serve the two years remaining in the term of a justice who resigned. Larsen was nominated by the …

A judge has refused to suspend her order that allows Michigan voters to take photos of their completed ballot in the Nov. 8 election. Citing the First Amendment, Grand Rapids federal Judge Janet Neff blocked Michigan’s ban on taking so-called ballot selfies. The secretary of state is appealing. The judge said Wednesday that she won’t freeze her decision while the …

The personal federal tax return for Gov. Rick Snyder and his wife, Sue, shows they had just over $400,000 in income in 2015 and made charitable contributions of about $95,000. The Detroit Free Press reports the Republican governor itemized about $370,000 in deductions, leaving a taxable income of just under $25,000. The former venture capitalist and computer company executive paid …

A judge has blocked Michigan law and policies that would prevent voters from taking photos of their ballot in the Nov. 8 election.  Joel Crookston of Portage sued in Grand Rapids federal court, saying his First Amendment right to free speech was violated. Judge Janet Neff issued a preliminary injunction Monday. State election officials had argued that the rules are …