Government

Rosado wins District 4 race

The race for St. Joseph County Commission’s District 4 featured two challengers seeking to replace Dan Czajkowski, who is stepping down after a six-year run. White Pigeon resident Luis Rosado had a narrow victory over Constantine Township’s David Hayslip. Unofficial results show Rosado secured about 53 percent of the votes to Hayslip’s 47 percent. Rosado said he vows to commit …

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State Senate and House races

With most precincts reporting, Jonathan Lindsey appears to have defeated incumbent Kim LaSata in the Republican race for State Senate District 17. By late Tuesday, Lindsey had a margin of 61 percent of the vote to LaSata’s 39 percent. Meanwhile, Steve Carra was on his way to re-election to the Republican nomination for the State House District 36 seat. As …

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Judge’s order further freezes Michigan abortion ban

A judge blocked enforcement of a 1931 Michigan ban on abortion Monday, just hours after the state Court of Appeals said county prosecutors were not covered by a May order and could enforce the prohibition following the fall of Roe v. Wade. Oakland County Judge Jacob Cunningham stepped in at the request of attorneys representing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat …

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Two dead in crash near Constantine

State Police are investigating a 2-vehicle crash which occurred Thursday afternoon on US-131 near Youngs Prairie Road in Constantine Township. Initial reports indicate the driver of a northbound pickup truck collided head-on with a southbound semi-rig. The two occupants in the pickup were pronounced dead at the scene.  No names have been released.

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Car stolen in Branch County

Michigan State Police troopers are looking for a man and woman who allegedly passed a bad check and stole a car this week in Branch County’s Kinderhook Township. According to a department media release, 59-year-old Brian David Martin and 52-year-old Angela Plovie met in the 700 block of Angola Road with the intent of buying a car from an individual. …

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Initiatives battle for voter rights in Michigan

An effort to lock certain voting rights in the Michigan Constitution has taken a major step toward the fall ballot, eclipsing a rival campaign led by Republicans to limit absentee voting and add other restrictions. Promote The Vote, a coalition of 27 groups, submitted nearly 670,000 signatures Monday. While the signatures still must be validated by election officials, the petitions …

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Abortion rights poised to go before Michigan voters in fall

Abortion rights are poised to come before Michigan voters in November after an abortion rights campaign turned in a record-breaking number of signatures Monday for a ballot initiative to the secretary of state’s office. The effort will further increase attention on Michigan’s elections, where the battleground state’s Democratic governor and attorney general have made abortion rights a centerpiece of their reelection …

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Travel trailers stolen in White Pigeon area

State police troopers are investigating the theft of several travel trailers from storage yards around White Pigeon. The new trailers were taken from three storage yards in White Pigeon Township. One was located in the 69000 block of Sevison Road, another in the 69000 block of U.S. 131 and the other in the 68000 block of Bellows Road. In all, …

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Burr Oak man gets prison sentence

A Burr Oak man was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison after being found guilty on 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Demetrius Ivory, 45, could serve up to 45 years after a St. Joseph County Circuit Court jury returned guilty verdicts on 10 counts related to three victims. The incidents occurred between September and November 2018 …

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B & E in White Pigeon Township

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a breaking-and-entering incident that occurred last month in White Pigeon Township. Investigators responded to the 20000 block of Fawn River Road, where the incident took place between June 24 and 11 a.m. Saturday. Suspects appeared to use a crowbar to force entry into a side door of an unoccupied residence. They stole several articles …

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