Government

Hit and run incident – Woman dies in Meijer parking lot

A 62-year-old woman died in a hit-and-run incident Thursday in the parking lot at the Three Rivers Meijer. Three Rivers Police were called shortly after 1 p.m. in response to a pedestrian struck by a car. Witnesses told investigators the driver ran the victim over and continued from the scene. Officers are looking for a black 2015 body style Chevrolet …

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Whitmer extends coronavirus emergency through July 16

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan’s coronavirus emergency declaration through July 16, enabling her to keep intact certain business closures, longer unemployment benefits and other changes after she previously lifted a stay-at-home order. The Democratic governor — who has been gradually reopening the state — hopes to let gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys restart by July 4. They …

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State drops license suspension of defiant Michigan barber

The state of Michigan has lifted the suspension of a barber’s license, but he still faces a hearing for cutting hair while shops and salons were closed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. An administrative law judge on Tuesday granted the state’s request to lift Karl Manke’s suspension. Regulators said an “imminent threat” to public health no longer exists at the Owosso barbershop. …

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Whitmer is optimistic about in-person school in fall

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday she is optimistic about a return to in-person instruction at K-12 schools in the fall, announcing she will release further guidance on June 30. The governor said she will issue an executive order that will provide details on what will be required to reopen schools and what will be recommended. Schools were closed in March …

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Fatal motorcycle crash in Three Rivers

A 45-year-old Three Rivers man died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. According to a media release from the Three Rivers Police Department, officers were called shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday to Hoffman Street, in the area of Wood Street, in response to a single-vehicle accident. Upon further investigation, officers learned the driver was traveling east on Hoffman Street …

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Whitmer lifts ban on overnight camps, school-related sports

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that overnight camps and school-related sports activities can resume on Monday — the latest coronavirus restrictions to be lifted as the state economy reopens. The governor’s order says the residential camps can open subject to guidance from the state’s licensing department. Summer day camps were able to start opening earlier this week. All camps are strongly recommended …

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Whitmer: Salons open June 15; northern Michigan restarts sooner

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that barbershops and other personal-care businesses can reopen across Michigan on June 15, while those businesses and places like gyms and movie theaters that were shut down for months to curb the coronavirus can restart in northern Michigan next week. Also, the state health department for the first time began reporting probable COVID-19 cases and deaths, not …

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Fire strikes five homes in Kalamazoo; 84-year-old woman OK

Fire damaged or destroyed at least five homes in Kalamazoo, including one where an 84-year-old woman had lived for more than four decades, authorities said Wednesday. The woman was not injured, the Department of Public Safety said. The other properties were vacant. The fires were reported around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Kalamazoo, which was under a 7 p.m. curfew, has been …

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Man dies in Cass County crash

A 21-year-old Dowagiac man died in a single-vehicle accident last weekend in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 6:18 a.m. Saturday to Church Street, east of Lawrence Road. Authorities said Michael Mortimore was a passenger in a pickup driven by Austin Price, 21, also of Dowagiac. The vehicle was heading east on Church Street …

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Kalamazoo cleans up; not our ‘finest hour,’ chief says

Police officers in Kalamazoo were outnumbered 50-to-1 before using tear gas and chemical spray in the wee hours Tuesday to get rid of protesters and stop damage at downtown businesses, authorities said. “It was not our community’s finest hour,” said Karianne Thomas, chief of public safety. She said peaceful protests Monday over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis turned …

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