Government

About 300,000 hens have died in a barn fire at a southwestern Michigan poultry farm. WWMT-TV reports that the blaze started about 11 a.m. Friday at the Otsego Township farm. The barn was destroyed. Konos Inc. spokesman Brian Burch tells the television station that about 50 people work at the cage-free farm. About 250,000 hens in a second barn were …

An overhaul of Michigan’s auto insurance system topped the list of new laws in 2019. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers also legalized sports betting and online gambling, and enacted a measure to stop automatically treating 17-year-old offenders as adults in the criminal justice system. The Democratic governor signed 178 bills in the first year of divided government since 2010. She …

Authorities say a 16-year-old girl visiting Lake Michigan for the first time is missing and presumed drowned after apparently being swept into the water by a large wave. The Ottawa County sheriff’s office says Eliza Trainer and an 18-year-old friend were knocked into Lake Michigan off Holland State Park about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Trainer’s friend was able to get out …

Northern Indiana officials say a woman whose minivan plunged into a retention pond, killing two of her three children, missed a curve on an icy road just before that crash. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s office said Thursday that 31-year-old Brooke Natalie Kleven and her 3-month-old daughter, Hendrix Kleven, both remained in critical condition following the New Year’s Eve crash. …

A suburban Detroit family has been reunited with their dog, days after the canine ran off following a car crash. The golden retriever, Red, ran into nearby woods after he was ejected from the family’s vehicle on Dec. 25 when it rolled several times along I-75 in Auburn Hills after hitting a slick spot. Wade Stevenson of Woodhaven pleaded online …

The May shooting death of a woman by her 9-year-old adopted son was voted the top local news story of 2019, as selected and ranked by editorial staff members of the Sturgis Journal. The incident occurred May 6 in Fawn River Township and resulted in the death of Pauline Randol. In September, probate court judge David Tomlinson ruled the boy …

State police troopers are investigating the theft of a propane tank from a residence in the 21000 block of Banker Street in Florence Township. The 100-pound tank was taken from the residence sometime between midnight and 9 a.m. Dec. 24. The tank is white and has the words “James Harris Const.” along its side.

Here’s information regarding a New Year’s Eve event in downtown Three Rivers. Tickets are now on sale for “Midnight on Main, Roaring 2020.” The event starts at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and concludes after the midnight celebration. Tickets, which are $15 each, include themed swag bags, coupons good for use at local businesses and New Year’s Eve party favors. Music …

A Three Rivers man was arrested after he crashed a stolen vehicle in Sturgis and attempted to flee from the scene. Sturgis police said the incident originated at 8:35 a.m. Sunday at a business in the 600 block of West Fawn River Road. Moments later, officers were called to the 100 block of Susan Avenue in response to a single-vehicle …

Michigan State Police troopers responded over the weekend to a structure fire in Union City. According to a department media release, troopers and fire personnel were dispatched to a location near the intersection of Mendon Road and Division Street in response to a single-story dwelling fully engulfed in flames. All occupants of the residence had safely evacuated prior to the …