Business

Michigan track improvements slash Amtrak travel time

The Michigan Department of Transportation says $384 million in track improvements have led to faster train speeds and reduced travel times to Chicago. The Amtrak Wolverine route, which runs from Detroit to Chicago, has reduced transit time by 20 minutes, said Michael Frezell, a department spokesman. The Blue Water route, which runs from Port Huron to Chicago, has been reduced …

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Sturgis manufacturer will be in India next month

Burr Oak Tool representatives will attend the 2018 Acrex India trade show Feb. 22-24 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre in India. Burr Oak Tool and Oak India staff will be available for discussions about production solutions for the heat exchanger manufacturing industry. The show features more than 600 exhibitors from 30 countries, and is expected to receive at least 50,000 visitors …

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In rare step, Michigan Legislature overrides Snyder vetoes

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature voted Wednesday to override Gov. Rick Snyder’s veto of a speedier tax cut for those who trade in their car for a new one, the first override in his tenure and just the fourth in the last 67 years. Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof said the “timing was right” — the same day the chamber approved …

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Downtown Dave – Main Street Meritt

This year’s holiday season in downtown Three Rivers got off to a good start. We held a well-attended Christmas Around Town with a full range of activities for the families who came out. Between Meritt’s hard work, our calls to action, and the work of others, more people are starting to step to the plate and help make our events …

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Michigan minimum wage rising to $9.25 an hour in January

Michigan’s minimum wage will rise to $9.25 an hour starting January 1st. That’s a 35-cent raise from the current minimum of $8.90 per hour. It’s the final definitive increase provided by a 2014 law, the state said Friday. Beginning in 2019, however, the minimum wage is due to increase annually with inflation unless the unemployment rate is high. Employers can …

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Michigan nuclear reactor back in operation after shutdown

A reactor at a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan is back in operation after being shut down since September for refueling and maintenance. Indiana Michigan Power says Cook Nuclear Plant’s Unit 1 reactor was connected to the transmission grid on Tuesday. The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reports the company says the shutdown was longer than usual since it was …

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No criminal investigation after unclaimed cremains found

Officials say the discovery of about three dozen boxes of cremated remains in southern Michigan after the death of a funeral director isn’t being investigated as a potential criminal matter. Calhoun County Medical Examiner Dr. Joyce DeJong says the family of Joy Spencer Spoor discovered the cremains in storage after her Octotober 14 death. Spoor was a former owner of …

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Start of layoffs set at northern Indiana plant being closed

Layoffs are expected to begin late this year from a northern Indiana factory with about 115 workers that’s slated for closure. The company that owns the Crown Audio plant in Elkhart has notified state officials it intends to lay off 50 workers effective Dec. 22. Harman International Industries announced last month it would close the factory that makes audio devices …

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Downtown Dave – Main Street Meritt

Our new AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer program coordinator, Meritt Dickerson-Weed, is entering her second month of service here in Three Rivers, and will co-author this column for the foreseeable future. She will be known in this space henceforth as “Main Street Meritt.” Thus, the writing that follows is a joint effort. The word change comes with multiple connotations. Often, we associate …

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Training Dollars to Assist Businesses Expand Their Pool of Skilled Workers

In response to the needs of business and industry across the state, Michigan Works! Southwest is excited to announce the availability of training dollars to assist businesses in expanding their pool of skilled workers. $27.6 million in funding is available to employers in Michigan through the 2018 State of Michigan Skilled Trades Training Fund (STTF). STTF provides funding to employers …

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