ALBION

One about to go to the International Space Station now, however, is an Albion College Briton. Cassada will join his crew for a launch tentatively scheduled for late September, Albion College officials said. “We are honored and excited to have Josh represent our great nation and Albion College in space,” said Joe Calvaruso, the college’s interim president. “Those first-time fliers, we’re bringing a lot of energy to the ISS.”The International Space Station Crew includes NASA astronaut Nicole Mann, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina. During Thursday’s conference, Cassada expressed excitement for the various science experiments he will conduct up in space alongside Mann, Wakata and Kikina.

ALBION, MI -- It’s all about coming together as a team at Jackson High School’s annual band camp. Under the watchful eye of band director Joel Shaner, 87 students spent the week at Albion College to learn the routines they will put into place at football games this fall.

ALBION, MI - About a fifth of Albion city residents have a bachelor’s degree in hand, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics. A grant to Albion College aims to close that gap by attracting students to be the first in their families to attend college. The program’s director is Ashley Woodson, dean of Albion College’s School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement (SPP). First-time college students have to navigate multiple issues to get to college, Woodson said, including larger structural issues such as financial hardship or not having someone in their life take that path before them. “This grant should help the College identify new ways to partner with our host community,” said college Provost Ron Mourad.

ALBION, MI - The search for an alligator in the Kalamazoo River has ended, as there have been no confirmed sightings in more than a week. The 10-day search for the reptile initially found near Albion College has been called off, college spokeswoman Cathy Cole said on Tuesday, July 19. The initial alligator sightings prompted the college to close its Whitehouse Nature Center from July 10-11. “The college followed the instructions precisely and found no evidence of an alligator at this time in the Whitehouse Nature Center,” according to a July 12 update from Albion College. Read more from MLive:Alligator hunt continues in Kalamazoo River near Michigan collegeHouse described as ‘total loss’ after fire near Jackson112-year-old plaque on ‘Republican rock’ restored in Jackson

ALBION, MI - The search for an alligator in the Kalamazoo River continues, though Albion College’s nature center, which first reported the sighting of the reptile is ready to reopen with posted warnings. Officials have yet to confirm a location of the alligator, Albion College Spokeswoman Cathy Cole said. The college’s Whitehouse Nature Center reported two independent “credible sightings” of what appeared to be a 4-foot or 5-foot alligator in the same general area where the river runs through the nature center. Read more: Alligator in Kalamazoo River leads to closure of nature centerThe college is working with a local Department of Natural Resources officer, Cole said, as well the Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary in Athens, Michigan to find the alligator. The initial alligator sightings prompted the college to close the Whitehouse Nature Center Sunday and Monday, July 10-11.

ALBION, MI - Joanne “Joey” Miller steps into her role as Albion College Board of Trustees chair after an unprecedented amount of tension between the college and the surrounding Albion community. Read more: ‘Compelled to push back’: Former Albion College president accuses outside group of smearing himThese circumstances make Miller’s vision for the future obvious, she said. Her goals as the first woman to chair the college’s board of trustees are rebuilding trust and uniting the college and city community. “So we’ve we’ve backed away from a number of the projects and became much more targeted. We ask ‘what do you have to offer?’”Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:Outgoing Albion College president blasted by many for ‘bullying’ approachFormer Albion College president addresses resignation-triggering incident for first timePresident’s resignation, controversy cost Albion College its affiliation with prestigious Carnegie Foundation

ALBION, MI -- A freight train passing through Albion Friday morning hit and killed an unidentified person allegedly lying on the tracks, police said. At about 12:30 a.m. June 24, an officer from the Albion Department of Public Safety was approached by the conductor of a westbound Norfolk Southern freight train, who told the officer the train had hit a person on the tracks. The train had come to a stop near Clinton Street in Albion. The person had been lying on the tracks behind a nearby Shell station, police said. At this time, it is unclear why the person was lying on the railroad tracks, police said.

ALBION, MI -- An Albion Police Department officer has been placed on leave after shooting a man believed to be having psychological issues, police said. In the house, police confronted the man, who quickly turned toward them and started to raise a gun, police said. An officer fired, hitting the man, who then fell to the floor, police said. The officer who shot the man has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said. The man who was shot had already been on law enforcement’s radar that afternoon, police said.

Officials broke down, in detail, how they say one man used napkin notes, one-minute in-and-outs, and a getaway driver to pull off 15 different bank robberies across five states, including at six branches in Michigan.

ALBION, MI -- Albion College has received a new nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a device faculty members call a “workhorse instrument.”NMR spectrometry is similar to magnetic resonance imaging, only this machine operates at a molecular level, said professor and interim chair of chemistry and biochemistry Lisa Lewis. The $1 million donation comes from Dr. James M Wilson and his wife Lisa. A portion of the donation will match an in-kind gift given from another source, with both gifts completing the purchase. In 2018 the Wilsons’ made a $5.1-million donation to Albion College, that went on to establish the Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine. The institute allows students to be successful in future healthcare roles.

ALBION, MI -- Printer Source Plus is opening a new satellite office in Albion. Located at 403 S. Superior St., the office will be in the same building as Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. Previously known as Rapid Refill in 2006, Printer Source Plus, headquartered in Jackson, is a printing company that offers printing and copying machines, as well as ink and toner for commercial and residential markets. “Providing affordable, impactful print and copy solutions is a passion of ours and we look forward to serving Calhoun County and Albion for many more years to come,” Printer Source Plus Owner Joe Sharpe said in a statement,More From Jackson News:Jackson’s new ALDI store is opening soonPartially-treated sewer discharge reported in eastern Jackson CountyTree dedication will honor Jackson’s Asian-American, Pacific Islander community

ALBION, MI – Albion needs help raising funds for its annual Fourth of July fireworks show. The Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is looking to raise $16,000 for its annual 20- to 30-minute firework display at its July 4th celebration. Checks can be made out to Greater Albion Chamber and Commerce & Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 238, Albion, MI 49224, memo: Albion Fireworks. A cash and credit-card donation drop off is located at Greater Albion Chamber office: 403 S. Superior St.

Butler and head basketball coach LaVall Jordan have parted ways, Vice President/Director of Athletics Barry Collier announced Friday. Jordan, who was born in Albion and played at Butler before spending six seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan under John Beilein, had an overall record of 83-74 (40-54 in Big East) in five seasons in Indianapolis. Butler earned a berth in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and was expected to be part of the 2020 NCAA Tournament field before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “After a thorough evaluation, I have come to the decision that a change in the leadership of our men’s basketball program is needed,” Collier said in a statement. A national search for a new men’s basketball coach will begin immediately, according to a news release.

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – One Jackson County resident was killed Sunday afternoon in a house fire in Summit Township, police have confirmed. Several residents were reportedly trapped inside the home as fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed in flames, police said. Three residents were able to exit the home, however one remained trapped inside and died in the fire, police said. Calls made to the Summit Township Fire Department have not yet been returned. More from MLive:Maintenance work is closing a couple Jackson County roadsPets of the week: Jewel likes to chase the ball.

ALBION, MI – Albion residents no longer need to look far for their grocery needs after a new market has opened downtown. Superior Street Mercantile, 217 S. Superior St., opened on New Year’s Eve, making it the first independent market in town in more than three decades. It’s a project of the nonprofit Albion Reinvestment Corporation’s “Big Albion Plan” to revitalize downtown with residential and commercial properties, officials said. Superior Street Market is located across the street from Albion’s Courtyard by Marriott. We’re here to fill a void.”Superior Street Mercantile, 217 S. Superior St., is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

ALBION, MI - Albion College will collaborate with Washtenaw Community College to make transferring from the Ann Arbor-based community college easier. The collaboration between Albion College and WCC is an “articulation agreement program,” or one that aims to facilitate the transfer process and minimize course duplication and the loss of academic credits, according to an Albion College news release.

ALBION, MI — Donisha Brewer started her volunteer and community efforts when she was in the fourth grade. She hasn’t slowed down in the years that followed, and now Brewer, 32, is taking on a new role as manager of a collaborative effort between Albion’s Bohm Theater and the Battle Creek YMCA to develop arts programming for the city of Albion in a cost-effective way.

ALBION, MI - Due to the recent resignation of its president, Albion College is no longer the home of a prestigious academic foundation that categorizes all American colleges and universities. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which identifies the educational and research purposes of various colleges, was about to settle at Albion College due to former President Mathew Johnson’s long affiliation with the foundation.

JACKSON COUNTY, MI — An Albion man was killed in a single vehicle crash in Springport Township over the weekend. According to a press release sent by Michigan State Police, on Saturday, Jan. 8, Randall Snyder was driving south on Crawford Road near Bangham Road when the car ran off the road and crashed into a tree. Snyder, the driver and lone occupant, was killed in the crash, police said. Michigan State Police was assisted at the scene by the Springport Clarence Fire Department and Jackson Community Ambulance. MORE FROM JACKSON CITIZEN PATRIOT:Man arrested after vandalism spree in Jackson County, police sayMan arrested for threatening bartender with a knife in Jackson, police sayMan stabbed in face with scissors during fight with Jackson neighbor, police sayPolice seeking men who stole ‘large quantity’ of electronics from Jackson Best Buy

ALBION, MI — A beloved downtown Albion restaurant is attempting to rebuild after a fire tore through the front of its building Monday, Dec. 6. Lopez Taco House, the iconic Mexican restaurant founded in 1975 by Maria and Manuel Lopez, is currently closed due to damages from the fire. Owner Dan Lopez, son of the founders, is trying hard to get the popular eatery, known for having some of the best tacos in the Jackson area, back open. Related: Michigan’s Best Taco: Lopez Taco House more than just dining experience for regulars“The restaurant is my life, it means the world to me,” said Lopez, who has worked there since he was 17. However, the community is rallying behind Lopez Taco House.

ALBION, MI - Albion College announced Monday that it will be the home of the Carnegie Classifications programs, which work to enhance institutional diversity in U.S. higher education, according to a release from the college. The college takes over responsibilities for the operation and administration of the program, including its Institution of Higher Education and Elective Classification for Community Engagement initiatives, said Albion College President Dr. Matthew Johnson in the release.

ALBION, MI - Albion College will renovate a local parish into an alumni center by fall 2023, according to a college release. The college procured the former St. John’s Parish and will turn it into Alumni Unity Hall, said Marc Newman, vice president of institutional advancement at the college.

A 30-year-old man is in critical condition and another man was arrested in Albion after a shooting at a Warren gas station, police said.

ALBION, MI — The city of Albion offers a lot of history to residents and visitors through many different architectural landmarks and historic organizations. Two recently restored murals, the Coca-Cola sign and the Malleable mural, are among them. It’s all part of an ongoing revitalization that is truly happening in Albion.”The Coca-Cola sign and its plaque were showcased during this year’s Festival of the Forks event. Related: New Coke sign highlight of downtown Albion renovationThe Malleable mural was unveiled to the community and the foundry workers who inspired it in early October. After two years of fundraising, Kolmodin said the community’s support to restore the Coke sign has been strong.

ALBION, MI – Traditional Belgian ingredients and a great taste have earned an Albion brewery a national award. The Albion Malleable Brewing Company earned a silver medal for its Iron Lion Blonde at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival competition out of roughly 100 entries in the Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale beer category. Iron Lion: Blonde a 6.8% alcohol by volume golden ale, is brewed with French and Belgian sourced ingredients, Wade said. The brewery’s names comes from the Albion Malleable Iron Co., a major manufacturer in Albion’s history. “We sort of invoked that iron lion was overseeing all of our batches since we opened,” he said.

ALBION, MI - A new catalogue of academic degrees and certificates in health, technology and communications fields are available this year at Albion College. The new classes and concentration paths were added to Albion College for the 2021-22 school year and are available for student enrollment, according to Provost Ron Mourad. For more information on Albion College’s curriculum, visit albion.edu. Read more: After long pandemic wait, Albion College finally inaugurates new presidentThe center is being built at the former Washington Gardner School, which the college acquired in 2011. Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion CollegeRescheduled vaccine clinics come with possible prize of free Albion College tuitionGraduates give back to Albion College with $2.25M donation

ALBION, MI — A piece of Albion’s past is being restored thanks to funds gifted to the Albion Community Foundation. The train depot was built in 1882 and served the railroad for almost 90 years. According to , Mary Cram led restoration efforts to help reclaim the abandoned train depot in 1986, according to Linda Kolmodin, a Cram family friend and volunteer with the current rain depot restoration efforts. Mary Cram and other community members organized fundraisers through the Albion Community Foundation to restore the Victorian-style train station. “She loved the train depot because her mother loved it.

JACKSON, MI -- An Albion-area man is scheduled to stand trial in 2022 for the suspected shooting of the mother of his child. The charges stem from the non-fatal shooting of a woman on Sept. 22, 2018, in an apartment complex on Moorman Drive in Jackson. RELATED: Parole absconder accused of shooting child’s motherThe then-25-year-old woman -- the mother of Wingfield’s child -- tried to close a door during a fight, but Wingfield fired several shots through the door, hitting her in the arm, police said. In addition to the September shooting, he faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance, connected to drugs found on him during his October arrest, police said. Wingfield’s trial was originally scheduled for Aug. 23, 2021, according to court records.

JACKSON, MI - An alumni couple from Albion College donated $1.2 million to the school for improvements to its gym and other campus projects, according to a release. J. Donald and Angela Sheets, both 1982 alums, announced the gift during the Sept. 18 Inauguration ceremony of new Albion College President Matthew Johnson, the college release stated. “Don and Angela each exemplify Briton strength, altruism and passion for all things Albion,” Johnson said in a statement. Read more: After long pandemic wait, Albion College finally inaugurates new presidentDon Sheets thanked Johnson for his vision for Albion College. We look forward to working with College leadership to identify opportunities to achieve those goals.”Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:Graduates give back to Albion College with $2.25M donationRacist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion CollegeRescheduled vaccine clinics come with possible prize of free Albion College tuition

ALBION, MI — A historical look into Albion’s heritage is available in a tour of its cemetery. The fourth annual Riverside Cemetery Tour, hosted by the Albion Historical Society, is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 3, and features past cigar makers, soldiers and a spiritualist. “It serves our mission to connect people to the history of Albion,” said Celeste Connamacher, past historical society president and current volunteer. “It’s exciting for us to have people come and discover the history of who made up Albion. Attendees will meet at the cemetery office building, 1301 S. Superior St., prior to the start of the tour.

ALBION, MI - Matthew Johnson has been Albion College’s president for more than a year. On Saturday, Sept. 18, on Albion College’s campus, Johnson finally got to celebrate his new role. The college inaugurated Johnson in a ceremony at 4 p.m., Sept. 18 on the Quad, 611 E. Porter St. More information on Johnson’s inauguration or the Body and Soul Center groundbreaking can be found at albion.edu/inauguration. Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion CollegeRescheduled vaccine clinics come with possible prize of free Albion College tuitionGraduates give back to Albion College with $2.25M donation

ALBION, MI - A petition to remove Albion College President Matthew Johnson is nearing its 1,500-signature goal just days before his inauguration. “The people of Albion College and the surrounding Albion community deserve better than this,” the petition states. Johnson derives “no financial profit” from the construction agency working on Albion College projects, according to a college spokesman. As president of the college, President Johnson is listed as an officer of the LLC. Read more from The Jackson Citizen Patriot:Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion CollegeRescheduled vaccine clinics come with possible prize of free Albion College tuitionGraduates give back to Albion College with $2.25M donation

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP, MI - A tree fell on a car north of Albion Saturday morning injuring one person, police say. Michigan State Police and the Sheridan Township Fire Department responded to a report of a fallen tree on car on J Dr N near 28 Mile Road at 11:45 a.m.Crews arrived to find a 20-year-old Albion area resident trapped inside the car. Photos shared by the Albion Department of Public Safety show a large tree crushed the front end of the vehicle including the driver and passenger seats. The victim was extricated from the vehicle and brought to the Albion Department of Public Safety fire station before being airlifted by the University of Michigan Survival Flight. Police said the victim appeared to be in stable condition before being transported.

ALBION, MI - COVID-19 vaccination clinics originally scheduled for late July in Calhoun County, but canceled due to inclement weather are back on -- and they still come with the chance of a year of free tuition at Albion College. However, all fully vaccinated students who are not already enrolled at Albion College will have their name entered into a drawing for one year’s worth of tuition, college officials said. The year’s worth of free tuition is also open to middle school and high school students interested in attending Albion College, officials said. Aid from Albion College will be added to equal full tuition after any federal and state aid the student receives, officials said. Albion College students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning for the fall semester, college officials announced in May.

ALBION, MI -- Michael and Judy Harrington graduated from Albion College in 1985 and 1986, respectively, and now they’re giving back to their alma mater with a donation of more than $2 million. The Harringtons’ $2.25-million donation is being used to grow the college’s programs, like the Body and Soul Center, the Harrington Neighborhood Incentive Program, the School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement and the Office of Belonging. Other portions of this donation will also go toward the Harringtons’ second contribution to the Harrington Neighborhood Incentive Program, which was established in 2016. The program helps faculty and staff revitalize the neighborhood connecting Albion’s campus and downtown through home ownership. Our 25 favorite photos from Sunday as Jason Aldean closes out the Faster Horses Festival

ALBION, MI -- You can file this one under little known facts: The game of Tee Ball started in Albion. And now it’s back in its founding city thanks to Milton Barnes and the Play Right Sports Academy. Play Right has formed two new Tee Ball teams, one for 4 to 6 year olds and one for 6 to 8 year olds. But the sport’s history goes back to 1956 when the city’s summer recreation director and coach Jerry Sacharski noticed younger boys wanting to learn to play baseball like their older brothers. RELATED:Albion Malleable Brewery mural incorporates city’s past and presentRestoration of historic Coca-Cola mural in Albion expected to be complete this summer

ALBION, MI-- A $200,000 grant will help Albion rescue a historic building built in the 1800s. “Without the grant award, the state of this building would continue to negatively impact other efforts to revitalize the community,” officials said. The building at 131 N. Superior St. came to the land bank in 2012 after a foreclosure, according to the Calhoun County Land Bank. The grant was given to cities like Albion and Jackson by the State Land Bank Authority and the Department of Treasury. RELATED: $125,200 grant will help Jackson demolish ‘eyesore’ that poses environmental threatsThe project will begin this summer and finish in the fall.

ALBION, MI-- The restoration of a historic Coca-Cola mural in downtown Albion is expected to be complete by the end of the summer, after two years in the making. Related: New Coke sign highlight of downtown Albion renovationThe project, led by Albion residents Janet Domingo and Linda Kolmodin, not only focused on restoring the mural, but also discovering its history. Masonry conservators pause for a Coke as they complete tuck pointing on the historic Coca-Cola mural in downtown Albion located over the Kalamazoo River. Domingo and Kolmodin led the Restore Our Coke Sign: Bring Art & History Downtown campaign and raised more than $100,000 to restore the mural. The mural project’s completion was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

ALBION, MI – Middle and high school students who get a COVID-19 vaccination at three public clinics will be entered to win one year of free tuition at Albion College. Albion College has partnered with the Albion Health Care Alliance, the Battle Creek Family YMCA, the Calhoun County Public Health Department and Marshall Public Schools to organize the clinics, according to an Albion College news release. The clinics are set for:- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 26 at Albion College, with a second-dose clinic on July 17. “We need to get as many children and their parents vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Eric Pessell, health officer for Calhoun County Public Health Department. “With this tremendous opportunity from Albion College, the Albion Health Care Alliance, the Battle Creek Family YMCA and Marshall Public Schools, we can avoid a surge in COVID-19 cases this fall.”READ MORE:Students, staff must have COVID-19 vaccine for fall semester at Albion College, officials sayAll Michigan public universities participating in White House’s COVID-19 College Vaccine ChallengePetition for COVID-19 vaccine mandates gaining steam at Michigan’s public universities

JACKSON, MI -- A trial date has been set for an Albion-area man accused of shooting the mother of his child. Charles D. Wingfield, 29, appeared before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson on June 15 for a pretrial hearing. Wingfield is accused of shooting the woman during a domestic dispute on Sept. 22, 2018, in an apartment complex on Moorman Drive in Jackson. In addition to the September shooting, he faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance, connected to drugs found on him during his October arrest, police said. A trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Aug. 23, with Wilson presiding.

ALBION, MI -- A new mural on the back of Albion Malleable Brewing Company acknowledges the history of the town. Mural artist Kimber Thompson has been working on the mural on the back of the building at 420 S. Superior St. in downtown Albion for the past few weeks and will wrap up the mural by the end of June. The inspiration for the mural draws from Albion College artwork from the then Albion Malleable Iron Works in the 1950′s. “We wanted to pay homage to the foundry workers,” Thompson said. Albion Malleable Brewing co-owner Ben Wade is excited about how the mural is taking shape.

JACKSON, MI-- Many Memorial Day events canceled last year due to COVID in Jackson County are back. BrooklynThe Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade will run through downtown Brooklyn and is set to start at 10 a.m on May 31. ConcordThe Concord Memorial Day Parade will begin at Concord Middle School at 10 a.m on May 31. The Jackson County Veterans Council is hosting a Memorial Day parade on May 31. MarshallThe Marshall Memorial Day parade was cancelled, however the local American Legion is hosting a ceremony at Brooks Memorial Fountain at 10 a.m. on Monday.

ALBION, MI – Albion College students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning for the fall semester, college officials announced Wednesday, May 19. Albion College worked closely with the Calhoun County Health Department in a phased rollout of vaccinations for students, faculty and staff through seven on-campus and nearby clinics in March. Classes for the fall semester at Albion will be 100% in person, the college announced in March. A petition calling for COVID-19 vaccine mandates on more than a dozen university campuses in the state has more gotten more than 2,300 signatures. Petition for COVID-19 vaccine mandates gaining steam at Michigan’s public universitiesREAD MORE:100% in-person classes coming to Albion College for fall semesterAlbion College returns 500-year-old Mayan urn to Mexican governmentRacist graffiti found in college dorm condemned by Albion community leaders

Train trips between Detroit and Chicago will be a little faster starting May 25, as the Amtrak trains will speed up from 79 mph to 110 mph between Kalamazoo and Albion. This will become the longest stretch of track at 110 mph in the United States outside of the northeast, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari. While the trains will go faster for a 45-mile stretch, Amtrak isn’t changing its schedule yet to reflect a shorter trip time. Second train to Chicago to returnPre-pandemic, Amtrak had three trains leave from Pontiac and Chicago each day traveling between each other. Until July 19, Pontiac-bound trains will leave from Chicago at 1:25 p.m., while Chicago-bound trains will leave from Pontiac at 5:43 a.m.

The passenger rail service also will restore a second daily trip between Pontiac/Detroit and Chicago this summer.

Michigan residents donated hundreds of toys, clothes and other items to unaccompanied migrant children being housed in the state under a federal program. “These are unaccompanied children sent here to find a better life,” said Gina Keller, a board member with Fems for Democracy. Unaccompanied children make up the largest demographic group at CBP facilities. A total of 22,264 migrant children are being housed in 200 facilities across 22 states, according to a release from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Volunteers who organized the donation drive said they coordinated with FEMA to transport donations to the Albion facility.

ALBION, MI – A man attempting to cut off and steal a catalytic converter from a car in a Park-N-ride lot near Albion was arrested when police caught him mid-theft. At 2:18 a.m. Sunday, May 9, a deputy saw a suspicious vehicle near the Park-N-Ride on C Drive North near Albion and kept an eye on it, monitoring what the driver was doing, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy saw the man was attempting to cut off the catalytic converter from the vehicle and admitted to the attempted theft when questioned by the deputy, police said. It’s believed the man may be involved in other catalytic converter thefts along the I-94 and I-69 corridor, police said. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.

ALBION, MI – Albion College returned a 500-year-old Mayan urn to the government of Mexico in a repatriation ceremony on April 13. The urn will be displayed alongside a twin urn, the release states. “The recovery of this Mayan urn and reunification with its twin artifact represent an act of great importance for Mexico and its historical heritage. Albion College President Mathew Johnson made numerous trips to Chiapas as a sociology professor at Siena College and West Virginia Wesleyan College. READ MORE:Student responsible for racist graffiti that was found in Albion College dorm, officials say100% in-person classes coming to Albion College for fall semester100 unaccompanied migrant children arrive at Starr Commonwealth Albion campus

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The nonprofit said all of the children will be tested for coronavirus twice -- once before traveling to Michigan and again upon arriving at Starr Commonwealth’s campus.

ALBION, MI — Albion College and the Albion Department of Public Safety say a student is responsible for racist graffiti found in a dorm last weekend. The student admitted to creating most of the graffiti, and video evidence from Albion’s Campus Safety Department confirms the statements made by the student, Kipp said. In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, April 7, college officials said the student was acting alone and acknowledged responsibility for the incidents. The student was immediately removed from campus and placed on temporary suspension while the college conducts a full investigation as part of its student judicial process, college officials said. READ MORE:Racist graffiti found in college dorm condemned by Albion community leadersRacist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion College100% in-person classes coming to Albion College for fall semester

On Tuesday, Albion College issued a statement in response to racist graffiti found in its buildings.

ALBION, MI — Albion College, city of Albion and local NAACP leaders came together virtually Tuesday to stand with Albion College students and the community against racist graffiti found on a dorm wall. Robert Dunklin, the NAACP’s Albion branch president, condemned the graffiti, which included racist epithets and multiple references to the Klu Klux Klan. And we are here to stand with this community and the community of Albion College,” Dunklin said. The college is now offering a $1,000 reward for information that could identify whoever left the graffiti, Albion College President Mathew Johnson said. “We will fight until we win.”READ MORE:Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion College100% in-person classes coming to Albion College for fall semesterIn-person inauguration, commencement ceremonies being planned at Albion College in May

ALBION, MI -- Albion College is offering a $1,000 reward for information that could identify whoever left racist graffiti in a university building last week, the president said in a statement Monday. Graffiti featuring racist epithets and multiple references to the Klu Klux Klan was discovered on a stairwell inside Mitchell Towers on Friday, April 2, university officials confirmed. “The racist and anti-Semitic actions taken on our campus over the last week are cowardly and will not be tolerated,” Albion President Mathew Johnson said in a statement. In addition to caring for and protecting the students most directly impacted, and addressing the safety concerns of the broader student body, we are currently investigating who is responsible for racist graffiti on our campus.”Related: Racist graffiti found in stairwell at Albion CollegeJohnson said the liberal arts college intends to seek criminal charges for whoever is involved in the graffiti. Additionally, if the person or people behind the graffiti are Albion students, they could face suspension or expulsion through a student conduct process.

ALBION, MI - Albion College officials discovered a series of racist graffiti marks sprayed across the stairwell of one of the campus’ buildings, a school representative confirmed. The graffiti contains racist epithets toward Black people, satanic pentagrams and multiple references to the Klu Klux Klan. The written racist messages include the phrases “Die N-----s Please,” “We Do Exist KKK” as well as “White Power.”The messages were discovered on a stairwell inside Mitchell Towers, an Albion College Campus Safety representative confirmed on Sunday, April 4. The incident was referred to the city’s Department of Public Safety, the representative confirmed, and it is being “thoroughly” investigated by the college. Messages left by MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot with an Albion College spokesman and Albion Department of Public Safety Chief Scott Kipp were not immediately returned.

ALBION, Mich. – Michigan State Police have canceled an Endangered Missing Advisory for a five-week-old girl missing from Albion. The girl has been found and is safe, police said Friday morning. When the advisory was issued earlier on Friday, police ssaid Jakayla Shibrea Atchison, 26, had failed to comply with a court order to surrender 5-week-old Samira Lynn Blackmon to Child Protective Services. Atchison was last seen with Blackmon on Thursday night. More: Missing persons in Michigan

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, all 2020 census field operations were suspended, and that has significantly delayed our effort to ensure all Michiganders are going to be counted in 2020, said Michigan Statewide Census Director Kerry Ebersole Singh. We have an immediate, urgent need for volunteers who are willing to commit to making phone calls from home using a virtual phone bank and reminding their fellow Michiganders to complete the census.The request for virtual phone bank volunteers extends to every region of the state. We make the experience of learning how to be a census virtual phone bank volunteer as easy, understandable and hassle-free as possible, said Michigan Statewide Census Deputy Director Dichondra Johnson, who is coordinating the states Be Counted phone bank program. The push to recruit virtual phone bank volunteers is especially great in cities like Detroit and Flint. The census matters now more than ever, especially given the circumstances, said Detroit 2020 Census Campaign Executive Director Victoria Kovari.

The brother of Michigan State University basketball star Cassius Winston died Saturday night after getting hit by a train in Albion, sources confirm. Zachary Winston, 19, was reportedly struck by an Amtrak train shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday night. He was a University of Detroit Jesuit High graduate and Albion College basketball player. As of now it is uncertain whether Cassius Winston will play in the team’s game against Binghamton Sunday night. Police are still investigating the incident.