SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to live and work in the modern economy.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Kalamazoo RibFest is set to make its triumphant return to Arcadia Creek Festival Place this weekend with some big-time headliners after two consecutive years of pandemic-driven cancellations. Festival promoters expect this year’s festival to be sold out and are encouraging people to purchase tickets in advance. VIP tickets are already sold out for both days. After the festival begins, any remaining tickets can be purchased for $20 per day at the door. Drink tickets are $4 each and can be purchased online in advance or at the festival, using cash or a card.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Disability Network of Southwest Michigan will host the organization’s annual Access for All celebration this week at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market. The market, at 1204 Bank St. in Kalamazoo, will host the celebration, set for 3-5 p.m. on Friday, July 29. “Everyone wants access to their community — with or without a disability, access is what we want,” said Miranda Grunwell, community education coordinator for the network. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in the 2022 RAMP-A-THON, an annual fundraiser to construct and purchase ramps for individuals with mobility disabilities. Grunwell explained that insurance does not always cover the cost of ramp instillation, creating a need for the fundraiser.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – A man robbed a Kalamazoo Township business Sunday night. A man entered a business around 9:50 p.m., July 24, implied he had a weapon and demanded money, the Township of Kalamazoo Police Department said. The business was in the 2000 block of West Main Street, near the intersection with Dartmouth Street, police said. The man then fled in a gold SUV, police said. Police are continuing to investigate and anyone with information is asked to call the township police at 269-488-8911 or anonymously call Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

KALAMAZOO, MI - Ascension Michigan has transferred laundry processing services for its hospitals in Southwest Michigan to Reino Linen Services, starting July 18. The Southwest region of Ascension Michigan includes three hospitals: Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Ascension Borgess-Pipp Hospital in Plainwell and Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital in Dowagiac. Laundry services at Ascension Borgess was formerly managed by Textile Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Borgess Health Alliance Inc. A representative from Ascension Borgess declined to answer additional questions about the change. Ascension Michigan is part of faith-based healthcare organization Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the country and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI – Police released the names of a father and son killed Thursday in a crash with a semitrailer. Albert Richard Fields Jr., 58, and Albert Richard Fields III, 15, both of Middlebury, Indiana, were killed in a crash on U.S. 131, between Youngs Prairie Road and Quarterline Road in Constantine Township, on July 21, Michigan State Police said in a news release. Related: 2 killed in U.S. 131 crash in Southwest Michigan, highway closedA 30-year-old Fresno, California, semitrailer driver was headed south on U.S. 131 when the pickup driven north by Fields Jr. crossed the road’s centerline and hit the semitrailer head-on, MSP said. The crash happened around 11:12 a.m. Thursday, and police closed U.S. 131. It reopened around 5:55 p.m.More from MLive:‘I want justice for Tommy,’ mom pleads 5 years after son killed at Kalamazoo partyRobbers take lottery tickets in Kalamazoo County holdupMichigan mobile home park residents feel stuck as rents climb

BERREIN COUNTY, MI – Police released the name of a road worker who was killed in a crash with an alleged drunk driver. William “Mack” Isom, 57, of Baroda, was killed July 20 while cutting a fallen tree, Berrien Springs Oronoko Township police said. Related: Southwest Michigan road commission worker struck and killed by suspected drunken driverIsom, a Berrien County Road Commission worker, was cutting up the tree on Red Bud Trail near Glendora Road, south of Berrien Springs. A 34-year-old Buchanan driver hit the tree and then hit Isom, police said. More from MLive:Man, 47, accused of shooting at passing cars arraigned in Kalamazoo County2 killed in U.S. 131 crash in Southwest Michigan, highway closedFeeling unsafe at Faster Horses?

KALAMAZOO, MI — Western Michigan University will be expanding its mental health support network in the fall 2022 semester. The UWill program offers virtual mental health counseling through video, phone or chat message. “Michigan State, University of Michigan and Western Michigan University have all signed on because we really like what they have to offer,” Anderson said. At the forum, fourth year resident manager Jack Reeves took the opportunity to share why mental health services were needed, especially in housing and residence life. The service will also factor into the “step care model” the university currently uses to assess how to properly treat students mental health needs.

RICHLAND, MI – Michigan’s softball team will need to replace another starter lost via transfer for the 2023 season, as first baseman Lauren Esman decided earlier this week to continue to her career at Alabama. The former Richland Gull Lake star and 2019 Michigan Miss Softball winner will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Crimson Tide. RELATED: Michigan-bound Lauren Esman named 2019 Miss Softball winnerEarlier this offseason, Michigan lost senior pitcher Alex Storako (Oklahoma), senior catcher Hannah Carson (LSU), sophomore utility player Annabelle Widra (Auburn) to the transfer portal. Her lone loss was a 1-0 contest against state runner-up Howell in the Division 1 regional finals. MORE:Michigan softball loses another pitcher to transfer portalFormer Michigan softball ace announces transfer destinationTwo Michigan softball all-Big Ten players enter NCAA transfer portal

Ottawa County sheriff’s deputies say two of the people, including a 14-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries in the crash. The crash was reported around 7:40 p.m. Saturday, July 2, in the 500 block of Port Sheldon Street. The 27-year-old Hudsonville woman suffered injuries she is expected to survive, deputies said. The 59-year-old Jenison woman and her passenger, a 14-year-old Jenison boy, suffered serious injuries and were taken to an area hospital. Port Sheldon Street was closed for several hours to investigate the crash and clean it up.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Southwest Michigan is getting an influx of new inpatient psychiatric beds, thanks to two major projects in the works. But those projects still won’t solve the dire shortage of inpatient care, according to local officials and state estimates. The projects: Bronson Healthcare is building a 96-bed facility along M-66 just south of I-94 in Battle Creek, and a South Bend, Indiana, company just broke ground on a 64-bed psychiatric hospital along Ninth Street in Texas Township. Both facilities are expected to open next summer.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – All lanes are blocked at the southbound U.S. 131 ramp to eastbound I-94 exit. A crash caused all the lanes to be blocked around 12:43 p.m. on July 1, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. There is no additional information available at this time. More from MLive:It’s legal to shoot off fireworks for the Fourth. But Portage wishes you wouldn’tCar fully engulfed in fire after hitting tree in Southwest Michigan“A major step forward:’ Proposed Grand Rapids amphitheater gets $30M in state budget deal

Admittedly, DeBoer, who has served as president and CEO of Advia since 2004 when it was known as First Community Federal Credit Union, did. Currently, there are about 120 Advia employees working out of the new building, but the building can accommodate 500. Advia broke ground on the Oshtemo Township property in 2019, and after some pandemic-related delays was able to finally open in January. The third floor is not yet occupied, but was built with the anticipation of continued growth, Loftis said. During the ribbon cutting, Kalmbach also presented $5,000 checks to Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity as well as Oshtemo Township Parks and Recreation.

Located in Cass County, Michigan, the Dr. T.K. Lawless Dark Sky Park is the only International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) certified Dark Sky Park in southern Michigan.

KENT COUNTY, MI – With West Michigan under a heat advisory through late Wednesday, a number of cooling centers have opened in Kent and Ottawa counties. However, heat indexes for the region will make the temperature feel as hot as 100 to 104 degrees, weather officials say. Related: 3 levels of heat warnings now affect over 6 million in MichiganAll three cooling centers in Kent County are located in Grand Rapids. Matt Groesser, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said there likely would’ve been more cooling centers added to the list if last night’s storms knocked out power across the area. Degage Ministries, located at 144 S Division Ave., will keep its community center open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as a cooling center so long as temperatures remain above 90 degrees.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI – Several thousand utility customers, many in Southwest Michigan, are without power Tuesday, June 14, after an overnight storm. The outages occur as high temperatures are forecast for the next two days.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) made the announcement Thursday, June 2. MDOT and the Great Lakes Central Railroad will provide a 50% match the funding of this project, per federal authorities. The West Michigan Railroad Co. will receive up to $8.7 million to fund infrastructure improvements on roughly 10 miles of West Michigan Railroad in Southwest Michigan. The West Michigan Railroad Co. and MDOT will match funding for this project by 35%. Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne see big case drop: Michigan COVID data for Thursday, June 2Ford’s $2 billion investment will bring 3,200 jobs to Michigan

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced $30 million in rail infrastructure funding for Michigan. The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program awarded $368 million to 46 projects across 32 states and Michigan’s projects were selected.

KALAMAZOO, MI — After two years without many Memorial Day ceremonies and activities taking place due to the pandemic, parades and services are returning to Southwest Michigan in 2022. The annual Memorial Day event, for the first time since 2019, will then take place at the cemetery grounds at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29. The Military Color Guard participates in a ceremony at the Riverside Ceremony following the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (MLive file photo)Also returning for the first time since 2019 is the Kalamazoo Memorial Day Parade and ensuing service, co-sponsored by Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. The Portage Memorial Day Parade, traditionally hosted by VFW Post 5855, will not be held for the third consecutive year.

East Kentwood’s boys and girls teams used their deep and talented lineups to each capture first place, but there were plenty of Kalamazoo-area athletes that took home championship honors. PHOTOS: See our gallery from the Division 1 regional meet at Portage CentralKalamazoo Central led the local schools with seven regional champs, led by speedy freshman Susana Roberts, who won the 100-meter dash and anchored the winning 400- and 800-meter relay teams. Kalamazoo Central's Susana Roberts runs a race at the Division 1 track regionals at Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan on Friday, May 20, 2022. Click here to see full results from Saturday’s regional meet at Portage Central. Each of the winners advance to the Division 1 state finals, which take place Saturday, June 4 at Rockford High School.

Four Indiana juveniles have been pulled from the waters off a Lake Michigan beach in Southwestern Michigan.

CALHOUN COUNTY, MI – A 34-year-old Battle Creek woman was killed in a head-on collision Tuesday morning, police said, while attempting to pass another vehicle. Police responded to a 6:10 a.m. report of a two-vehicle crash near Michigan Avenue and 15 Mile Road in Marshall Township. Police said a passenger vehicle, driven by a 34-year-old Battle Creek woman, was headed westbound on Michigan and tried to overtake/pass a vehicle that was also traveling westbound. The woman was not able to complete the pass and hit a full-size pickup truck that was headed eastbound. Police said the driver of the truck, a 62-year-old Battle Creek man, was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Class of 2019 Paw Paw graduate and current University of Michigan offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart and three of his teammates – quarterback Cade McNamara, offensive lineman Trevor Keegan and defensive lineman Braiden McGregor – will host a youth football camp at the high school from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 14. The camp is open for third graders to incoming eighth graders, and registration is $30. Prospective campers can pay with cash or check at the event or pay in advance using the Venmo code @Karsen-Barnhart. 26 prospect in the class of 2020, was the highest-ranked recruit of the four, and Barnhart is certainly the most well-known around Paw Paw, after playing four years of varsity football for the Red Wolves. “He loves Paw Paw; his family loves Paw Paw; they’re still a big part in the football program, and Karsen wants to be involved as much as possible.

Bernhard Raimann’s football journey started in Vienna, Austria, and his winding road on the gridiron will continue in Indianapolis, after the Colts selected the former Central Michigan offensive lineman Friday in the third round, 77th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft. The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Steinbrunn, Austria native is the second CMU lineman to hear his name called Friday, joining former Chippewa teammate Luke Goedeke, who went 57th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A chance encounter with some neighborhood kids in his Austrian hometown introduced Raimann to the game and prompted him to pursue football in the United States through an exchange program that brought him to Delton Kellogg High School. His combination of size and speed translated well to small-school football in Southwest Michigan, where he established himself as a dominant tight end in Delton Kellogg’s run-heavy offense. Among Raimann’s accolades following his senior season were First Team All-MAC honors, MAC Offensive Player of the Year recognition from Pro Football Focus and a second team All-American nod from the Sporting News.

Winter is over here in Southwest Michigan. Here’s how our actual weather stacked up against the historical normals of winter. The summary below gives you a great feel for the basics of this winter’s temperature and snowfall. You’ll notice the temperatures and snowfall varied from below average to above average across southwest Lower Michigan. Remember, winter for weather statistics is Dec. 1 to Feb. 28.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Brewery Vivant is releasing a beer to provide support and funds for humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine. The brewery on Thursday, April 28 will release Anyuta Rye Farmhouse Ale, a rustic rye farmhouse ale made from Ukrainian style rye bread from Field & Fire Bakery in Grand Rapids. The beer is being released as part of Brew for Ukraine, a crisis relief project whose proceeds go to nonprofits operating in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has special significance for Brewery Vivant owner Jason Spaulding. The beer will be available on tap and in cans at Brewery Vivant.

BRETHREN, MI – An incident briefly interrupted access to one of Michigan’s most popular fishing spots on Tuesday morning. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Tippy Dam boating access site located along the Manistee River, off Dilling Road, in Brethren, was closed for about an hour and half after a vehicle was partially submerged in the river. Just before 6 a.m., an angler was backing their boat into the Tippy Dam boating access site. Due to a mechanical issue, the driver could not stop the vehicle, which then backed into the river and partially submerged. Located in Manistee County, Tippy Dam is one of the finest trout, steelhead, and salmon fishing areas in Michigan.

The shuffling of Southwest Michigan high school athletic conferences continues, with a notable change coming to the Southwest 10 Conference in the near future. Lawrence announced earlier this month that it will be leaving the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference for the Southwest 10 beginning with the 2022-23 academic year, while Mendon will be leaving the league ahead of the 2023-24 academic year.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- Two school districts in Kalamazoo County are asking taxpayers to support operating millage proposals for the purpose of funding day-to-day operations. The school districts receive $8,700 per student for the 2021-22 school year. Vicksburg Superintendent Keevin O’Neill said the operating millage helps to fund the district’s general fund that covers teachers’ salaries, student programs, services and other day-to-day operations. He said Vicksburg’s operating millage was first approved by voters in 1994 and has been renewed every five years since. “These are funds used for general fund operating expenses and the loss of them would have catastrophic consequences,” Newington said.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Does your favorite teacher go the extra mile in the classroom to help you learn? Nominate them for a day of recognition and fun in the sun. One winning teacher in Southwest Michigan will be honored as “Teacher of the Year” with tickets to a Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game and on-field recognition, according to a press release from the Kalamazoo Growlers and Honor Credit Union.

BATTLE CREEK, MI – Workers at a marijuana provisioning center have formed a union. Workers at Heritage Provisioning, 3769 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek voted to form a union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951 said in a news release. It is the first group to authorize a union at a retail cannabis facility in the western portion of Michigan, UFCW said. The grand opening for the Battle Creek shop is scheduled for Thursday, April 20. All employees at the provisioning center in Battle Creek joined, the release said.

RIVERVIEW, MI – A business owner was allegedly shot by a former employee in a parking lot on Thursday, April 14, in southeast Michigan, WDIV Local 4 reports. Riverview police officers responded around 6:09 p.m. on Thursday to a report of shots fired in the 11000 block of Longsdorf Avenue. They discovered the business owner shot in the parking lot. Employees told police that Nathan Scott Bottrell, 32, of Riverview, had shot the owner and then had fled on a bicycle, the report said. Bottrell is charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, felonious assault and three felony firearm violations.

VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI – Four people were injured in a shooting that happened behind a sports bar in Southwest Michigan this weekend, police said. Police responded to the shooting at 11:44 p.m. Saturday, April 16, behind the Sporty’s Pub & Veranda Grille, 126 E. Michigan Ave., in Paw Paw. Michigan State Police is helping Paw Paw police with the ongoing investigation. Anyone who witnessed the shooting has been asked to contact Michigan State Police at 269-657-5551 or the Paw Paw Police Department at 269-657-5501. Paw Paw police were assisted at the scene of the shooting by Michigan State Police, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department and the Mattawan Police Department.

VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI -- A Texas man was arrested with more than a pound of cocaine in Southwest Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police. Michigan State Police said in a news release that the vehicle and driver were allegedly tied to an organized crime group originating from southern Texas. Troopers located a package of cocaine weighing 460 grams, which equals just over one pound. The driver, identified by police as 49-year-old Rodolfo Cantu of Alamo, Texas, was arrested and lodged at the Van Buren County Jail for felony drug charges, police said. This project was supported by federal grant funding awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and administered by the Michigan State Police (MSP).

LANSING, MI – A group lobbying for stricter gun laws in Michigan says a citizen-led ballot initiative could be on the horizon if the state’s Republican-controlled legislature does not take action soon on gun safety legislation. Rector-Brooks said the group is eyeing a ballot initiative in the 2024 election cycle, if lawmakers don’t take action soon on the proposed gun safety legislation. The group launched an exploratory committee in February to look into the possibility of a 2024 ballot initiative. RELATED: Group teases possible 2024 ballot initiative to change Michigan gun lawsRector-Brooks said the group thinks the support is there among Michiganders for gun safety reform. The End Gun Violence Michigan group includes the Michigan chapter of the national March for Our Lives organization, the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity and Oakland Forward and Interfaith Action of Southwest Michigan.

If you win Michigan teacher of the year, what issues do you see as priority to address in your role? For me, one of the largest deficits in education has been the lack of financial literacy opportunities for students. Financial literacy is an equity issue. Students who possess financial literacy have a better chance at achieving financial stability by avoiding poor financial decisions and pitfalls in the first place. A well rounded social studies education includes aspects of history, geography, economics, and civics.

Fred Upton, Michigan’s longest serving member of Congress, is retiring, he announced today from the House floor. Upton is Michigan’s longest serving member of Congress. “I worked daily on all things Michigan,” Upton said. In 2020, for the 18th time, Upton won reelection to his seat representing Michigan’s 6th Congressional District. The final results of Michigan’s 6th Congressional race left Upton with 58.1% of the vote and Democrat Jon Hoadley with 37.89% of the vote.

NOVI, MI – A 28-year-old woman is dead after a three-vehicle pile-up at the approach to a construction zone on I-96 in southeast Michigan over the weekend, WDIV Local 4 reports. He was traveling at 70 mph while approaching a construction zone, failed to stop and rear-ended a red Kia, sending it into a red Subaru. A 28-year-old Farmington Hills woman was in the backseat of the Kia and died in the collision, police said. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Kia were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the crash.

REDFORD TOWNSHIP, MI – A 53-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run while working at a Marathon gas station in Redford Township over a month ago. The gas station owner is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case. On the night of Feb. 27, the victim was hit by a vehicle driven by shoplifters outside the store on Telegraph Road near I-96 in Redford Township, according to the report. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died of the injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call the Redford Police Department at 313-387-2500.

IRON COUNTY, WI -- Police recovered the body of a missing Wisconsin hiker Sunday, three days after she was reported missing. Musgrove had not been heard from since March 26 when she went for a hike at the Potato River Falls in Gurney, Wisconsin. Police officially declared Musgrove missing on March 30 after she never returned from the hike. WBAY-2 reports Musgrove was a Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellow at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. READ MORE:15-year-old student charged after bringing gun to Michigan high schoolEndangered missing advisory issued for 22-year-old woman after vehicle found ‘abandoned’ in Southwest MichiganFlint police investigate Sunday homicide on city’s west sideState police searching Southwest Michigan river in missing person investigation

BERRIEN COUNTY, MI – Police are searching for a car they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash. Monica Clubb, of Niles, was on South 3rd Street near Brooks Street in a Niles Township residential area around 4:42 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, when she was hit by a vehicle that left the scene, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office said. Related: Police searching for Jeep or other SUV after fatal hit-and-run in Berrien CountyPolice believe a newer light brown or pewter colored Chevrolet Trax of Buick Encore was the vehicle involved in the crash, a Tuesday, March 29 news release from police said. Anyone who recognizes the car or knows the owner is asked to call the sheriff’s detective bureau at 269-983-7111 extension 7224 or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-7867. Police previously ruled out the possibility that a black Jeep Compass or smaller SUV were involved in the fatal hit-and-run, the sheriff’s office said.

HOLLAND, MI – Police took a 55-year-old man into custody Monday night in connection to a shooting reported at a Holland-area business earlier in the day. Police said there is no longer any threat to the community. The suspect was taken into custody around 7:45 p.m. and will be lodged at the Ottawa County Jail once medically cleared, Ottawa County sheriff’s deputies said in a news release. Police tracked the man to the 12100 block of Falcon Lake in Holland Township. Police first responded at 6:48 a.m. to a report of a person with a gun and an injured victim at Adient on Douglas Avenue in Holland Township.

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo’s housing crisis has been described as complex, with many different issues that intersect, and often a variety of challenges that face different people. Read and listen to the WMUK series here:WMUK’s Sehvilla Mann authored the stories, which give readers a look at what happens behind the scenes as officials work to come up with solutions to the housing shortage, and as families navigate the housing shortage. Reporter Ryan Boldrey and photographer/videographer Joel Bissell of MLive/Kalamazoo collaborated with WMUK on the series. “It was absolutely the right time to dive in and start talking to people,” Mann said. “This was an important series of stories on a crucial issue in our community,” Ciokajlo said.

THREE RIVERS, MI -- State Rep. Steve Carra announced today he will seek re-election to the state house, changing his earlier plans to run for U.S. Congress. “It’s an honor to have his support, it’s amazing,” Carra said about Trump. Since he no longer lives in the district, running for state house is his route forward, he said. Carra was elected to represent the 59th District in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2020. He then worked as a legislative aide for State Rep. Steve Johnson, before running for state office himself.

ROSEVILLE, MI -- Dooley’s Tavern will not reopen following a fatal shooting that took place at the bar Saturday night. Julius Bing, 36, was working as a bouncer at the bar Saturday when just before midnight he was attempting to remove a customer from the venue. Bing was transported to a nearby hospital following the shooting, but was pronounced dead. Bing was working the night of the other fatal shooting at the bar, when in 2019 someone was killed in a bathroom. A 25-year-old Farmington Hills man was arrested following Bing’s shooting and is expected to be arraigned on charges later this week related to Bing’s death.

The congressman who represents Southwest Michigan has called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a criminal and a thug” as Russian forces invaded Ukraine. “I support every effort to impose swift and severe sanctions on Russia immediately,” Upton said, in a statement posted on social media just before noon Thursday, Feb. 24. “Earlier this week the world watched in horror as Russia violently invaded Ukraine” the congressman said. “Today, President Biden announced the U.S. will implement increased sanctions against Russia. “Russia’s economy is heavily reliant on energy exports, the United States and its allies shouldn’t continue purchasing Russian energy, which Putin is using to commit war crimes against Ukraine.

BERRIEN COUNTY, MI – An Indiana man was arrested Thursday in the murder of a Niles-area woman, almost exactly 35 years after she was killed. A 67-year-old man from South Bend was arrested Feb. 17, for the murder of Roxanne Leigh Wood, according to a news release from the Michigan State Police. The prosecutor’s office expects to charge the South Bend man with open murder and breaking and entering, Pierangeli said. Her husband, Terry Wood, found his wife dead around 1:15 a.m. on Feb. 20, 1987, police said. Investigators do not know if the South Bend man had any connection to Wood, Christensen said.

LANSING, MI — A new organization called End Gun Violence Michigan has launched an “exploratory committee” to look into the possibility of passing changes to Michigan’s gun laws through a citizen-led ballot initiative instead of through the Republican-controlled Legislature. This is deeply sick.”Senate Democrats are pushing several bill packages aimed at reducing gun violence in Michigan despite there being no clear legislative route to pass the measures. Gold has spent the last two decades as a gun safety instructor and gave an impassioned statement Tuesday urging other responsible gun owners to stand up for gun safety laws. Speaking about unsafe storage, Gold referenced several incidents of Michigan children finding guns that wound up injuring or killing themselves or their family members. “(End Gun Violence Michigan) was just founded, so, getting organized, prepared and getting things legal all takes time and we’re not going to do this the wrong way.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN -- As heavy snow and slippery roads slammed a large swath of Michigan, several Southwest Michigan school districts already are announcing closures for Thursday, Feb. 3. The districts to make the announcement so far include Kalamazoo Public Schools, Portage Public Schools, Gull Lake Community Schools, Schoolcraft Community Schools, Parchment Schools (high school students have distance learning), Galesburg-August Community Schools, Comstock Public Schools, Paw Paw Public Schools, South Haven Public Schools and Three Rivers Community Schools. For a complete list of closures, go here. According to National Weather Service spotter reports, some areas of Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties received 9-12 inches of snow throughout Wednesday. More from MLiveSecond round of heavy snow for southeast Michigan, map shows how much more in next 24 hoursGrand Haven financial advisor is latest Republican to join race for Michigan governor

KALAMAZOO, MI -- All school evening activities including sports practices are canceled Wednesday in Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo Public Schools announced the closure Wednesday afternoon as snow continues to blanket the entire Southwest Michigan area. “Since our area remains under a winter storm warning, all practices, sporting events, and after-school activities are also canceled for today, Feb. 2, 2022,” the district said in a Facebook post. The Winter Storm Warning is in effect through 11 p.m. Thursday. Also on MLive:Western Michigan University cancels classes due to snowstormGrand Rapids, Kalamazoo, southwest Michigan snowstorm: Updated snow forecastAs winter storm intensifies, real-time online map tracks Michigan road conditions, snow plows

Schools are canceling classes for Wednesday, Feb. 2, as heavy snow is expected to fall. All of Southwest Michigan is under a winter storm warning that predicts around a foot of snow to fall through Thursday, Feb. 3. Most of the snow is expected along and south of I-94. Kalamazoo County:Augusta AcademyGalesburg-Augusta SchoolsGull Lake Community SchoolsKalamazoo Public SchoolsKalamazoo RESAOakland AcademyPortage Public SchoolsSchoolcraft Community SchoolsSt. Augustine Catholic SchoolSt. Monica SchoolVicksburg Community SchoolsBerrien County:Lake Michigan College – all sitesThis article will be updated if additional districts cancel school. More from MLive:West Michigan schools closings for Wednesday, Feb. 2Over 5 million Michiganders just added to Winter Storm WarningWhen the snowstorm starts: Timeline on the heavy snowAmtrak cancels routes in Michigan before snowstorm hits

Heavy snow is expected in Southwest Michigan, where a Winter Storm Warning will be in effect from 2 a.m. Wednesday 11 p.m. Thursday. “Staying home will keep you safe and will help emergency crews focus on improving road conditions and assisting those who need it. The snow, combined with gusting winds, is expected to cause low visibility and hazardous driving conditions, the Michigan State Police said, urging people to prepare. Slow down when visibility is low or when road conditions are snowy or icy. If you must drive, MSP encourages drivers to check travel conditions and weather reports before driving at www.michigan.gov/roadconditions.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to the work of LGBTQ+ equality in Southwest Michigan in the past year? Nominations for recipients of the 2022 #AlwaysOutFront Awards are being accepted online beginning Tuesday, Feb. 1. “We are excited to have our AlwaysOutFront Awards ceremony in person this year with COVID precautions in place,” said Amy Hunter, executive director of OutFront Kalamazoo, in a statement. “We encourage the community to nominate those individuals who have helped LGBTQ+ individuals so that we may acknowledge and honor them.”The annual awards began being presented out in 2009. Prior honorees or individuals who currently serve on the staff or board of directors of OutFront Kalamazoo are ineligible for nomination.

It’s been several years since the start of the Flint water crisis, but the issue doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon in Michigan, and perhaps around the U.S.

It’s been several years since the start of the Flint water crisis, but the issue doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon in Michigan, and perhaps around the U.S.

Earlier this evening, three Southeast Michigan counties had Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. With additional stormy activity to come, we can not rule out additional alerts before tonight is over.

A man accused of killing two neighbors in southwestern Michigan told police that he shot them last week because they were too loud and he couldn't sleep.

One of the most interesting climate solutions is right beneath our toes, in the soil: Regenerative farming.

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A police cruiser has been stolen and wrecked in southwestern Michigan by a 25-year-old woman who slipped from handcuffs after being arrested earlier for drunken driving. The woman had been taken into custody about 3 a.m. Monday after a crash in Lockport Township, authorities said. She was placed in the rear seat of a St. Joseph sheriff’s office vehicle. The sheriff’s office said she drove off in the cruiser but struck a utility pole and several trees. Lockport Township is north of Michigan’s state line with Indiana.

PAW PAW, Mich. – The leader of a school district in southwestern Michigan said he will recommend that the Redskins nickname be dropped. Paw Paw Superintendent Rick Reo said he will take his message to the school board on March 9. “Our nickname is preventing us from realizing our true potential as a school that welcomes, celebrates, supports and challenges all students,” Reo said in a district newsletter. The Paw Paw board voted in 2017 to keep the nickname and mascot. Reo said he believes the district originally chose Redskins to "celebrate the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans."

PAW PAW, Mich. – Michigan State Police seized three kilograms of fentanyl during a traffic stop on I-94 in Southwest Michigan. Michigan State Police made the stop in Van Buren County after troopers spotted “several indicators of criminal activity,” eventually searching the vehicle and finding the hidden drugs, WOOD TV reports. “The amount of fentanyl involved in this case is alarming and not typical of what we see day to day,” Capt. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery.

(CNN) - Four additional cases of Eastern equine encephalitis, including two deaths, have been confirmed in Southwest Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. Michigan has confirmed seven total EEE cases, including three deaths, officials said. Typically, only 5 to 10 human EEE cases are reported every year, but about 30% of all cases result in death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to the Michigan cases, two more people in Rhode Island have been diagnosed with EEE, the Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management said Tuesday. In Massachusetts, there have been eight human EEE cases, the Massachusetts Department of Health said Friday.