Niles

NILES - The man accused in a double murder in Niles two and a half years ago is now facing two felony murder charges and gun charges. Police first contacted Kieth Lintz Jr., 28, or Niles almost 1 week after the Feb. 5, 2010 murders, and he was a person of interest in the case ever since. The investigation eventually spanned 4 states, 725 tips, and more than 300 interviews. Lintz appeared via video conference in front of a Cass County judge Thursday morning. He was charged with two counts of felony murder and carrying a firearm to commit a felony.

NILES - In a Thursday-morning news conference, police said  28-year-old Keith Lintz of Niles had been a suspect in the murder of John and Carolyn Tarwacki almost from the start. They first contacted him almost 1 week after the  Feb. 5, 2010 murders , in an investigation that eventually spanned 4 states, 725 tips, and more than 300 interviews. Lintz was arraigned in court Thursday morning. Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz accused him of stabbing John Tarwacki ten times and shooting him twice.

NILES - Traffic is no longer backed up after a stretch of U.S. 31 was closed early this morning following a semi accident. The accident happened just after 4 a.m. A semi tipped over. The truck was carrying 90,000 pounds of shingles. Clean up crews had to unload the shingles by hand onto another trailer. WSBT was told the driver was hurt, but his injuries were minor and he is expected to be OK. But because of the crash and the fuel that spilled, the portion of U.S. 31 Northbound was closed for awhile.

NILES - Late September is always a popular time for Niles. But this fall is reason to celebrate! This September marks 40 years for the annual 4 flags area Apple Festival. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to attend what's known as one of Michigan's top festivals. There are carnival rides, apple treats and dozens of free events all weekend long. Organizers say there is something for everyone this year. "We have apple seed popping, apple peeling, apple pie eating, apple baking,” said Festival organizer Pat Teeter.

A sign meant to scare people into coming to the Niles Haunted Scream Park has some people steaming. The Scream Park's theme this year includes a zombie, in a suit, on a political style yard sign that reads “FEAR 2012.” WSBT's Facebook and website have been inundated with comments from people both supporting and slamming the Scream Park's theme. Since the late 1970's, the goal of the Niles Scream Park is to scare. And it seems to be working, with an average of 30,000 visitors expected to pass through the spook-filled grounds over the next six weekends before Halloween.

NILES - Teachers and students alike at Howard and James Ellis Elementary schools coped as best they could today in the wake of a traffic accident that claimed the lives of two students. Given the cohesion of instructors and students, it wasn't easy. “This has had a huge impact on our whole family," said Michelle Asmus, the principal at the side-by-side schools. Sophia True, 6, of Niles, a first-grade student at Ellis, died at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles shortly after the 3:50 p.m. Tuesday accident at Michigan 60 and Leet Road.

A 15-year-old Niles girl was killed in a crash while being pursued by police Sunday. Niles police say they responded to a stolen truck call on Sycamore Street Sunday morning. An officer spotted the truck a few minutes later and tried to stop it. But they say the driver, identified as Jazmyne Rodriquez , wouldn't stop. At one point the pursuit reached speeds of 85 mph. They say she went off the road and hit a tree at Yankee Street west of M-60. Rodriquez died in the crash.

NILES, Mich. - Two suspects, including a man accused of opening fire at a number of people Thursday morning in Niles, were arrested later that night at a South Bend address. The gun believed to be used in the crime was also found hidden at the home, say police. Officers were called to 872 Carberry Rd. in Howard Township just before noon Thursday. A person called 911, saying they had seen someone shooting at individuals in a yard. When officers got to the scene, they found nobody had been hurt, but police were able to confirm that an argument had occurred.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found in St. Joseph County. Health department officials found the infected mosquitoes on the east side of South Bend, though they did not specify exact location.   So, does this mean we're all going to get the disease? In the last two days, two people (one each in Michigan and Indiana) have died from West Nile. No one in St. Joseph County has been affected so far this year, but we're entering the worst season for it … Fall.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana has recorded a West Nile virus death. State Department of Health spokeswoman Amy Reel says a Vanderburgh County resident was the first person to die from the mosquito-borne virus in Indiana this year. She says she could not disclose any information about the victim. The agency says Indiana has six other confirmed cases in five counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Jackson, Marion, and Monroe. There's no vaccine or cure for the disease. The health department says it usually causes West Nile fever, a milder form of the illness that can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands and rash.