Local News Archives

At Sanctuary Farms on Detroit’s East Side, Jøn Kent and a team of volunteers use cardboard and paper bags to starve invasive weedy plants instead of using herbicides; they plant marigolds and lavender amid squash, melons, and

The repair bill is in for the Curious Kids Museum building after it was damaged by a fire in July. At a Monday meeting of the St. Joseph City Commission, City Manager John Hodgson said SERVPRO’s costs

A local school is showing it’s never too early to get children learning about computer science. Kindergarteners at Brown Elementary School helped Principal Joe Rommel show the St. Joseph School Board the importance of learning basic coding

St. Joseph City Commissioners have signaled their support for a project that will result in the power lines at West Basin Marina being moved underground. At a Monday meeting, the city commission approved some distribution easements with

37 children will have a brighter Christmas after going on a shopping trip this weekend with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. The department says its annual Shop with a Cop program took pace at the Niles Walmart.

Blossomtime Pageants underway for the 2023 season, and winners are being crowned across southwest Michigan. Here are the results from the Baroda, Eau Claire/Sodus and St. Joseph held their events over the weekend: Miss Baroda – Alexandra

The Berrien County Clerk’s elections staff will take part in some recounts this week. Clerk Sharon Tyler told county commissioners last week there will be local recounts Tuesday. They were requested by candidates in last month’s elections.

A group opposed to allowing marijuana businesses in the village of Stevensville has started a petition to have voters decide the issue. Friends of Stevensville Committee Chair Mary Jo Tomasini tells us the village council voted last

The state’s top doctor says flu cases are increasing in Michigan as RSV cases drop. Chief medical executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian says RSV cases, which usually surge in January, hit the state earlier and the virus affected

An all-hours emergency veterinarian clinic is being proposed for a former Family Video location on 136th Avenue in Holland Township. The township’s planning commission has approved the application from O’Brien Veterinary Group that will save people from

Triple-A Michigan is estimating over 3.5 million Michiganders will travel over 50 miles for the holidays between December 23 and January 2. That is 110,000 more than last year and is predicted to be the third-busiest holiday

A coalition of advocates for Michigan families is pushing Congress to permanently install the Child Tax Credit in its end-of-year spending bill. The initial 2021 expansion of the Child Tax Credit helped bring thousands of Michigan families

A new park is in the works in Oronoko Township. Township Supervisor Mike Hildebrand tells us the new Berrien Springs Community Park is about 20 years in the making as the township bought 20 acres of property

Benton Harbor will be getting free Wi-Fi throughout the community thanks to help from Cornerstone Alliance and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. City commissioners this week approved a Cornerstone plan to install Wi-Fi antennas

The Benton Harbor Planning Commission has voted to recommend a zoning change to make way for a proposed commercial and housing development on Wall Street downtown. At a meeting this past week, the commission was asked to

The frenzy of the Southwest Michigan local housing market has slowed for ten consecutive months in 2022. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors says potential homebuyers have faced significant increases in selling prices for the limited availability

Whirlpool and the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency are preparing for their seventh annual Holiday Food Sharing Program. Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship Director Brandon Haney tells us the organizations team up each year to give a basket

Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer has taken a tour of Van Buren and Cass counties thanks to an invitation from Market Van Buren. Director Zack Morris tells us Messer were in the area this month

There are big plans to improve Hall Park in Benton Harbor. University of Michigan architecture professor Craig Borum told Benton Harbor City Commissioners Monday a series of public meetings was held this year and a survey went

Everyone is being encouraged to get a flu shot to protect themselves and others this holiday season. Terri Adams with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services tells us the flu season has already been heavy

Love Creek County Park has taken in an injured owl that will now be a permanent resident of the facility. Berrien County Chief Naturalist Derek Pelc tells us Whoolio was brought to the park by a wildlife

Berrien County will receive $4 million as a result of a settlement between several states and the makers of opioid painkillers. Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller tells us Michigan is receiving $800 million from the settlement

UPDATE: All lanes are now open on I-94 westbound after Exit 27. A burst of afternoon show caused near whiteout conditions in St. Joseph, Benton Harbor and across southwest Michigan. Several inches of snow fell in a

More than 4,000 diapers have been donated to southwest Michigan organizations for parents in need, thanks United Through Motherhood in Benton Harbor. The donations went out Friday. United Through Motherhood President Ruth Kremer tells us the organization

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding Michiganders of steps they can take to keep themselves safe and healthy when touching or working around livestock. MDHHS and local health departments have been investigating