Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette is telling all local governments and school boards they will be able to hold virtual meetings using Zoom into next year. “Unfortunately, the Legislature had to break for this week because of
There is a new Protect Michigan Commission in the Department of Health and Human Services. Governor Whitmer has created the bipartisan task force, which will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, former Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley,
Families in Dowagiac are getting a little help from the Army National Guard as guardsmen this week launched a food drive at the Family Fare Supermarket. Sergeant First Class Jason Brautigam says they chose to do it
The South Haven City Council approved an addendum to the Café License Agreements for outdoor dining and alcohol to allow outdoor heaters and fans for a group of establishments downtown. “If it can get a heater or
(Detroit, MI – AP) – Mike Duggan will seek a third consecutive four-year term as Detroit’s mayor. Duggan announced his reelection campaign Wednesday during a livestreamed message to city residents and supporters that included endorsements from Democratic
Two Lawton residents are in the Van Buren County Jail on drug charges. The sheriff’s department says they’ve been investigating drug activity in the 500 block of North Street and had several warrants on Jason Daggitt for
Michigan has now lost 10,213 people to COVID-19 since March with 75 new deaths recorded on Wednesday. The number of new cases is 4,905 for a total of 415,200. Governor Whitmer has ordered flags lowered to half-staff
A proposal for a new gas station and convenience store is not backed by the Benton Harbor City Commission. This week, they heard public comment from Yvonne Isom against it. “That Marathon gas station, which is located
It was tied after the November election, with Bruce Gorenflo being declared the winner after a slip of paper drawing. Both he and Rayonte Bell, however, said regardless of that, they’d have a recount in the Berrien
The Buchanan Area Senior Center has had to close immediately for at least the next two weeks. The BASC says it’s due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19 and the entire staff needing to quarantine. They
State Senator Aric Nesbitt is calling for the resignation of Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon. Nesbitt remains upset about the pause order that’s been extended by Gordon for 12 days banning dine-in restaurant
A 21-year-old Illinois man is in the Berrien County Jail on several charges following a police chase Tuesday morning. Darrien Connor was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy doing 88 miles an hour on I-94 eastbound near US
A 27-year-old Benton Township man has died after being shot in the chest early this morning at Briarwood Apartments on Union. Township police were called to the scene just after 4 a.m. and learned two men were
Michigan’s COVID-19 cases are up by 9,350 for Sunday and Monday. The Department of Health and Human Services says deaths rose by 93 since Saturday and are now at 9,947. Total cases since March are at 404,386.
LANSING, MICH. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has extended by 12 days the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities. The additional 12 days will allow the department to
Two people are hospitalized in South Bend after being hurt in an accidental shooting Sunday night. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says 28-year-old David Williamson and 8-year-old Jeremiah Crago were target practicing shortly before 9 p.m. when
One of five co-chairs of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Biden team announced the five on Monday, and it will be chaired by Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina. Also serving
A $500,000 grant is going to the Region IV Area Agency on Aging so it can help to improve health outcomes among seniors. Agency CEO Christine Vanlandingham tells us a 2019 study found seniors need help addressing
The Niles Scream Park has been able to donate more than $109,000 to non-profits thanks to a successful season. Park Manager Aaron Smith tells WSJM News that’s in spite of COVID prompting the park to use a
A Berrien County teacher has been named as the Michigan Farm Bureau’s 2020 Educator of the Year. Steve Rigoni retired from Countryside Academy at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. He was nominated for the statewide
Children in Van Buren County can now get free books thanks to a program at the Van Buren District Library. It says participants in the November Read to Give Challenge logged 790 books during the month, far
The United Way of Southwest Michigan has announced its Volunteer United Youth Scholarship Awards for the season. The group says scholarships are going to Anna Glomski of Paw Paw High School, Jonathan Leach of Ross Beatty High
The Michigan State Police Missing Children’s Clearinghouse is taking entries in this year’s National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. The agency’s Jolene Hardesty tells WSJM News the contest seeks fifth graders to draw up posters bringing attention
Michigan is reporting 6,004 additional cases of COVID-19 for Saturday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services coronavirus website says the state has now had a total of more than 395,000 cases of COVID since the
A Texas man is facing charges after police say he robbed a gas station in St. Joseph and then led officers on a high speed chase early Friday morning. The St. Joseph Township Police Department says officers
Love Creek County Park now has some brand new skiing equipment, thanks to a donation from the Bitzer Family Fund. The Berrien County Parks Department says without the generosity of the fund, it wouldn’t have been possible
State Representative Brad Paquette of Niles is calling for Michigan’s COVID frontliner scholarship program to be expanded. His office has released the following: State Rep. Brad Paquette, of Niles, is urging Gov. Whitmer to expand the Future
Berrien County saw a slight dip in reported COVID cases in the week after Thanksgiving, but that could be because some testing sites closed down for the holiday. Speaking Friday, Berrien County Health Officer Nicki Britten said
This weekend, Michigan State Police will be holding their annual Stuff a Blue Goose drive. Trooper Holly Higgs with the Niles post tells us why they call the food and toy drive Stuff a Blue Goose. “Traditionally,
Spectrum Health Lakeland President Loren Hamel expects it will be some months before the general population will have a chance to be vaccinated against COVID-19. He said on Friday the Spectrum Health system is waiting on its
