Local News Archives

Michigan State Police have made a major drug seizure in Van Buren County. MSP Sergeant Jose Patino out of Paw Paw tells us troopers pulled over an eastbound vehicle on I-94 Thursday and found three kilos of

From the Associated Press — Residents who were falsely accused of defrauding Michigan’s unemployment benefits system have won another legal victory. The state appeals court ruled Thursday that their lawsuit seeking damages from the state should proceed.

Getting underway next Tuesday will be the annual Michigan Department of Natural Resources land auction. DNR resources specialist Michael Michalek tells WSJM News the agency sells off properties obtained through tax reversion to help acquire other properties

New presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg has started a voter registration drive here in Michigan and several other states. Bloomberg Senior Advisor Tim O’Brien tells us he believes Bloomberg is the man to lure non-partisan voters. “Independent voters

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is planning to hold a Citizens Academy next month. It holds the academies so residents can learn about what the sheriff’s department does and get to understand the court system a

Economic development organizations and others are working on making southwest Michigan a more attractive place for young workers to live as they seek to increase the region’s population. On Thursday, Michigan State Demographer Eric Guthrie was in

Foster children in Berrien County will have a happier Christmas this year thanks to the annual Operation Good Cheer. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News Operation Good Cheer is a

The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation has announced its grant recipients for 2019. Secretary Bill Healy tells WSJM News the Rotary is giving out $59,000 to eight groups in the area. It’s a local tradition. “The

As online shopping becomes more prevalent and physical stores continue to shut down, Michigan Works has launched a program to help retail workers who find themselves without a job. Michigan Works Talent Development Manager Samantha Gizzi tells

There will be a formal inauguration for Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad this month. Muhammad was re-elected in November, and now the city says his inaugural will be on December 16. There, he plans to talk about

From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has named an ethics expert to Michigan State University’s governing board as it continues to confront the fallout from Larry Nassar’s sexual assaults. The appointment of Renee Knake on

$116,000 has been donated to 70 charities by the Niles Scream Park following the close of the attraction’s 2019 season. Park secretary Kelly Welch tells WSJM News the non-profit supports organizations picked by its volunteers. “Our group

Winter storms have blocked snowmobile trails across the Upper Peninsula as well as in some parts of the northern Lower Peninsula. Michigan Department of Natural Resources spokesperson John Pepin told Michigan News Network this week riders should

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbot heads to New York next week to tape a segment for the A&E show, Live PD. He tells us the show is flying him out on Tuesday, and he’ll be home

The city of Bridgman is taking action to protect its beach house at Weko Beach from the high water level on Lake Michigan. Bridgman Parks and Recreation Director Milo Root tells WSJM News they’re going to put

Congressman Fred Upton is once again calling for a permanent storage facility for spent nuclear fuel to be created at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. He tells WSJM News the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week voted

A group hoping to pressure Michigan lawmakers into not loosening the state’s term limit laws brought its message to the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area on Wednesday. Scott Tillman, the Michigan coordinator for Don’t Touch Term Limits, tells

Congressman Fred Upton is getting to work on an update to what he says is landmark health legislation from 2016, the 21st Century Cures law. That legislation was designed to speed up the approval process for new

Could Michigan be about to head into a recession? One Michigan State University economist thinks so. Charles Ballard said in a pocast this month for The Institute for Public Public Policy and Social Research while there has

A new president has been hired for the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. Chamber Interim President Greg Parrett tells WSJM News the board on Wednesday voted to appoint Arthur Havlicek to the leadership post. He’s a Bridgman resident

Kathy Yates is the new supervisor of Benton Township. The Benton Township Board of Trustees appointed her to the post on Tuesday night. Yates replaces Kevin White, who was killed in an accident while working along the

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would lift a state ban on using bait to hunt deer, but it faces a veto from Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Bids for garbage collection services are being sought by the city of Benton Harbor. The city this week put out a request for bids, or an RFP, looking for a trash hauler. That’s following last month’s problem

The search for a new superintendent at Benton Harbor Area Schools could be over soon. At a Tuesday meeting, Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education President Joseph Taylor said four finalists for the job will be

The South Haven City Council spent part of its meeting on Monday night reviewing its accomplishments in 2019. City Manager Brian Dissette tells WSJM News housing development was the top priority. Accomplishments on that front have included

This week opened up with part of Main Street in Benton Harbor closed to traffic again due to flooding, although it was opened back up on Tuesday morning. The problem area is near the roundabout by the

It is time to get your flu vaccine. So says the Berrien County Health Department. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News it’s not too late. “Usually, we see flu seasons peak between December and February, but it

The office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced that, as of this week, survivors of sexual assault can seek help via text message. They can text 1-866-238-1454 to receive immediate help and support from trained professionals. The

From the Associated Press — More than 100 antique snowmobiles are expected to cross the Mackinac Bridge as part of the fourth annual Snowmobile the Mac. MLive.com reports the event will be held December 14. Snowmobiles will