Local News Archives

The public will have another chance next week to weigh in on the Berrien County Parks Department’s plans for the next few years with two open houses next week. Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey told WSJM

A new program has been announced by the Berrien Community Foundation to give free hearing aids to low-income seniors. The foundation’s Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News the Starkey Hearing Foundation is expanding to Berrien County this year

One person is dead following a three-vehicle crash in New Buffalo Township Saturday. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us it happened just before 4 p.m. at M-239 just south of Wilson Road. Responding officers learned a

As renovations continue at the Watervliet Parcourse behind Lakeland Hospital Watervliet, a new matching grant for the project has been announced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Lakeland Health Foundations Development Officer Mark Libs tells WSJM News

Spectrum Health Lakeland is notifying another 1,000 patients of a data security issue discovered with one of its vendors. Lakeland says the vendor is OS, Incorporated, a billing services company. It has confirmed to Lakeland an unauthorized

Kinexus is teaming up with the Michigan Department of Transportation for a summer jobs program for young people. 60 youths will be hired for the Youth Development Mentoring Program, says its director, Don Marshall. He tells us

With a measles outbreak going around the country this year, the Berrien County Health Department is reminding everyone to make sure they are vaccinated, and also to be sure their kids get all the vaccines they need.

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan is hoping people will come out to gamble their tails off tonight for the first ever Bets for Pets Casino Night. Humane Society Director Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the event

Throughout this month, flags will be displayed at locations around Michigan to raise awareness of the state’s foster children. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News there are about 13,500 foster

The Cook nuclear power plant near Bridgman is now back up and fully in service. Cook plant spokesperson Bill Downey tells WSJM News the refueling outage for Unit One wrapped up Thursday and the unit was back

The Berrien County Treasurer’s office is starting a new text message service to let people know when their property tax payments are due. The treasurer tells us taxpayers will start getting those messages this month to remind

Three southwest Michigan communities are receiving state grants to improve their roads. Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the road funding grants through a new Community Service Infrastructure Fund program on Thursday. 23 grants are going out statewide, and

Berrien RESA is planning a couple of family reading events around the area for this month. RESA Director of Early Education Kerenda Applebey tells WSJM  News the Parents as Teachers Program and libraries of Berrien County are

The auto insurance reform plan approved this week by the Michigan House will now be reconciled with the plan approved by the Michigan Senate as state lawmakers work to reduce rates for drivers. State Representative Beth Griffin

The United Way of Southwest Michigan has kicked off another Christmas in June food drive. With summer almost here, local food pantries are expecting to see supplies dwindle, and so United Way Campaign Director Charlotte Becker tells

An ATV crash has a 40-year-old Mattawan man hospitalized in Kalamazoo. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says he was riding the vehicle on trails owned by KGC ATV Rental in South Haven when he crashed. The

Rethink the plans. That’s the message from the Niles Township board to the Michigan Department of Transportation when it comes to changes to the intersection of US 12 and Third Street. MDOT is planning to install indirect

A lawsuit is being prepared by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel over PFAS contamination throughout Michigan. She is planning to sue Minnesota-based 3M, the maker of the chemical, which is considered a likely cancer-causing carcinogen. “You can

A crash between a semi and a Jeep towing a trailer on US 31 in Oronoko Township has resulted in the death of the semi driver. Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township Police say he was 58-year-old David Schultz of

The city of South Haven will mark 150 years today. It was on May 10, 1869 that Village President George Hannahs gaveled to order the first meeting of the South Haven Village Council. Exactly 150 years later,

It looks like the number of Benton Harbor High School seniors who will graduate this year is dramatically up from a projection made in March. At that time, Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera said only

This Saturday is everyone’s chance to help make a difference for those in need with the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Mark White is a letter carrier in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph

NBA star Wilson Chandler is teaming up with Cornerstone Alliance to pursue the renovation of the facade of the historic Farmers and Merchants Bank building in downtown Benton Harbor. Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News

Congressman Fred Upton kicked off testimony regarding the U.S. Department of Energy’s budget before the House Subcommittee on Energy Thursday. Speaking to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Upton said the energy budget is critical at a time when

The state of Michigan says a new PFAS contamination site has been found in Van Buren County. Specifically, it’s at the former Du-Wel Metal Products plating facility in the city of Hartford, and residents of Hartford and

A Cass County man with a long criminal history has been found guilty in a shooting case. The Cass County Prosecutor’s office tells us a jury on Wednesday convicted Justin Huffman of assault with a dangerous weapon,

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan is hoping people will come out to gamble their tails off this Saturday for the first ever Bets for Pets Casino Night. Humane Society Director Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the

From the Associated Press — Law enforcement will be unable to permanently take ownership of cash and other property seized in drug cases unless certain conditions are met under legislation signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

A nine-year-old boy is charged with open murder for allegedly shooting his adoptive mother at their home near Sturgis. Investigators say the boy, who came from a troubled home and had a history of mental issues, shot

Under cover of the dead of night, the state House has passed its version of no-fault auto insurance reform. The vote shortly after 2 a.m. overhauls the system and lets drivers completely opt-out of the mandatory unlimited