Supporters of more transparency in government are praising Governor Whitmer for issuing executive orders that require state employees to use official email for state business and to refrain from political campaign activities on state time. Progress Michigan
With the Michigan Legislature controlled by Republicans and all executive branch offices occupied by Democrats, can or will anything get done over the next two years? Governor Whitmer is pledging to find common ground with GOP leaders
Comments from freshman Detroit Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib are not sitting well with other members of the Democratic Party in Washington. Tlaib said this to loud cheers Thursday night regarding President Trump: “When your son looks at you
Congressman Fred Upton is breaking from President Trump and hardline Republicans who want to put up a wall along the Mexican border. He is among the GOP members of the House who joined Democrats to approve bills
The Berrien County Conservation District is taking registrations for a produce safety training session it’s offering for free to those who bring food from the farm to the consumer. This is the first such class it’s offered,
This is the time of year when tax scams are on the rise. The Michigan Department of Treasury warns scammers are likely to hit at the beginning of the year — right before tax season — so
A new failed condition roads policy has been adopted by the Van Buren County Road Commission that has the agency pulverizing and turning into gravel roads that are found not fit to be patched. The road commission
Kinexus has helped to secure a $1.9 million grant for southwest Michigan businesses to train workers. The money comes from the state’s Going Pro Talent Fund to help 43 local employers enhance their staff. Kinexus Director of
Several new members of Congress have taken the oath of office, some in the Michigan delegation, but it’s all in the midst of a partial federal government shutdown. President Donald Trump and congressional leaders plan to meet
There’s a new chair in charge of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. At Thursday’s organizational meeting of the board, Commissioner R. McKinley Elliott — more commonly known as Mac Elliot — was selected as the new
Two people had to be freed from the wreckage of their vehicles following a crash in Cass County Wednesday. It happened on M-60 near Calvin Center in Penn Township around 5:30 p.m. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department
Baroda-Lake Township police managed to make a drug bust during a traffic stop on I-94 on Wednesday. The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department tells us Officer John Hopkins stopped a vehicle for speeding on westbound 94 near mile
Two of the suspects in the robbery of the Stevensville Meijer store last month have been arrested. The Lincoln Township Police Department tells us it got a strong lead within the first hour of its investigation of
The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is getting a bullet and stab protective vest for one of its K9s thanks to a donation. Vested Interest in K9s, a group that gives police dogs protective vests throughout the
Sold – for $2.5 million. That’s what Muhammad Ali’s 81-acre estate in Berrien Springs went for last month, six months after his widow Lonnie put the property on the market with an asking price of two-million-895-thousand-37 dollars.
A new year brings a new chief of police for Benton Township. With the retirement of former Chief Vince Fetke, Chief Brian Smit started this week. Smit tells WSJM News he’s excited to move up in the
A property foreclosure lawsuit headed to the Michigan Supreme Court is being watched closely by county treasurers across the state. That includes Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski, who tells us the results in the Oakland County case
From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is directing state employees to immediately report all “imminent” threats to public health, safety or welfare higher up the chain. The Democrat issued her first executive directive Wednesday, a
By Doug Cunningham Southwestern Michigan College is happy with legislative action exempting part-time student workers from the teacher’s retirement system. But it took a lawsuit to get there. Southwestern Michigan College President Dr. David Matthews says the
As many federal government employees go without pay because of the partial government shutdown, a market in northern Michigan is pitching in to help U.S. Coast Guard members. The Bayside Market in Traverse City is allowing the
The legislative goals for new state Representative Pauline Wendzel for northern Berrien County remain unchanged from what she ran on last year. “Bringing good paying jobs back to our community, fixing the roads, which I know is
The first baby born at The BirthPlace at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph waited a little while to make his appearance. The hospital says Isai Balcazar was born at 8:58 p.m. on New Year’s Day to
Firefighters with South Haven Area Emergency Services began 2019 the same way they ended 2018, battling a house fire. They were called to a house in Geneva Township around 10:15 last night when the homeowner returned to
For those hoping for a hike in the state’s minimum wage at the start of the year as some reports had indicated, there is disappointment. Michigan’s minimum wage will increase by 20¢ an hour, but not until
The state lawmakers who represented southwest Michigan in Lansing during the most recent legislative session get gold stars for attendance. According to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s annual report on missed votes by lawmakers, state Senator
A group is collecting petition signatures targeting Nestle. Activist Helen Moore tells Michigan News Network they’ll present the signatures to the new Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Stop trying to trick the people,” Moore said. “We need some help
A 35-year-old Benton Harbor man is being treated at Spectrum Health Lakeland after being shot several times during an argument at a house party in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. James Parker-Hersey was immediately
Divided government is back in Michigan with the inauguration of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans in the majority of the state House and Senate. In front of the state Capitol on New Year’s Day, the former
By Doug Cunningham Josh Hovey is spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol – the group that successfully steered Michigan’s ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana. Hovey says as the state works out the finer
St. Joseph Township police are investigating the New Year’s Eve murder of an active duty soldier. 23-year-old Tyrone Hassell the Third was shot several times at a home in the two-thousand block of Colfax Avenue just after
