State Representative Beth Griffin is passing along some information to those who are trying to file for unemployment benefits. She tells us the unemployment agency’s website is going offline tonight for upgrades to handle all of the
There are 21 new coronavirus cases in the six counties of southwest Michigan, with Berrien County showing the largest increase and still the highest numbers in the area. Berrien’s count is now 52, up 12 from Thursday.
Michiganders who have to stay home from work if they or a close contact have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of the illness now have additional protection due to a new executive order from Governor
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order prohibiting employers from discharging or retaliating against workers who stay home if they or a close contact test positive for COVID-19 or display symptoms. The governor’s office has released
Claims for unemployment benefits continue to skyrocket in Michigan during the coronavirus pandemic. A record 311,000 people filed initial applications last week. That is more than double from the previous week – shattering the previous high of
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an emergency order establishing a penalty of $1,000 for violations of executive orders from the governor intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The department has released
The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising drivers of a highway project to get started in Van Buren County on Monday. It says crews will be repairing the I-196 bridge over the Van Buren Trail. The work
Flint is under a coronavirus curfew. Mayor Sheldon Neeley says effective immediately, there is a city-wide curfew nightly from 9 pm to 6 am for the next 30 days, adding the pandemic needs to be taken seriously.
Alcohol sales skyrocketed in the first days of the COVID-19 crisis, prompting the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to advise people to take it easy. According to data from the Nielsen Market Research Firm, national sales of alcoholic
Berrien County Commissioner Bill Chickering is not seeking reelection. He represents the fifth district, which includes the city of St. Joseph, two precincts in St. Joseph Township, and the village of Shoreham. He told his fellow commissioners
Businesses in Van Buren and Cass counties are being advised to screen their employees for COVID-19 each day. The Van Buren and Cass District Health Department’s Danielle Persky tells WSJM News the Screening Checklist for Businesses lays
Michigan’s chief medical officer says we’ve not yet seen the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun warned Thursday that more people will be getting sick. “The next several weeks are going to be very difficult,
State Senator Kim LaSata and state Representative Pauline Wendzel both say they are “no” votes on a concurrent resolution to extend the current state of emergency and state of disaster by 70 days due to the COVID-19
There are now 10,791 COVID-19 cases in the state, with a total of 417 deaths. The increase from Wednesday to Thursday, however, was not as high in the number of new cases as the day before. There
The Berrien County Health Department is closely monitoring the county’s 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and tracking a lot of potential contacts. County Health Officer Nicki Britten told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners during Thursday’s virtual meeting
The Cook nuclear power plant near Bridgman will do an extended test of its siren system this Saturday. The plant has released the following statement: The regularly-scheduled siren test for Berrien County’s Emergency Alert and Notification System
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has put out a warning about video teleconference hijacking. She says the possibility becomes more of a concern with so many events now taking place via internet due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Governor Whitmer is canceling in-person, face-to-face classes for K-12 schools the rest of this school year. The following is from her office: Executive Order sets guidelines for remote learning, ensures teachers, school employees will be paid for
The following is a statement from the PGA of America and KitchenAid regarding the cancellation of the 2020 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in May. Due to the stay-at-home order in the state of
The Michigan Department of Treasury is advising everyone about scams that are likely coming as a result of the COVID-19 stimulus payments the government is making to everyone. Treasury has released the following statement: Michigan’s taxpayers and
The Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College is offering a new online entertainment series while people are staying at home due to COVID-19. With live shows at the Mendel Center not being held at this time, the
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order declaring a state of disaster and expanding the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her office has released the following statement: Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive
Michigan State Police say rumors that the border has been closed to medical professionals are false. The State Emergency Operations Center has released the following statement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like to remind all travelers
Lake Michigan College’s Fab Lab is making personal protective equipment to help local agencies respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hanson Technology Center Director Chad Dee tells WSJM News the equipment at the makers space has allowed local
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is warning park visitors to maintain social distance when at the attractions. DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson tells WSJM News Tippy Dam Recreation Area in Manistee County was shut
Michigan restaurants are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new survey by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association finds the industry lost $491 million in sales and cut 72,000 jobs
Michigan has another record increase in both the number of coronavirus cases and deaths from the illness over a 24-hour period. The new numbers from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services show 9,334 cases, up
She’s said repeatedly she has no interest in being on the ticket as the running mate for the Democratic presidential nominee, but Gretchen Whitmer is being talked about for that possibility. MSNBC’s Brian Williams asked Democratic front-runner
Curbside bulk pickup by Republic Services in the city of South Haven is being put on hold. Republic Services is suspending that temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but says residents can still use the transfer station
Friends and family are mourning the loss of a 24-year old political intern who died from what is believed to have been complications from COVID-19. Ben Hirschmann was from the Detroit suburb of Roseville and died yesterday.
