“It’s time.” Those are the words of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nesel regarding protections for LGBTQ people under Michigan’s civil rights law. Currently, a petition campaign by “Fair and Equal Michigan” is trying to gather more than
The staircase at Cherry Beach in Chikaming Township has been closed as a result of the wild action on Lake Michigan lately. Chikaming Township Parks, Preserves, and Beaches posted pictures of the staircase to its Facebook page
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a missing woman. It says 28-year-old Alexa Christine Knooihuizen was reported missing by family on December 30 after she didn’t come to visit her children over Christmas. The department
From the Associated Press — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office is working to add a third gender option on Michigan licenses and ID cards. According to The Detroit News, Benson had previously attempted for a third
The St. Joseph City Commission is expected to approve holding a joint meeting later this month with the Benton Harbor City Commission and St. Joseph Charter Township Board tonight. The three are set to discuss establishing a
Drivers in Van Buren County are being advised to watch out for intermittent lane and shoulder closures along I-94 for the next few years. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News crews will be
Two Niles residents are facing charges resulting from a standoff last week in Cass County’s Milton Township. Officers from the Fugitive Apprehension Street Team and US Marshal’s Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force went to their
The Disability Network Southwest Michigan will hold a workshop on service animals and emotional support animals this month. Disability Network Community Education Coordinator Miranda Grunwell will lead the discussion, titled “Do’s and Don’ts: Assistance Animals.” She tells
The new United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement will be good for the U.S. economy. That’s the thought of Congressman Fred Upton, who hailed House passage of the NAFTA replacement just before Christmas. He tells WSJM News the new
Employees of United Federal Credit Union have been able to donate more than $16,000 around their communities in the past year thanks to the organization’s Pay it Forward program. With Pay it Forward, UFCU gives each employee
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education has approved a contract for new Superintendent Andrae Townsel. The board voted on the agreement this week with Townsel in attendance. He then sat in with the body for
A couple of meetings are coming up in Van Buren County for residents to learn about a road millage renewal that will be on their March 10 ballot. Van Buren County Road Commission Finance Director Linnea Rader
The Berrien Community Foundation says applications are now available for the next round of Heart of Cook grants. The Heart of Cook program is funded by Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook nuclear power plant and administered by the
The city of New Buffalo has been approved for a $220,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund to improve its dune walk. The city says its dune walk is an
Former state Representative Dave Pagel has been appointed to the Berrien RESA Board of Education. Pagel replaces Linda Holt, who passed away last month. It was up to the RESA board to fill the vacancy, and it
Southwest Michigan workers who want to brush up on their public speaking skills will have a chance to do so next week thanks to a workshop being held by Kinexus. Kinexus New Business Development Director Dan Peat
A new record high level for Lakes Michigan and Huron is expected this year. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District says all of the Great Lakes are starting 2020 higher than last year, when record
Berrien County will have a new prosecutor next year. Prosecuting Attorney Michael Sepic says he will not seek re-election in 2020, saying he will be 70 years old at the end of this current term at the
Michigan’s craft beer industry continues to blossom and expand, but brewers say they’ve got an issue with the cap on how much beer they can distribute on their own without having a contract with a distributor. That
From the Associated Press — Michigan’s tax revenues are slightly higher than anticipated, but Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration and Republicans in the Legislature say it’s not a jackpot for new spending. Economists agreed Friday to forecasts that
The PFAS Action Act of 2019 has passed the US House. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Republican Congressman Fred Upton were the original sponsors of the bill. She says it’s time to take action on addressing the
Utility companies are bracing for the worst with a combination of rain, ice and snow in the forecast. Consumers Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler says they already have crews on standby if they get massive power outages with
A settlement has been reached between Clementine’s in South Haven, Clementine’s Too in St. Joseph, and the U.S. Department of Labor. On Facebook, the restaurant says they were investigated in November by the Labor Department and told
The US House has approved a resolution asserting that President Trump must seek approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. The war powers resolution is not binding on Trump and would not require
Spectrum Health Lakeland has announced new restrictions for visitors due to the flu. The rules are in place at all of the organization’s hospitals in southwest Michigan. Spectrum Health Lakeland says visitors who have not had a
A tax that stood to affect the makers of medical equipment has been repealed, and Congressman Fred Upton intends to keep it that way. He tells WSJM News a spending agreement approved late last year did away
Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research will host a forum next week to explore the implications of the state’s new redistricting commission. It was created by voters in November of 2018 as a
The city of New Buffalo has removed the docks from its municipal marina for the winter. City Manager David Richards tells WSJM News this is in response to the high water levels on Lake Michigan that left
A Goshen, Indiana woman is dead following a crash in Niles Township on Thursday. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says it happened on US-31 near mile marker 6 just before 2:30 p.m. Sheriff’s deputies learned a Chrysler
The Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority has its eye on a partially foreclosed condo complex on Riverview Drive. According to The Herald Palladium, the DDA met this week and voted to express an interest in the New
