Local News Archives

Some changes are being made at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph as it struggles to overcome funding challenges. Box Factory Board President Judy Sokolowski tells WSJM News after an emergency meeting of the

The Bissell Pet Foundation wants to get forever homes for as many pets as possible this week with their latest “Empty The Shelters” event. Locally, Van Buren County Animal Control in Hartford and the Al-Van Humane Society

The suspect in the murder of 29-year-old Quintina Jeffries in Benton Harbor on Sunday is dead. Samuel Brown shot himself Tuesday night in St. Joseph after attending the Benton Harbor-Dowagiac basketball game. Brown had been actively posting

From the Associated Press — Recreational marijuana sales totaled about $1.6 million in the inaugural week of business at the first retail shops in Michigan. The Detroit Free Press and MLive.com report sales during the December 1-8

While the state budget impasse is about half-resolved with lawmakers passing supplemental budget bills restoring $573 million dollars cut from the current fiscal year’s budget by line item vetoes, the work isn’t yet done. They and the

Two people from South Haven and one from Bloomingdale will serve two-year terms on the Michigan Blueberry Commission. Governor Whitmer reappointed Creela Hamlin of South Haven to represent at-large growers. She owns Lake Michigan Berry LLC. Cornerstone

Despite a legal victory against a major corporation, some environmental and community groups are not letting their guard down when it comes to protecting Michigan’s water. The Michigan Court of Appeals last week ruled Osceola Township had

As the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education prepares to hold its final interviews with the two remaining candidates for superintendent next week, the community will also have a chance to meet the prospective hires. At

A warning about rental scams has been put out by the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan. It says an in depth investigation it’s done has found 43% of online shoppers have encountered a fake listing and

Berrien County Commissioner Ezra Scott is back home after spending some time in Washington, D.C. last week talking with federal officials about shoreline erosion. Scott introduced the county board resolution asking the governor and state Legislature to

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to debate and vote on two articles of impeachment of President Trump later this week. That could lead to an impeachment vote in the full House by Christmas. So what does

Members of the Michigan Senate have sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking her to declare a state of emergency for the entire Lake Michigan shoreline because of the increasing problem of beach erosion. Among the

The city of Benton Harbor will honor a former mayor next week by naming the municipal building after him. A dedication ceremony for the Wilce L. Cooke Municipal Building will be on Monday. Wilce Cooke was Benton

Efforts are underway from both political parties to try to find ways to bring down the cost of prescription drugs across the country, with each side saying their plan is better than the other. Congressman Fred Upton

The woman shot and killed on Sunday at a home on West May Street in Benton Harbor has been identified by public safety as 29-year-old Quintina Jeffries. No arrests have been made in her murder, but detectives

The man called a person of interest in the disappearance of 30-year-old Jessica Gray is in custody in another state, but she is still missing. Benton Township police confirmed reports this morning that 38-year-old Willie Lark Jr.

From the Associated Press — Michigan farmers and lawmakers want the federal government to impose a hefty tariff on dried tart cherries imported from Turkey, arguing that a subsidy on the fruit is impeding American farmers’ ability

Discussions will continue between the city of St. Joseph and those who live near and along the shoreline whose properties and houses are threatened by the erosion from Lake Michigan. City Manager John Hodgson and others met

The next superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools could be chosen next week by the board of education. Trustees on Monday interviewed four candidates for the job, and then voted to bring back two for additional interviews

St. Joseph City Commissioners don’t want a pay raise. The city’s Municipal Officers Compensation Commission met on Friday for the first time in four years and recommended a 3% increase in what the commissioners are paid, noting

From the Associated Press — A southwest Michigan man has been sentenced to a year in jail for his 16-year-old son’s fatal drug overdose. Prosecutors accused Gary Birkhead of knowingly allowing his son to use illicit drugs

Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski looking back on the first year of his office’s Hopeful Home Fund as a success. He says the fund was started after donations poured in to pay off the property taxes of

Michigan lawmakers and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are expected to approve some spending bills this week. That’s after the governor line item vetoed nearly $1 billion in funding included in the budget approved by the Legislature earlier this

There will be a couple of public meetings of the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee tasked with drafting a turnaround plan for Benton Harbor Area Schools this week and next week. The Michigan Department of Treasury says

Here’s your chance to buy a piece of Michigan state land as the Department of Natural Resources holds its annual winter auction. Almost 150 parcels of land, including some in southwest Michigan, will be up for auction

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

Benton Harbor Public Safety detectives are investigating the shooting death Sunday of a 29-year-old woman. Director Dan McGinnis tells WSJM News the woman was found shot in the head at 185 West Main Street just before 11:30

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