Local News Archives

Are we in a recession or not? Some economists believe we are, including Vice President Emeritus at Northwood University Dr. Tim Nash. He says there are plenty of jobs available, but that figure can be deceiving. “A

After weeks of decline, gas prices are back on the rise across the state. Michigan drivers are paying an average of $3.97 per gallon, up 17¢ from last week. Triple-A Michigan spokeswoman Adrienne Woodland says the higher

A 39-year-old South Bend youth hockey coach will spend two months in jail followed by five years of probation for trying to have sex with a 15-year-old girl at a hotel in Michigan. Christien Joubert apologized to

An unidentified body was found floating in Lake Michigan on Monday off the shore near the village of Michiana, according to a report by Grand Beach/Michiana Police Chief Ryan Layman. According to the report, police were called

Get ready for one last dog day of summer this weekend, featuring a side of pupperoni pizza. With the last day for the public to play in the Whirlpool Compass Fountain set for this Friday, the City

Breckyn Bussey, an 18-year-old graduate of St. Joseph High School, has earned the title of Miss Southwest, the Blossomtime pageant announced Monday. Dylan Curtis, of Portage, was named Miss Southwest Outstanding Teen. Miss Southwest and Southwest Teen

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Representative Fred Upton were in Benton Harbor to celebrate the completion of the U.S. 31 project linking the highway to I-94. For decades, the project was stalled, but is now getting done because

Downtown Buchanan is now a blank canvas for an internationally recognized artist to honor a local celebrity. Chicago-based muralist Jeff Zimmermann has been commissioned to help the City of Buchanan celebrate the achievements of BMX World Champion

A local man narrowly escaped serious injury Monday after his truck left the roadway, struck a tree and caught fire. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke reports that a pickup truck driven by 25-year-old Dowagiac resident Efrain Razo

The K-9 officer Thor with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office has received a vest to protect him from stabbings and bullets. It was donated by the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s Incorporated. The vest was sponsored by

Fruit growers in Michigan have been battling a spotted wing fruit fly that’s been damaging crops in Michigan and nationwide to the tune of $700 million a year. U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan has introduced a

Fruit growers in Michigan have been battling a spotted wing fruit fly that’s been damaging crops in Michigan and nationwide to the tune of $700 million a year. U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan has introduced a

The Benton Harbor Downtown Development Authority is making plans for a resurrection. The recently revitalized arm of Benton Harbor City government has acquired the long-shuttered State Theater downtown. The DDA plans to restore and redevelop the old

Chesterfield Township detectives are trying to piece together what happened inside a condominium that left a WWJ news anchor dead and four others hospitalized. Jim Matthews, who anchored overnights for WWJ in Detroit and reported for the

The United Way of Southwest Michigan has received a $67,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund for a project intended to improve the community’s health. Marketing Director Jennifer Tomshack tells WSJM News they’re going to use

An event to show southwest Michigan high school students some of the career pathways available to them will be held next month by Michigan Works and Berrien RESA. Michigan Works Business Solutions Manager Paul Brohman tells us

More than 90% of the work to replace lead water lines in the city of Benton Harbor is now complete. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced this past week more than 90% of the

The Michigan Department of Transportation is offering everyone a unique chance to walk around in the middle of a highway while there are no vehicles on it. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News there will be

The new academic year will see the return of campus tours at Lake Michigan College for high school students interested in attending. LMC Admissions Director Caroline Tubbs tells us the tours will be offered at all three

There are 100 winners of $15,000 college scholarships from the Michigan Education Trust to celebrate its 35th anniversary this year. Kristy Hudson of Ferndale received one of the scholarships and plans to use it for her five

Broadway Park in Benton Harbor will now be known as June Woods Park following a move by city commissioners this past week. Neighbors Organizing Against Racism had proposed renaming the park for Junius Brutus Woods, a former

There will be an opportunity next month for volunteers to help test the water quality in the Black River and the Paw Paw River in Van Buren County. Alex Florian with the Van Buren Conservation District tells

Andrews University has received a $5 million grant to help it establish the new Andrews Center for Community Change. The Berrien Springs university says the center is a project of its Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, and it

One year ago, owners of the local downtown market were just happy to be open after years of delays and renovations. Now, they are setting their sights on the future, with an focus on collaboration and community.