Despite progress in child outcomes since 1990, a new report reveals serious racial and ethnic disparities persist in Michigan and other states. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2019 Kids Count Data Book ranks the state 32nd overall
Video Playback Not Supported <iframe class=’wpb_videoplayer video-single-player-iframe’ allowfullscreen scrolling=’no’ width=’600′ height=’330′ frameborder=’0′ src=’https://www.wsjm.com/wp-content/plugins/wpb-video/wpb-video-embed/wpb-video-embed.php?blogid=321&id=65445&flag_call=singleVideo&playerid=fbqwxde&player_slug=wsjm-com-stories&chkFlagFrom=meta_insert_video’></iframe> 17 local nonprofits are benefitting from this year’s KitchenAid Global Day of Caring. One of the sites was the Joel Smilow Teen Center at
Cherry Beach in Chikaming Township is closed until further notice. The Berrien County Health Department closed the beach due to high bacteria levels Tuesday afternoon. The township’s parks department has posted on Facebook that it is unsafe
The big unanswered question remains now that the school board has sent its plan to fix the school district’s financial and educational issues to the state: will Benton Harbor High School be closed? No commitment yet from
From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says the state Civil Rights Commission is not bound by her predecessor’s determination that LGBT people are not protected by an anti-discrimination law. The Democrat’s office provided
Months after he resigned and stopped coming to work, Benton Harbor City Commissioners have accepted the resignation of former city Finance Director Andrew Clark. At a meeting on Monday, Commissioner Edward Isom said with Clark gone, the
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs says the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed in Michigan is going down. LARA says the rate was down 15% in 2018 from 2017. It credits the drop with the
Anyone who would like to learn how they could help someone experiencing a drug overdose will have a chance to do so next week in Niles. Denise Peters with the Niles-Buchanan branch of the YMCA of Southwest
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will be the next guest of the South Haven Speaker Series. She’s set to present “Top Trends Affecting Michigan” at South Haven High School’s Listiak Auditorium on September 19. Granholm resumes the
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she and her team are reviewing the plan put together by the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education for turning the school district around. Last Friday, the school board turned down the
Video Playback Not Supported <iframe class=’wpb_videoplayer video-single-player-iframe’ allowfullscreen scrolling=’no’ width=’600′ height=’330′ frameborder=’0′ src=’https://www.wsjm.com/wp-content/plugins/wpb-video/wpb-video-embed/wpb-video-embed.php?blogid=321&id=65343&flag_call=singleVideo&playerid=fbqwxde&player_slug=wsjm-com-stories&chkFlagFrom=meta_insert_video’></iframe> Work will begin soon to restore some land along the lake shore just north of Lions Park Beach. At this week’s St. Joseph City
A double murder-suicide is under investigation in Kalamazoo. Authorities say a 44-year-old woman intentionally drove a vehicle carrying her twin 9-year-old daughters into the Kalamazoo River Monday night, and searchers have found all three. The Kalamazoo Department
Expect a few delays in the Niles area for the next few months on US-12. The Michigan Department of Transportation will start repairing the US-12 bridge over the St. Joseph River between Bond Street and West River
There are new restrictions on the use of fireworks in the city of South Haven. City Manager Brian Dissette talked to us about the changes to the ordinance passed by the city council this week. “It effectively
From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has created a task force to support and promote opportunities for girls and women in sports. The group formed Monday by an executive order must make initial findings
Benton Harbor City Commissioners have stated their unanimous support for keeping Benton Harbor High School open and for forgiving the school district’s debt. At a Monday meeting, the commission approved the Fresh Start Resolution, which has been
After a week delay, Commercial Rehabilitation Exemption Certificates are now in place for two developments in the city of St. Joseph. The city commission tabled the requests by United Federal Credit Union for its future headquarters at
$100,000 in scholarships and grants have been announced by the Lakeland Health Foundations for Lakeland employees. The organization’s Brandi Smith tells WSJM News the scholarships and grants are to help those workers pursue further education. “Some are
With all of the rain southwest Michigan has been experiencing this spring, the Berrien County Drain Commissioner’s office has been kept busy. Berrien County Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin tells WSJM News there have been a lot of
From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is among 18 governors to sign a letter urging Congress to open the U.S. banking system to the legal marijuana industry. In the letter written Friday and released
The Michigan Tobacco Quitline is now offering free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges to those smokers who are trying to kick the habit. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News many
The next phase of construction at Pilgrim Haven Natural Area in South Haven Township will get underway at the start of July. Abonmarche will be paving the existing gravel parking lot and putting in two new pit
A 16-foot Duffy Cat pontoon boat that sank in Lake Brownwood in Van Buren County in May is now back on land. The owner of the boat was out on the water with friends when it began
Cheap gas is easily found in southwest Michigan, with prices as low as $2.29 in South Haven and $2.40 in Stevensville as of Monday morning, but GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan says don’t wait to fill up thinking they’ll
Meth possession busts have become so common in recent years that they almost don’t warrant news coverage, but a weekend arrest in Dowagiac was a bit on the unusual side. An officer spotted a man on a
The Krasl Art Fair is coming up in about a month, and it could use some volunteers. Art Fair Manager Dee Hodgson tells WSJM News with an estimated 50,000 people coming into downtown St. Joe, all kinds
The Berrien County Health Department wants everyone to be aware of the dangers of ticks, and how to avoid them this summer. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News ticks spread Lyme disease, which typically appears with a
Public input is being sought on a multi-year transportation plan for the Niles, Buchanan, and Edwardsburg areas. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission associate planner Brandon Kovnat tells WSJM News the Niles-Buchanan-Cass Area Transportation Study, or NATS, put together
This month will bring a chance for anyone in Berrien County to rid themselves of unneeded pesticides. Berrien County Environmental Property Manager Jill Adams tells WSJM News a Clean Sweep pesticide collection day will be Wednesday, June
The spring rains this year have made it the wettest planting season for Michigan farmers in recent memory. That’s according to Michigan University Extension’s Paul Gross, who says things are especially bad for corn growers. “Just 63%
