Local News Archives

There’s a new Veterans Administration clinic about to open in Benton Township. VA spokesperson Brian Pegouske tells us the new outpatient clinic has been in the works for about three years. It’s to better meet the needs

The new COVID vaccine that targets the Omicron variant is now available from the Berrien County Health Department. Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller tells us this is called the bivalent COVID vaccine. “Bivalent just means that

Booster doses of the bivalent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed by the Berrien County Health Department. The boosters provide greater protection against the predominant COVID-19 strain along with the Omicron variant and its

Inflation was higher than expected in August, curbing optimism for lower day-to-day expenses. Tim Nash is the director of the McNair Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood University. He says there was

Michigan State University president Samuel Stanley says he stands by his actions including forcing the resignation of the Broad School of Business dean for not reporting sexual harassment allegations quickly. Stanley spoke to the faculty yesterday, but

Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon is proposing spending a billion dollars on public safety. She and running mate Shane Hernandez unveiled the idea in Grand Rapids yesterday, with Dixon saying violent crime has risen over the past

By Ryan Yuenger ryany@wsjm.com First-year festival director John Westbrook must have wanted attendees to be absolutely overwhelmed with positivity during the return of Lightning Bug Music Festival, because there was no other conclusion to draw after two

Stealing 11 Mustangs 5 days ago wasn’t enough for a group of thieves at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. They struck again Tuesday. 12 to 15 more Mustangs were stolen from the same storage lot early Tuesday

A new natural gas electric plant in Niles helps Michigan maintain its energy supply while providing additional tax support for the community. So says Congressman Fred Upton after visiting the Indeck Niles Energy Center last week. He

The St. Joseph School District will be getting some more improvements thanks to St. Joseph Public School Foundation grants. School Board trustee Rick Dyer, who also sits on the foundation board, told school board members about $319,000

The Berrien Community Foundation has increased the amount of its For Good Grants. The grants for non-profits have now gone up from $10,000 to $15,000. The BCF says the volunteers who review grant applications noticed the needs

Leaders at Lakeshore Public Schools are considering the pursuit of a capital improvement bond, and the public is being asked to weigh in. Speaking at a Monday meeting, Superintendent Greg Eding said the discussions have been underway

St. Joseph City Commissioners are thinking about the future of the Curious Kids Museum. Following a fire that closed the museum in July, talks started about how to rebuild. Museum Director Lori Marciniak told city commissioners Monday

The St. Joseph Public Schools (SJPS) Board of Education will embark on a new strategic planning process to develop the district’s long-range plan for improvement.  The new strategic planning process is data-driven and based on input from

An outburst of violence over a two-block radius in Niles has led police to believe there is a connection. The Niles Police Department announced Tuesday it believes the shooting deaths of Farries Maxwell on Aug. 16 and

Homeowners struggling to pay bills have may have an opportunity to receive help, thanks to a fund established by the state of Michigan earlier this year. In February, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan State Housing Development

Marcelo Aranda has been fired from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy after being accused of attacking a paralyzed man while off-duty in Ingham County. A passenger in Tyler Lueken’s vehicle recorded video of the

Five South Haven firefighters will be honored for their combined 118 years of service to the city when they are added to the Memorial Wall of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association in Roscommon. The service will be

More than 150 Republicans are publicly backing Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s bid for a second term. In Grand Rapids Monday, Whitmer said while they don’t agree on all issues, she “will sit at the table and make

The Michigan State University Board of Trustees is split over reports President Samuel Stanley was told to resign by today or risk being fired. Board president Dianne Byrum said she is disappointed in the behavior of some

The North American International Auto Show comes at a time when sales are down, not because of lack of demand, but because of lack of supply. LMC Automotive analyst Jeff Schuster says that could cause issues for

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Michigan and across the country, containing the racist term “squaw.” An agency task force conferred with dozens of federal

During public comment of the August St. Joseph School Board meeting, district parent Valerie Gehrke asked the district to be aware of a book she felt was pornographic in nature. On Monday, Gehrke returned to the board

St. Joseph City Commissioners are seeking a $2 million grant to help complete a reconstruction project on Upton Drive from the St. Joseph River to Momany Drive. At a Monday meeting, City Engineer Tim Zebell told commissioners

Market Van Buren and Southwestern Michigan College are getting together this month for a forum on the future of the southwest Michigan economy. Market Van Buren says it’s always got its eye on the latest economic trends