As people are waiting for the Niles Apple Festival Parade to get started on September 28, they’ll be able to check out some new activities at the Niles History Center. The center’s Christina Arseneau tells us from
Local clerks from around southwest Michigan were the guests of state Representative Brad Paquette in Lansing this week. He says the Berrien County Clerks’ Association went to the Capitol Wednesday to take a tour and talk with
Animal Aid of Southwest Michigan’s annual Mutt March will be held this Sunday in St. Joseph. The Howling Holloween Mutt March, as they’re calling it, will take place at Lake Bluff Park from 1 to 3 p.m.
Michigan State Police are looking for new recruits, and to that end, they’re planning a recruitment seminar for October 19 in Lawrence. MSP Trooper Kellie Shaffer tells WSJM News as retirements loom, Michigan State Police will have
How will the United Auto Workers strike against General Motors affect the west Michigan economy? Director of supply management research at Grand Valley State University Brian Long tells WSJM News this side of the state does have
Some grants and awards for 2019 have been announced by the Berrien Community Foundation as it held its 67th annual meeting on Wednesday in St. Joseph. BCF President Lisa Cripps Downey tells WSJM News the new Alamar
A fashion designer from Benton Harbor will show off some of her creations in Paris next month as part of Fashion Week. Benton Harbor City Commissioners on Monday heard from Candice Caldwell of Bod’e Beauty Bar &
The Michigan Legislature has approved a K-12 education budget. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells us the $15.2 billion plan increases education funding by 2.4%. She says there was broad bipartisan support for the budget. “The
The Chikaming Township Police Department says a suspect has been arrested in the armed robbery of the Whistle Stop Store on Red Arrow Highway last month. 42-year-old David Floyd was picked up by police in Indiana on
Berrien County Animal Control is now caring for nearly 80 animals seized from a Hagar Township home on Wednesday. Animal Control Director Tiffany Peterson tells WSJM News her office had received several complaints about an animal hording
From the Associated Press — Online retail giant Amazon has proposed using the site of the former home of the Detroit Lions as a distribution center in a $250 million project that could bring 1,500 jobs. Details
A clean-up event will be held at Silver Beach in St. Joseph this Saturday. Alliance for the Great Lakes volunteer Blair Tatrault tells WSJM News the event is part of a full day of beach clean-ups taking
Young people throughout Michigan’s sixth congressional district are being invited to take part in the Congressional App Challenge. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News it’s a coding competition for students in middle and high school. His office
Enrollment at Southwestern Michigan College is up this year. SMC says it’s managed to buck enrollment trends being seen at many other community colleges in Michigan. It’s one of just seven community colleges in the state with
The Berrien County Trial Court’s Family Division has opened a new waiting room just for children. The new kid-friendly waiting area for children attending their own Child Protective Services proceedings is located on the fourth floor of
State Representative Brad Paquette of Niles is working to explain the auto insurance reforms coming to Michigan next year. On Wednesday night, he held a tele-town hall with state Representative Jason Wentworth to answer questions from callers.
Lincoln Elementary School in South Haven is preparing to do its part to protect the ecosystem. The school is installing a pollinator garden, which will give budding young botanists a chance to grow. Lincoln Elementary teachers will
Coming to Bloomingdale Middle and High School this week is a series of activities designed to help the kids overcome peer pressure, make good decisions, and to be friendlier with one another. Principal Mary Spade tells us
Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says good things are happening in the community. At this week’s city commission meeting, Muhammad said street work is underway all over the city thanks to the new income tax. “So far,
09-18-19 WSJM Afternoon News
Starting this Saturday will be the final Adopt a Highway cleanup of Michigan roads for the year. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News there are more than 2,800 volunteer groups who pick up
A drug treatment resource in the St. Joseph area is already making a difference for police in Berrien County. Michigan State Police Trooper Holly Higgs of the Niles post tells WSJM News since Carol’s Hope expanded to
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s ban on flavored vaping products is now in effect. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says her emergency rules banning those flavored nicotine vaping products were released Wednesday. The ban was developed
From the Associated Press — The strike against General Motors by the United Auto Workers is playing out amid a corruption scandal inside the UAW that has caused distrust of the union leadership among many rank-and-file members.
From the Associated Press — Michigan’s unemployment rate slipped a bit in August to 4.2% from 4.3% in July. Figures released Wednesday by the state show total employment rose by 4,000 while the number of jobless workers
The city of South Haven is putting Business Loop 196 on a road diet. The city announced Wednesday it has been granted permission by the Michigan Department of Transportation to reduce the number of lanes on the
The Michigan House Families, Children and Seniors Committee has referred a package of bills dealing with elder abuse to the House Judiciary Committee and recommend passage. State Representative Sarah Anthony, the plan’s sponsor, says the bills deal
The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is holding a tour this week designed to teach residents how the environment is protected via wastewater treatment plants. Senior planner Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News they’re going to tour the Galien
The fall Berrien County land auction has been held, netting more than $288,000 for the county’s foreclosure fund. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News 112 of 120 properties were sold Tuesday. That money goes into
Congressman Fred Upton is pushing for a renewal of the federal pipeline safety law. He tells WSJM News the current law will expire on September 30, and negotiations are ongoing between different House committees. “Even if it
