Local News Archives

The United Way of Southwest Michigan has given away a two year lease on a car as part of its annual car challenge. Spokesperson Jennifer Tomshack tells WSJM News the challenge is possible thanks to support from

$2.7 million in a Going Pro Talent Fund grant has been awarded to Michigan Works Berrien, Cass, Van Buren to help 63 southwest Michigan businesses train their employees. Michigan Works Director of Business Services Mark O’Reilly tells

A $1.2 billion bill to fight COVID-19 has been approved by the Michigan Legislature. The plan is the latest from funding that was enacted by Congress and President Joe Biden last year. It includes $300 million to

There’s been a change to this year’s lineup for the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Speaker Series. It’s dropped television personality Lara Logan after she was dropped by talent agency UTA this year. That was due to

After a nearly two year delay, the Detroit Tigers announced Wednesday they’ll officially retire Lou Whitaker’s number one in a ceremony that will take place before the game on August 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays at

State school leaders have presented a virtual State of Michigan Schools roundtable to provide an overview on where schools currently stand with more than half of the school year complete and highlight the need for budget certainty

Economists say the cost of just two days of U.S. and Canada trade being halted at the border is $101 million. That’s after traffic was disrupted on the Ambassador Bridge this week by truckers protesting a vaccine

The South Haven Memorial Library is getting moved into its newly renovated building. Director Jim France tells us they worked out of a temporary space while major work was done on the old building. The building now

From the Associated Press — A man serving life sentences in Virginia for raping and killing a woman in 1980 was sentenced Monday to an additional 35 to 50 years in prison in Michigan for the 1989

The Michigan Department of Corrections is trying to fill 770 vacancies at prisons around the state. Department Director Heidi Washington told a Michigan House Panel in Washington Tuesday about the trouble the department is having and how

The Friends of Berrien County Trails have announced a series of public engagement activities and a survey as it works on a master plan for the trails system. The group’s Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News there will

The Berrien County Health Department will host a panel discussion on Friday regarding COVID vaccine hesitancy. Department special projects coordinator Chioma Ejiofor tells WSJM News as part of the event, they’ll release third video in the Play

A report has been released by members of the U.S. House on the trafficking of synthetic opioids. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the final report of the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking lays the

From the Associated Press — Michigan lawmakers have passed a $1.2 billion spending bill to combat COVID-19, including $300 million to help hospitals and other health care facilities give recruitment and retention bonuses. The allocation would be

A protest in Canada over vaccine mandates is causing major problems for truckers and other drivers at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. The bridge was closed Tuesday morning for drivers going from Detroit

A coalition of immigrants and allies in Michigan has kicked off a week of action, urging the Legislature to take up bills to restore the ability of any resident to get a drivers’ license, regardless of immigration

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved an ordinance requiring lead water service lines installed around the city to be replaced. The city attorney told commissioners at a Monday meeting the ordinance would require property owners to allow

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have heard the audit report for the fiscal year that ended in June. Speaking to the city commission Monday night, accountant Paul Matz with Rehmann Robson said the audit report is clean and

From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer will propose a $1 billion, or nearly 20%, boost to Michigan’s transportation budget to repair roads and increase other spending. The $6.3 billion plan she will present to lawmakers

From the Associated Press — Records show another man charged in an alleged plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer has agreed to plead guilty. That would leave four to face trial in March and give prosecutors a

Police agencies around the nation and in Michigan have been experiencing trouble with recruitment the last couple of years. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey tells WSJM News he sees departments all over that are hearing from fewer

Fire deaths in Michigan were up by 144% during January. Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News the state has recorded 18 fires resulting in 22 deaths, all accidental and preventable. “One common thing that

Construction is nearing completion on the first building that will house a new marijuana growing operation in Lawrence. 305 Farms began work on the 40-acre site in 2020. CEO Matthew Peon tells WSJM News the plan is

After a generous commitment by Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co., Southwestern Michigan College announced today that the main hallway in the Charles O. Zollar Building will be renamed “Wolverine Mutual Insurance Hall of Champions.” Bruce Laing, Chairman, and

From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer will propose spending $2.3 billion over four years to recruit and retain teachers and other school staff, enticing them with annual $2,000 bonuses that would grow to $4,000 by

Even though General Motors is investing seven billion dollars in electric vehicles and batteries in Michigan, the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Quentin Messer, is looking for other opportunities. He told Michigan News Network one

A new survey from Robert Half shows that the job market will continue its recovery well into 2022. Practice director Neal Gilbert told Michigan News Network what’s driving the positive results from the company’s State of U.S.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human services is urging Michiganders who test positive for COVID-19 to ask their doctors about oral medications that can help treat the illness. The department has released the following: As the

Free bottled water continues to be provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and distributed by local, paid residents of the City of Benton Harbor. Residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for

A 13-year-old boy is missing from his Valley Township home in Allegan County, and the sheriff’s office believes he took his father’s 2006 Chrysler 300. Zander Canales is believed to be in the Holland area with friends