Local News Archives

Michigan’s new water crisis is coming from a chemical used in manufacturing, fire suppression foam and other uses. PFAS has turned up in wells north of Grand Rapids, near Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, and has now

As wildfires continue to burn across multiple states out west, some assistance is being provided by Michigan. It comes in the form of a firetruck, which is stationed at the Carr Fire in northern California. Dan Laux,

From the Associated Press — Consumers Energy has filed a lawsuit, saying a tugboat anchor caused more than $1 million in damage when two underwater power lines were severed in April. Spokeswoman Katie Carey says the lines have

Cass County Treasurer Linda Pruett has died. Pruett passed away Sunday evening following an illness, and Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski talked to WSJM News about her time in office. “Linda put Cass first, I’ll tell you

Residents of the city of Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County are not being allowed to drink or use the tap water due to the discovery of PFAS contamination in Parchment’s water. Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley

State Representative Kim LaSata has received the endorsement of the man she is running to replace in the Michigan Senate’s 21st District. State Senator John Proos tells WSJM News he’s backing LaSata because he believes her priorities

WSJM News has learned that Cass County Treasurer Linda Pruett has died. Pruett passed away Sunday evening. She had been in office since 2002. No details surrounding her passing have yet been released by Cass County officials,

The Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors has chipped in to help spruce up downtown Watervliet. It’s given the city a $3,500 Placemaking Grant to purchase a two-faced Victorian-style exterior post clock for the area. The clock will

Smoke inhalation is what killed a mother and her five children between the ages of 10 and 2 in a fire at the Cosmo Extended Living Motel in Sodus Township on M-139 just north of I-94 on

One of the water intake pipes from Lake Michigan for the city of St. Joseph’s water supply needs to be cleaned out. Greg Alimenti is the city’s water plant superintendent and utility services director and told the

A man is in the Van Buren County Jail awaiting arraignment on home invasion and other charges after breaking into a Porter Township home Saturday night. A couple had gone to their parents’ home and discovered the

The Dowagiac Police Department is investigating a shooting Sunday that left one man dead. It tells us officers were sent to the Beeson Street Bar for a large fight in progress at approximately 2:30 a.m. While on the

Bronson Healthcare is opening a new walk-in clinic in South Haven. The Bronson FastCare location will be there for anyone seeking treatment without an appointment for minor conditions or illnesses like sore throats, flu, ear and sinus

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says a 24-year-old Berrien County man is dead following a chase with police that ended in a crash. Deputies tell us it started around 5:30 p.m. Friday when a report came in

Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal crash in Almena Township. Troopers say it happened on M-43 near  22nd Street shortly after midnight on Sunday. They tell us the driver of a westbound passenger vehicle lost control and swerved

Even the strongest swimmers and most experienced boaters will be in big trouble if they fall into fast-moving river water. That’s a lesson to learn after a Kalamazoo kayaker was found dead in the St. Joseph River

Standard and Poor’s has increased Michigan’s credit rating. Michigan Department of Treasury spokesperson Ron Leix tells WSJM News this is the first credit rating increase for the state in the past ten years. S&P has moved Michigan

The 167th annual Cass County Fair gets underway this week. Fair Board President Gail Peterson tells WSJM News the animal competitions and displays started Friday, and the opening day for the events is today, featuring the parade

The Michigan Department of Transportation has released its next five-year plan and is taking the public’s comments. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the biggest projects tend to be in the large metro areas, although there

Governor Rick Snyder is pleased to see his Good Jobs for Michigan tax incentive being used for the first time in the expansion of Pfizer that was announced this week. The drug maker is investing in its

City officials in St. Joseph are remaining tight-lipped about the sudden resignation on Friday of Public Safety Director Brian Uridge after a little less than two years on the job. City Manager John Hodgson wouldn’t address rumors

The American Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter for those who were displaced by a motel fire in Sodus Township early Saturday morning. Six people were killed in the blaze at the Cosmo Extended Living

The city of Buchanan has opened its first dog park. City Manager Bill Marx tells WSJM News the Field of Dreams Dog Park, located at the south end of Clark Street and is part of the McCoy Recreation

Whirlpool stock took a hit after the release of second quarter earnings this week. The appliance maker reported a loss in the quarter of $657 million, and fell short of Wall Street expectations with just $3.20 earnings

Six members of one family have been killed in an overnight fire at the Cosmo Extended Living Hotel in Sodus Township. The fire started just before 2 a.m. Saturday, firefighters and other first responders immediately began to

The city of South Haven isn’t the only municipality having to deal with the short-term rental issue. Casco Township has seen a rising number of homes being acquired by investors to rent out as short-term vacation homes.

The winner of this year’s United Way of Southwest Michigan Margaret B. Upton Volunteer Leadership Award is Jerry Flenar of Buchanan. He was among those honored for their community service at the United Way’s annual Volunteer Recognition

Chikaming Open Lands is looking to set up a new nature preserve, and it’s raising money to make that happen. Executive Director Ryan Postema tells WSJM News the conservation group wants to purchase 49 acres in Chikaming

The summer Berrien County Land Auction is Tuesday. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News it’s a chance for anyone to bid on recently-foreclosed properties. Although the number of available properties is down, Witkowski says the

Bottled water was handed out Friday in the city of Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County following contamination of the water supply by the chemical PFAS. Parchment Mayor Robert Britigan spoke with Michigan News Network about