The United Way of Southwest Michigan has saluted volunteers from around the community with its recognition awards for the year. At an event Thursday night, United Way of Southwest Michigan President Anna Murphy announced the winner of
Buchanan Community Schools Superintendent Andrea van der Laan is retiring at the end of August. She’s been with the district for seven years now, and tells WSJM News when she first came to town from Wyoming, Michigan,
Cornerstone Alliance is hailing final approval of the Good Jobs for Michigan business tax incentives. Cornerstone’s Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News this new plan will lure more big employers into the state. He’s seen first-hand how incentives
From the Associated Press — A judge has extended a freeze on $2.5 million in state aid for Michigan private schools. Judge Cynthia Stephens signed an injunction Tuesday after reviewing the possible impact of a recent U.S. Supreme
It continues to be a red-hot sellers market for existing homes in the area. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors reports June sales tied the record set in June 2006 with 388 homes sold, which was up
Getting underway this Sunday is the Cass County Fair. Board President Gail Peterson tells WSJM News it will be soft launch with tractor and truck pulls on the grandstand at 7 p.m. The carnival starts Monday, featuring
A Michigan woman’s story of using her sick days to cope with anxiety recently went viral after an exchange with the company’s chief executive, and one expert is calling it a model for how to talk about
Coming up next week in Buchanan is the second annual summer Thrill on the Hill. The party was started last year as a counterpart to the annual winter Thrill on the Hill. Randy Hendrixson, with the Buchanan
Another lawsuit has been filed against Berrien County alleging sexual misconduct by deputies serving as guards at the jail. Southfield attorney Lennox Emanuel tells WSJM News he’s suing in circuit court on behalf of five women. They
It looks like southwest Michigan won’t be getting a Foxconn plant anytime soon. There had been word the company was considering the region for a new plant to make smartphone displays, with Moody on the Market reporting
Prosecuting attorneys from around Michigan are meeting in East Lansing for a Drug Initiatives Conference this week. Muskegon County Prosecutor D. J. Hilson tells Michigan News Network they’ll discuss the heroin and opiod epidemic and a new
Governor Rick Snyder has signed a package of bills that provide incentives to large companies that create more than 250 jobs in the state. The jobs also have to pay at least the regional average wage. Standing
From the Associated Press — Authorities say a 7-year-old boy who was attending a summer camp run by a school district has died after being struck by a vehicle in southwestern Michigan. Portage police say Nicolaus Moehle of
It’s a party atmosphere in downtown Traverse City as the Traverse City Film Festival gets underway. They shut down part of the downtown area Tuesday for the opening night gala. Traverse City Film Festival Creative Director Meg Weichman tells us they’re showing
Legislation is being introduced in the Michigan Senate to change how state benefits are offered to employees now that same sex marriage is legal. The Granholm administration enacted a policy of allowing same sex partners to be
The blood emergency at the Red Cross isn’t over. The organization’s Todd Kulman tells WSJM News they experienced a shortage of donations in May and June, and that’s when they issued a call for help. The situation hasn’t much
Coming soon to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph will be a presentation on the history of the American auto industry with a special guest speaker perfectly suited to discuss the subject. Matt Anderson,
A new report looks at the financial stability of the residents of all 50 states and finds Michiganders rank 27th. Kasey Weidrich, with Prosperity Now, tells WSJM News they looked at the savings the average resident has
As the Berrien County Parks Commission looks to make traffic work more efficiently at Silver Beach, it’s seeking public comments. Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey tells WSJM News they’re specifically looking at the entrance and exit
Former Western Michigan University football coach PJ Fleck is bringing his “row the boat” mentality to Minnesota. Speaking to reporters at the Big Ten Media Days, Fleck said he’s happy Western Michigan allowed him to use the
A man charged with murder in a 40-year-old death in Cass County has pleaded guilty. The prosecutor’s office says Raymond Richmond killed his cousin, Robert Stasiak, in 1977. The death was originally ruled a suicide, but in
From the Associated Press — Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed bills that would have accelerated sales tax breaks on car trade-ins. Snyder said Tuesday that the legislation conflicts with a compromise made with lawmakers in 2013. He says the
A 52-year-old man is now charged with open murder in the death of a Niles woman last week. James Parker Huffman walked into the Niles Police Department on Monday and confessed to the killing of 52-year-old Angela
From the Associated Press — The Michigan Supreme Court says a driveway is no refuge for a drunken driver. The court says authorities in suburban Detroit could charge Gino Rea with drunken driving, even if his car never
From the Associated Press — Eleven former workers at a state veterans home in Grand Rapids have been charged with keeping false records. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says staff skipped room checks but reported that they
The city of St. Joseph is now offering a parking app for its parks. Deputy Public Works Director Greg Grothous tells WSJM News the Passport Parking app, available on iPhone and Android, will let you pay and
Anyone interested in learning about the history of Hartford will have a chance to do so next week at the library. It’s offering a “History of Hartford” presentation on Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. The program is
St. Joseph City Commissioners have given the green light to a sign at Lake Bluff Park to advertise what the newly-redone green roof at the Silver Beach Center Curious Kids Discovery Zone. The Curious Kids Museum’s Lori
This is Love Week in communities across southwest Michigan. That means a Kalamazoo area church is going to a different community each day to give away food from its pantry and backpacks filled with school supplies. Valley
Preparations are now underway for the 166th Cass County Fair. The Cassopolis event is set for next week, and all kinds of attractions will be offered. The fair board tells us Sunday, the first official day, will
