Legislation now before a state House committee is designed to update Michigan’s 911 system. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News the 911 system is quite old, and changes are badly needed to more effectively
Benton Harbor City Commissioners are looking at getting the city’s housing rehabilitation program up and running again, although they want it done right. At Tuesday’s meeting, they heard about a proposal to bring in the Southwest Michigan
State grants totaling more than $31,000 are going to seven Van Buren County school districts for their FIRST Robotics teams. State Representative Beth Griffin announced the grants this week. She says they range in size from $2,500
Next week will be all about spreading the word about human trafficking for the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division. Sergeant Paul Leonard at the Paw Paw post tells WSJM News troopers will hand out cards to
A conference set for next month in Benton Harbor will give prospective wine grape growers an idea of how to best go about the process. The Michigan State University Extension office will host the wine grape establishment
The Michigan House has received a report from a task force that investigated mental health treatment over the past several months. The task force held meetings all over Michigan speaking with doctors, law enforcement, and advocates about
Set for next Monday is the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. To be held at Santinello’s in Stevensville, the meeting will provide guests with business networking opportunities, a dinner, and a business meeting. The keynote speaker
The Michigan Talent Investment Agency is shipping out $1.8 million to Michigan Works agencies, non-profits, and colleges to help get more students into apprenticeship programs. Talent Investment Agency Industry Engagement Administrator Marcia Black-Watson tells WSJM News the goal
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is investigating a report of a shooting incident this past Wednesday. It tells us a 28-year-old man reported he’d been driving south in the 1100 block of Ogden when he spotted
A clean audit for the city of Benton Harbor. That’s what city commissioners got on Tuesday night as they heard from Paul Matz, an auditor with the Rehmann firm out of Grand Rapids. He told Benton Harbor
Two resolutions urging the U.S. Senate to cut funding to sanctuary cities and to pass Kate’s Law have received approval from the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee. The resolutions from state Senators Tonya Schuitmaker and Patrick Colbeck were
A couple of locations in southwest Michigan have been added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Sites Redevelopment Focus List. The office of Congressman Fred Upton tells us this means the EPA views those sites as having
The Berrien Community Foundation is refreshing its competitive grant program for the new year. BCF Program Director Susan Matheny tells WSJM News the foundation is now offering the all-new For Good Grants, which will be available twice
As the number of senior citizens increases, so does the need for the funding of services. The same millage that has been on the ballot for over 20 years in South Haven will be on the ballot
Royalton Township is the recipient of $300,000 in Michigan Department of Natural Resources grants for parks projects. The DNR this month announced two Land and Water Conservation Fund grants for the township, each for $150,000. One is
St. Joseph Township Police are investigating a car/pedestrian accident that killed a man. Just before 8:00 Friday night, Officers were dispatched to the area of 245 West Napier. When they arrived, they were advised that a westbound vehicle
From the Associated Press — Michigan State University’s board of trustees continues to support the school’s president amid growing calls for her resignation over the university’s handling of disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar. After a closed-door
The 134th Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School is now underway in Lansing. MSP Sergeant Michael McDonald tells WSJM News there are 149 prospective troopers now training Sunday through Friday each week from 5 a.m. to 10
Berrien County Animal Control is planning some rabies shot clinics for pets over the next month or so. It tells us it will be at the Bertrand Township Fire Department in Buchanan this Saturday from 10 a.m.
The Michigan State Police Trooper of the Year award has gone to Trooper Blaine Bachman of the Wayland Post in Allegan County. Michigan State Police announced the 2017 Trooper of the Year awards this week at a
State Representative Dave Pagel is expecting a recently-released report from the Michigan House CARES task force to lead to years of legislation designed to help the mentally ill. He tells WSJM News the mental health task force
Michigan’s unemployment system is the worst in the region. At least, that’s the analysis of the Michigan League for Public Policy. It has released a report on the unemployment insurance system, finding Michigan pays benefits to the
Lake Michigan College is the recipient of a $180,000 Michigan Talent Investment Agency grant. The award was announced Thursday by Talent Investment Agency Director Wanda Stokes. She says the agency is giving out a total of $1.8
There’s a new boss at the Cook nuclear power plant in Bridgman. Cook plant spokesperson Bill Schalk tells WSJM News Kelly Ferneau becomes the plant’s 16th manager since 1969, and the first woman in charge at Cook.
State Representative Beth Griffin is praising an announcement this week that more than $31,000 in grants are going to FIRST Robotics teams around Van Buren County. She tells us the robotics teams are an excellent way for
The Mattawan Food Pantry has received a little extra boost thanks to the Wolverine Pipe Line Company. Lead pipeline controller Al Goodrich presented the food bank last month with a check for $1,600 to help families in
Going on this weekend is the 14th annual Hunter Ice Festival in Niles. The fun kicked off Friday, and events take place throughout town through Sunday. Lisa Crotau with Niles Mainstreet tells WSJM News it’s all about
From the Associated Press — A new study says the base cost to educate a regular K-12 student in Michigan is $9,590. That figure doesn’t include transportation, food or capital costs.The report released Wednesday was funded by foundations
The 25th Annual Ice Breaker Festival in South Haven is coming the first weekend in February and ice carving is a big draw to the festival, according to Susan Diepen of the South Haven Chamber. She spoke
From the Associated Press — Michigan State University has agreed to allow white nationalist Richard Spencer to speak on campus during spring break. The deal signed Thursday says Spencer can appear on March 5. But he’ll be at
