Local News Archives

Police are reminding southwest Michigan residents how to be safe on ice this winter. Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott tells WSJM News ice has to be five inches thick to hold the weight of a person

Next year, Michigan’s gubernatorial election will have the nation watching. That’s according to Republican candidate and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley. Michigan News Network asked him this week if he would welcome an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

The Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph will be closing down its Discovery Zone this month for some renovations. The museum tells us the Discovery Zone located in the Silver Beach Center on Broad Street will be

Child care workers will need to pass criminal background checks and day care facilities will see increased inspections under legislation signed by Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley this week. State Senator John Proos tells WSJM News the new

From the Associated Press — Authorities say perhaps 20 vehicles were involved in a pileup that closed a section of a southwestern Michigan highway as fresh snowfall snarled travel in much of the state. The Friday afternoon pileup

The number of police officers killed in the line of duty took a drastic dip across the nation this year, and also right here in Michigan. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Craig Floyd told Michigan

From the Associated Press — A demolition company is facing a $101,000 state fine for safety violations found after a worker was killed at a western Michigan arena. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration found five violations

The new president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society is a fruit grower from Eau Claire. Monica Teichman of Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm has been selected to lead the horticulture society for 2018. Michigan State Horticultural Society Secretary

2017 was a busy year for state Representative Dave Pagel. He tells WSJM News he looks back at the year and regards a failed House vote to eliminate the Michigan income tax as a significant moment. Pagel

With this week’s dangerously cold weather, health experts are reminding everyone how avoid needing to make a trip to the emergency room. Lakeland Emergency Department Nurse Manager Kathy Effa tells WSJM News they do see a spike

The National Weather Service has issued the following notice for this evening: “Light snow will continue this evening over southwest Lower  Michigan, northwest Ohio and northern Indiana late this evening. While snowfall accumulations are only expected to

Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski is sending out a message to all property owners. He says you can’t pay next year’s property taxes right now in order to get a deduction that’s about to go away. Witkowski

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph has launched a crowdfunding campaign as it aims to replace the museum’s HVAC system. Heritage Director Elizabeth Andrews tells WSJM News the aging system caused flooding that was

The roads have been lousy so far this week in southwest Michigan with plenty of slide offs and jack-knifed semis to talk about along the highway. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News road

From the Associated Press — Michigan regulators are ordering 13 utilities to study the impact of new federal tax cuts and how savings will be passed along to consumers through lower electric and gas bills. The order was

Two people from Union are recovering at Elkhart General Hospital in Indiana after a snowmobile crash in Cass County’s Porter Township. The sheriff’s department says 42-year-old Eric Black was in a field east of M-217 when he

From the Associated Press — DTE Energy Co. is sending about 80 workers to Puerto Rico to help restore power after Hurricane Maria. The Detroit-based utility sent its trucks Tuesday to Norfolk, Virginia, where they will be

Lots of snow has meant some pretty good business for some Berrien County parks this week. Love Creek County Park Manager Kip Miller tells us the cross-country skiing action at Love Creek is quite popular this time

2017 has been a busy year for Michigan lawmakers, and state Senator John Proos says much of the work has positioned the state for a successful future. Proos tells WSJM News a big focus this year has

If you’ve got a pet, animal experts say you need to be extra aware of its safety in this cold weather. Berrien County Animal Control Director Tiffany Peterson tells WSJM News your dog should not be left

The Michigan Department of Transportation is pointing to a recent bridge project in St. Clair County as an example of how the agency could team up with local agencies and others to make road projects more efficient

AAA of Michigan has seen a 157% increase in calls for roadside assistance this past week with single digit or near-single digit temperatures around the state. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz tells WSJM News your car needs extra care

Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley has signed legislation designed to fight the opioid epidemic in Michigan. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News one of the bills Calley signed Wednesday was her plan to have the

Due to a shortage of skilled trades workers, the number of new homes being built in 2018 is only expected to increase by 1%. Bob Filka, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Michigan, spoke with Michigan

From the Associated Press — Michigan lawmakers are working on a bill to allow out-of-town veterans to buy drinks at clubs run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. Under current law, veterans from out

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s high court is expected to weigh in sometime in 2018 on whether school districts can ban anyone not in law enforcement from carrying guns onto school grounds. The Detroit News reports that

How did Michigan’s economy fare in 2017 and what’s expected going forward in 2018? Michigan’s economy had a solid 2017 and the head of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is optimistic for 2018. MEDC CEO Jeff Mason

Michiganders can get a jumpstart on their financial resolutions with a series of free financial empowerment events taking place around the state in the coming weeks. Allyson Brooks with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan tells

Molly Pate of Berrien Springs is the winner of the annual Pure Michigan Summer Photo Contest run by the office of state Senator John Proos. Her “Sunset Sail at South Haven Beach” will be displayed at the