Four educators are facing charges from Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic for not intervening in a child abuse case involving a 12-year-old student in 2015 and 2016. The boy was found near railroad tracks in Galien Township
Freedom is imminent for Benton Harbor political activist Edward Pinkney. He has been in prison since 2014 for election fraud related to a failed recall attempt of former Benton Harbor Mayor James Hightower. Pinkney forged petition signatures
Things are being shaken up a little for this summer’s Lest We Forget program. The organization has staged World War II simulations each summer in southwest Michigan for years, and the group’s Don Alsboro tells WSJM News
A former South Haven mayor has passed away. David Paull was Mayor from 1990 to 1995 and served on the planning commission. He was also instrumental in the process of development of Riverfront Park and the Southside
The AARP Foundation has awarded Cornerstone Alliance a grant to provide workshops on starting a business to those over the age of 50. Cornerstone’s Stacie Stephens tells our newsroom Work for Yourself@50+ workshops serve those who are
Parents and teachers in Benton Harbor have had a chance to learn about opioid addiction and anti-overdose drugs, thanks to an event Thursday at Benton Harbor High School. It was the Benton Harbor Area Schools Summer Safety
The next lineup for the Mendel Center Mainstage has been announced. The venue at Lake Michigan College announced the 2017-2018 visitors this week, telling us the whole thing will kick off September 8 with a performance by
Memorial Day weekend means a whole lot of drivers out on the roads, and Michigan State Police are increasing patrols to catch those who aren’t being safe. MSP Special Lieutenant Jim Flegel tells WSJM News everyone should
If you’re interested in serving on the Berrien County Road Commission, you may be in luck. They’ve got a vacancy on the board. The seat representing District 1 is currently empty, and the county is taking applications.
Governor Rick Snyder has authorized the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to issue a standing order pre-authorizing pharmacists to distribute the overdose reversal drug naloxone to eligible individuals. Snyder’s office said Thursday that pharmacies that obtain
The carbon monoxide poisoning death of a teenager at a Quality Inn hotel in Niles last month is prompting a potential new law. Republican state Representative Dave Pagel of Berrien Springs is teaming up with Democratic Senator
You could bring your dogs along while eating in outdoor areas of restaurants under a bill advancing in the Michigan Legislature. Senator Margaret O’Brien is the sponsor. “This is just for outdoor patios, we’re not proposing it
From the Associated Press — Legislative economists estimate that it would cost $410 million in the first year to close Michigan’s pension system to newly hired teachers and instead provide them a 401(k) only. The nonpartisan House Fiscal
The struggle faced by transgendered Americans is being highlighted by the OutCenter in Benton Harbor. It held an event with Equality Michigan Wednesday to bring attention to the economic and other problems the transgendered face. Natalie Mooney
The owner of a Casco Township antiques shop is dead following a Wednesday morning shooting. Michigan State Police tell MLive 58-year-old Robert Hill was killed by his 27-year-old stepson at Hill’s home in the 1,100 block of
A Niles man is facing drug charges after police say he sold heroin to an undercover officer. The Niles Police Department tells WSJM News 29-year-old Daqone Williams was under investigation for possible crack and heroin distribution in
A whole lot of infrastructure work is needed in St. Joseph, and at a Wednesday meeting, city leaders spoke with residents to find out what work they consider the most pressing. Engineering consultant Shawn Keough tells WSJM News residents
The Michigan House Health Policy Committee has approved a couple of bills from state Representative Beth Griffin, of Mattawan, designed to educate Michigan students about the dangers of opioid abuse. She tells WSJM News she wanted to get
From the Associated Press — Patrons could bring their dogs along while eating in outdoor areas of restaurants under a bill advancing in the Michigan Legislature. State law generally prohibits live animals at restaurants. The legislation was approved
Former Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Leonard Seawood will go to trial in August for embezzlement. At a preliminary exam Wednesday, Berrien County Judge Donna Howard found there was enough evidence Seawood knowingly presented falsified documents
President Donald Trump’s administration says state and local governments should pay for cleanups of the Great Lakes and other iconic waterways. The proposed federal budget for 2018 would eliminate $427 million for regional water restoration initiatives. U.S.
From the Associated Press — The Michigan Senate has approved significant changes in how the state buys and improves land for public recreation. Legislation passed 24-14 Wednesday by the Republican-controlled chamber would empower the Legislature to have more
The OutCenter in Benton Harbor is setting up programs to support transgender citizens of Berrien County. WSJM’s Jacob Holmes has more. Read the Michigan State Report of the U.S. Transgender Survey here: http://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-MI-State-Report.pdf
From the Associated Press — Michigan lawmakers are looking to create guidelines for body camera footage obtained by law enforcement officers. The state House passed a bill Tuesday that would require police departments to have written policies on
Things are looking up when it comes to summer jobs for teens in Michigan. Jenni Riehle, with the State Budget Office, says the Michigan Labor market has continued to improve and this has led to teens having
The OutCenter in Benton Harbor will release the results of a large survey of the nation’s transgendered citizens at a gathering Wednesday morning. OutCenter Director Mary Jo Schnell tells WSJM News they’ve teamed up with Equality Michigan for
Beer is big business in Michigan. A new report shows the beer industry in the state has a roughly $10.5 billion impact, employing nearly 5,000 people. Brett Visner, with the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association, tells
President Trump’s budget proposal is facing opposition from Congressman Fred Upton. He tells us many of the cuts the president lays out in his official budget, released Thursday, are “non-starters.” They include big cuts to the Great
Round Barn Winery in Baroda has acquired Tabor Hill Winery. Round Barn Partner Chris Moersch tells WSJM News the deal was in the works for about 3 years. He’s thrilled to have signed it Tuesday. “For our family,
From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says the state will receive nearly $400,000 from an $18.5 million settlement with Target Corporation to resolve a multi-state probe into the discounter’s pre-Christmas data breach in 2013. Target’s
