Michigan’s largest teachers union is getting a new leader. Mike Shoudy takes over as executive director of the Michigan Education Association on March 1. He spoke with Michigan News Network about the big issues facing the union.
A coalition working to protect the Great Lakes says Governor Rick Snyder has sidestepped leadership on a major water issue by refusing to shut down the oil pipeline beneath the Mackinac Straits. Last month, the Michigan Pipeline
From the Associated Press — A Michigan bar will undergo mandatory diversity and sensitivity training following an incident involving a watermelon on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Lansing State Journal reports that a biracial employee of Darb’s
The Bosch Community Fund is giving more than $50,000 to southwest Michigan schools this year to help students study STEM subjects. Karri Withrow with the St. Joseph plant tells WSJM News the grants include $7,500 to support
The Carson’s store in the Orchards Mall is closing. Carson’s owner The Bon Ton Stores announced this week the closing of 47 of its retail locations in 2018. The Benton Township Carson’s is one of two Michigan
This year’s Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival will be held in a different venue. Traditionally, the event has been held each summer at Weko Beach in Bridgman, but the Michigan Tourism Council tells us it’s being moved
Congressman Fred Upton is hailing this week’s House passage of legislation designed to protect athletes from sexual predators. He tells us the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 passed 406
Whirlpool has been hit with layoffs this week. The company hasn’t released exact numbers, but a spokesperson says the cuts are due to an effort to reduce costs this year by $150 million. In a statement to
From the Associated Press — Governor Rick Snyder wants to boost Michigan’s fee for taking waste to landfills and use the revenue to clean up contaminated sites and fund other environmental protection programs. Snyder said Tuesday his plan
Former Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Leonard Seawood has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years of probation in his embezzlement case. Seawood was accused of stealing more than $40,000 from the district by
State Senator John Proos says the planned closure of a state prison this spring in Muskegon is a sign that efforts to reduce crime and prevent repeat offenses among inmates are working. He tells WSJM News the
A multi-state partnership to help the federal government fund a new barrier to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes is now up and running. Governor Snyder is teaming up with Wisconsin, Ohio and Ontario for
No serious injuries to members of Congress who were on a train headed to a retreat Wednesday. On board that train was Congressman Fred Upton and his wife Amey. In a tweet sent out around noon, Upton
John Engler is now the interim president of Michigan State University. The university’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Engler. Trustee Dianne Byrum noted in politics, she and Engler had disagreements at the state Capitol, but
A northern Michigan school district, the Manton Consolidated Schools, closed on Tuesday and will remain closed on Wednesday because of a flu outbreak. Superintendent Len Morrow told Michigan News Network he started hearing about an issue on
From the Associated Press — A group pushing to repeal Michigan’s law that requires higher “prevailing” wages on state-financed construction projects wants the state to certify its petitions without pulling a larger sample to review. The Board of
A meeting will be held this week in Benton Harbor for folks concerned about the behavior of young people in the community to discuss ways of improving it. Pastor Steven McCoy with McCoy’s Memorial Church of God
A new effort is underway at the Orchards Mall in Benton Township to attract more visitors. Mall Marketing Coordinator Ed Moore tells WSJM News they’re holding special community events every month throughout this year. They’ll include antiques
From the Associated Press — The sports doctor accused of sexually assaulting more than 150 women and girls will be confronted again this week by scores of victims. Larry Nassar faces another prison sentence for molesting gymnasts, this
Golden Brown Bakery President Dave Braschler is overall satisfied with Tuesday’s Fox News visit to his South Haven location. A reporter from Fox stopped by to get the thoughts of customers on President Trump. Although word of
Congressman Fred Upton is headed into President Trump’s State of the Union hoping it will lead to actual legislation on several issues. He tells WSJM News he was hoping to hear the president discuss the need for
From the Associated Press –A high-ranking Michigan State University official involved in the board of trustees’ plan says former Governor John Engler will be named interim president. The official told The Associated Press that the board will vote
Michigan State Police First Lieutenant Michael Shaw says a winter storm that rolled through southeastern Michigan Monday led to dangerous road conditions. He told Michigan News Network drivers should make sure to clear their entire car of
From the Associated Press — Truckloads of road salt used to keep highways ice-free in the winter are starting to take a toll on the environment. Researchers say they’re finding rising salt levels in hundreds of lakes, especially
Governor Rick Snyder was in Port Huron yesterday, participating in a round table discussion about broadband internet access. The governor signed an executive order there creating the Michigan Consortium of Advanced Networks. Speaking about undeserved areas in
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a convenience store break-in this month. It tells us deputies were sent to the Phillip’s 66 gas station and convenience store on South 11th Street in Niles Township on Friday
From the Associated Press — The Michigan Department of Corrections says it plans to close a correctional facility in March due to a decline in the state’s prison population. The department says it notified staff members Monday at
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocked the state’s inland lakes with more than 830,000 fish in the fall of 2017. The numbers were released on Monday, and DNR Fish Production Manager Ed Eisch tells WSJM News
Faculty at Southwestern Michigan College have some extra work to do now that they have voted to unionize. In a vote tallied Friday, SMC’s 58 full-time employees opted to sign up with the Michigan Education Association. The
A Fox News reporter will be on hand Tuesday morning at the Golden Brown Bakery in South Haven to get the thoughts of regular folks ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union. Golden Brown President Dave
