Local News Archives

07-20-20 WSJM Afternoon News

A Sodus Township man is dead following a crash in Weesaw Township on Sunday afternoon. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us officers were called out to Pardee Road north of West Warren Woods Road just before

The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy has been awarded a $20,000 grant for bird monitoring and restoration of grassland and savanna habitat. The Cornell Labs Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative has announced the grant, which the land conservancy

From the Associated Press — Revenue from Detroit’s three casinos has plummeted nearly 60% so far this year as the gambling halls’ months-long closure in response to the coronavirus pandemic continues. The decline also is leaving the

From the Associated Press — A politically-connected conservative college in southern Michigan has defied warnings from state and public health officials by holding an in-person graduation ceremony. The Detroit News reports Hillsdale College held graduation Saturday evening.

Construction has begun on Indiana Michigan Power’s new solar facility near South Bend. I&M spokesperson Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News the St. Joseph Solar Farm will feature 57,000 solar panels on 210 acres of property next to

State Representative Pauline Wendzel has introduced legislation intended to help state state’s licensed professionals during the pandemic. Her bill would require the state to a credit or prorate a fee on the renewal of a license if

A new online portal has been launched by the Berrien County Health Department to help employers make wise decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM NJews the “Back2WorkSafe Employer and Organization Wellness Tracking Tool”

Flights are increasing at the South Bend International Airport. SBN CEO Mike Daigle told WSJM News this week July and August will see much greater capacity than the previous months as people venture out during the COVID-19

The first Adopt a Highway cleanup project of the year was slated to get started this weekend. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News they had one scheduled for this spring, but it had

The city of South Haven has installed some hand washing stations around the downtown area. The Downtown Development Authority and South Haven/Van Buren Convention and Visitor’s Bureau collaborated with the city on the effort. The goal is

A Chicago man is dead after his motorcycle was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver on I-94 in Lake Township Sunday morning. Michigan State Police say the crash happened in the westbound lanes near mile marker 19

Coming soon will be a new kind of radio station in southwest Michigan. Launching on Monday is QYQ radio, at 106.1 FM. QYQ Director of Content Bill Gamble tells WSJM News it will be an alternative station,

South Haven Area Emergency Services says it believes the body of a Lansing man who disappeared in Lake Michigan off North Beach on July 12 has been found. SHAES tells us the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department

After 19 murders in Grand Rapids this year and a lot of gun violence in the past few months, community members and police are calling for a stop to it. Marian Barrera-Young is an activist with the

Beware of China. That was the message from U.S. Attorney General William Barr who spoke about the People’s Republic of China at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids this week. “It is clear that the

Large parties and groups visiting bars have been blamed for the recent spike in coronavirus numbers in Michigan. But what about big protests we’ve seen across the state? Are they also part of the problem? Governor Gretchen

Andrews University is planning a virtual commencement for this year. It says from July 31 to August 2, the entire campus community will celebrate the achievements of graduating students through celebration of graduates services and the commencement.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is fighting back against claims that people in Michigan nursing homes were put at risk by putting them alongside COVID-19 patients. A common complaint against her administration is that it placed some COVID patients

Spectrum Health Lakeland has teamed up with Andrews University to honor healthcare workers. They’ve collaborated on a new art installation that’s been unveiled in the Lakeland Medical Center Pavilion. The installation features images taken by local photographer

State Senator Kim LaSata has introduced a new bill designed to help mitigate shoreline erosion. She toured St. Joseph and New Buffalo this week to get a look at coastal erosion and chat with concerned residents. LaSata

Congressman Fred Upton, Cornerstone Alliance, and the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber have teamed up to salute southwest Michigan companies that have helped during the COVID-19 pandemic by producing personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies. A gathering was

Michigan is reporting 660 additional cases of COVID-19 for Friday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 72,502 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported seven

Coming up on Monday, 94.9 WSJM will be changing. Content Director Paul Layendecker says the lineup is about to get a lot stronger. “News Talk 94.9 is a great radio station, and we have the opportunity to

Looking for somewhere to go during this coronavirus pandemic and still stay safe? Maia Turek with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says you can see and do a lot and socially distance at one of the

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued a new executive order intended to strengthen her previous executive orders regarding the use of masks. The governor’s office has released the following statement: Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-153,

A woman who was pulled from Lake Michigan off Lions Park Beach in St. Joseph on Sunday afternoon has died. The St. Joseph Department of Public Safety says 32-year-old Danely Lopez of Illinois was swimming with her

Should Michigan have toll roads? Baruch Feigenbaum, senior managing director of transportation policy at the Reason Foundation, says it should. Speaking on the most recent edition of the Michigan Department of Transportation podcast, “Talking Tansportation,” Feigenbaum said

From the Associated Press — A small college in southern Michigan is holding a graduation ceremony this weekend, a decision that is stirring concerns about the coronavirus. Hillsdale College is expecting 2,600 students, family members and others

Berrien County will be seeking some funds to recoup COVID-19 related costs, and some officials would like to see health department staff get extra hazard pay. During a Thursday meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners,