A new children’s book immortalizes Wanda and Winky, former Detroit Zoo elephants who moved to California to live out their final years. The Detroit Free Press reports that retired Walled Lake school district teacher and library media specialist
Representatives of the country’s nearly 64 million workers who are paid less than $15 per hour are in Richmond, Virginia, are in Virginia this weekend to collaborate on their demand for better wages. A contingent from Michigan
The Critter Barn in west Michigan has celebrated its new 27-acre territory. The attraction on Friday planted a sign and introduced crew members, volunteers, and families. Critter Barn capital campaign manager Val Vail-Shirey says the 26-year-old barn
A severe storm has damaged at least one house and a barn and left hundreds of western Michigan homes without power. WOOD-TV reports that a tree hit a Saugatuck Township home Friday and a barn roof collapsed. Outages were
Berrien County election officials are waiting for approval from the state to hold recounts in some Benton Township primaries that were held earlier this month. The clerk’s office tells us Joseph Taylor and Willie Dortch, who ran
Authorities in western Michigan say an officer shot and wounded a 15-year-old girl who was trying to attack a 16-year-old boy with a knife. Muskegon police say in a release that the girl “aggressively continued the confrontation
Next year’s Berrien County budget is starting to come together. County Administrator Bill Wolf says his early projections are showing a gap of about $1.8 million between next year’s spending and revenues. However, he says that’s normal
The Heartland Film Festival has named a veteran of festivals in California and Thailand as its new president. Heartland said in a news release Friday that Craig Prater will take over leadership of the Indianapolis festival as it
Grand Rapids Community College has canceled classes in its Ford Fieldhouse due to high temperatures. Leah Nixon, director of communications for the school, tells The Grand Rapids Press that when the indoor temperature at the Fieldhouse exceeds 100
In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, for August 12, 2016, a Benton Harbor man is sentenced to a maximum of 60 years in prison for his role in a shooting death last December, new details on
(Detroit, MI AP) – A federal appeals court appears to be moving quickly in a dispute over Michigan’s ban on straight-party voting. A judge in Detroit suspended the law, saying it violates the rights of black voters.
AAA of Michigan says there has been an increase in traffic crashes caused by debris in the road. The auto club says national data shows a 40% jump since 2001, and between 2011 and 2014, the increase
Utility companies are reminding Michigan residents of the importance of calling Miss Dig when they’re working on a project that will require them to dig. Consumers Energy spokesperson Debra Dodd says the first thing to do is
As many as 50,000 people are expected to flock to South Haven this weekend for the 53rd annual Blueberry Festival. South Haven Chamber of Commerce Director Kathy Wagaman says there will be things going on all over
The Palisades nuclear power plant has a new leader. This week, plant owner Entergy announced Charles Arnone has been named the new site vice president. Arnone replaces Tony Vitale, who is leaving to head up a New
Who would kill a family of swans intentionally? That’s the question Washtenaw County Sheriff’s deputies are trying to answer. The department’s Derrick Jackson says the swans were not in the roadway, but off on the side. “There was
Coming up in South Haven will be a presentation on NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory from a local native who now works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Thanks to the South Haven Public School Foundation, Jim Montgomery will
A 48-year-old man has died following a two-story fall from the roof of a western Michigan college building. David Torrenga toppled Wednesday from Hope College’s DePree Art Center & Gallery in Holland. He later died at a hospital. The
Governor Rick Snyder says his newly appointed environmental director will do a “fine job” and critics of her extensive time as an oil and gas lobbyist should give her a chance. The Republican governor last month appointed former
Steve Krieger says justice has been served, but he can never be satisfied. His brother, David Krieger, was shot and killed in December outside of Steve Krieger’s business, Michiana Supply, in Benton Township. Sentenced to at least
Police in Cass County say two people were injured when a tree fell into the road and on to their car Thursday. The sheriff’s department says it happened around 10 a.m. on Decatur Road near Marcellus Highway.
A women’s political advocacy group wants to flip Michigan from red to blue. EMILY’s List has announced a Focus 2020 initiative intended to get pro-choice, Democratic Party women elected in the years leading up to the 2021
Records say an inmate who killed two bailiffs during an escape attempt from a southwestern Michigan courthouse was under investigation at the time for allegations that he’d been sexually involved with multiple teenagers. Larry Gordon of Coloma
The state of Michigan is urging an appeals court to restore the state’s ban on straight-party voting in the fall election. A Detroit federal judge says the ban violates the rights of black voters. But in a court
Some police agencies in Michigan have received new technology to read fingerprints on the go. The Eaton County Sheriff’s Department is one of five departments to get the mobile scanners. Sheriff Thomas Reich says they have already
A 75-year-old Glendale man is dead in an apparent drowning in Van Buren County. Michigan State Police say troopers were called out to Three Legged Lake in Bloomingdale Township around 4 p.m. Wednesday when a boat was
State Senator John Proos is reminding Michigan taxpayers of one way they can support the Red Cross. He says a new law has allowed for a checkoff box on state income tax forms so residents can help
The blueberry crop in southwest Michigan is looking strong this year. Mark Longstroth, with MSU Extension, says that comes after a couple of low-yield years. “2013, we did 114 to 117 million pounds, and then the next
Road commissions in southwest Michigan have a reminder for those who are posting campaign signs around their communities during this election season. They say it’s important to remember the signs should not block any views of the
A new promise has been made to graduates of Buchanan Community Schools. The Buchanan Promise, a scholarship for all grads, was announced Wednesday. Made possible through a permanent endowment and managed by the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation,
