Local News Archives

In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, for October 7, 2016, the South Haven lighthouse is completely restored, Benton Harbor school leaders are drafting plans to keep students safe, and more.

The public has finally had a chance to feast its eyes on the newly renovated South Haven lighthouse. The plastic tarps covering the structure were stripped away Friday morning to show off the $300,000 in work the

Anyone in Michigan may report drug overdoses without fear of being prosecuted for illegal possession or use under legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The House voted last month to exempt people of any age from prosecution

Events are being held all over Michigan today to recognize Manufacturing Day. President & CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, Ed Youdell wants to see more enter the field. “We need young people to get

Voter turnout could play a decisive role in next month’s election, and a new study warns some Americans may have a harder time casting ballots than others. Spencer Overton, with the Joint Center for Political and Economic

Silver Beach Pizza in St. Joseph has received another distinction. The pizza joint below the bluff has been cited by Tripping.com as having the best pizza in the state of Michigan. Tripping is a travel website that

Parents are being asked for their thoughts on how security could be improved at Benton Harbor Area Schools. That’s as the district pursues a $2 million state grant to enhance safety and help prevent gang activity. Superintendent

It’s almost time to start planning your fall color tour in Michigan, and the state association of road commissions has released its list of recommended routes if you want to get the most spectacular views possible. Director

Work to replace 7 traffic signals in St. Joseph will start on Monday. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News they’re putting in upgraded signals on mast arms, or poles, rather than the kind

The 21st Century Cures initiative, legislation championed by Congressman Fred Uptton, could get final approval from Congress by the end of the year. Upton has been pushing the plan for well over a year now, and tells

Gas prices have spiked again in the Great Lakes States. GasBuddy.com says a couple of factors are at work and a third could make the situation even worse. Analyst Patrick DeHaan says a pair of regional refineries

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. has plans to visit Michigan on Friday to discuss the importance of exposing students to manufacturing careers and to highlight school-based health programs. The Detroit Free Press  reports his first

Leaders at Benton Harbor Schools are drafting plans for how to keep students safer. WSJM’s Andrew Green has more.

The Historical Association of South Haven will unveil the exterior of the city’s lighthouse Friday morning at 9:30. Since early September, work has been done to restore the sentinel, and it’s been surrounded by scaffolding and covered

A new poll shows Michigan might not be a battleground state, after all. EPIC-MRA finds Hillary Clinton has regained an 11-point lead over Republican Donald Trump following their first debate and is now up 43% to 32%,

A Detroit woman says she hopes a display in her front yard this Halloween season will shine light on real-life horrors. MLive reports Larethia Haddon has placed six dummies in her front yard portraying police shootings, slain children,

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph will be offering a haunted tour of the city this month. Saturday, October 15 will be the day for a guided walking tour of the downtown, and then

Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation sponsored by state senator Tonya Schuitmaker designed to tighten the standards for police officers around Michigan. Schuitmaker tells WSJM News it gives the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards — or MCOLES

The man who rowed across Lake Michigan this week to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer is now back at home and safe, although a bit sore. Jacob Beckley tells WSJM News rowing in a

A new survey from Michigan State University show employers are doing more hiring, which is good news for fresh college graduates. Study author Phil Gardner says at least businesses are giving them a chance. “This does not

Wineries in southwest Michigan are hard at work harvesting their grapes for the next vintage this month, and they’re feeling pretty good about how it’s going to turn out. Mike Merchant, the wine maker at Tabor Hills,

A 49-year-old man has died after falling from a tree-trimming bucket truck in southwest Michigan. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department says Wednesday that Ronald Lee Phillips tumbled 50 feet to the ground Monday outside a home in Schoolcraft

A Detroit man has been charged with making threats on Facebook against police officers. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Detroit’s police chief announced charges Wednesday against Nheru Littleton. They say he used social media in July to

It’s no joke — recent reports of “creepy clown” sightings have real clowns putting on a sad face. For 25 years, Bob Ammon of Allen Park has had an alter ego “Bobo the Clown.” However, he’s worried that

62 cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus have been confirmed in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has now issued a travel warning in response, says spokesperson Jennifer Eisner. “We want to make sure

Wednesday is International Walk to School day and thousands of kids are participating. Colleen Oliver, with the National Center for Safe Routes for School, says this year’s event is incredibly special because it’s the 20th year. “We are bringing

Everyone’s invited to head out to the Union Coffee House in Buchanan this Friday for Coffee with a Cop. It’s a program of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to better engage the public. They’ll have officers there ready

Police don’t think incidents in South Haven and Covert involving teens making threats while posing as clowns on Facebook are related. Two teens were identified by police as having threatened others, but Covert Township Police Chief Jay

Congressman Fred Upton is among those who voted last week to override President Obama’s veto of legislation allowing foreign governments to be sued for their role in terror attacks. He tells WSJM News it’s only right the

Schools all around Michigan will be counting their students on Wednesday to determine how much state aid they’ll receive in the next year. It’s the fall student Count Day, and Lakeshore Schools Superintendent Phillip Freeman tells WSJM