Local News Archives

Lake Michigan College has announced the new LMC Promise, a way for anyone in district up to age 24 to earn an associate degree and then some, all free of tuition. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke told WSJM

You can find a yeti at Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph this weekend. City Recreation Manager Carrie Ogonowski told WSJM News this week while most people don’t think of heading to Tiscornia in the winter, it’s exactly

Legislation from state Representative Pauline Wendzel seeks to clarify Michigan’s law regarding non-lethal self-defense options. She says the bill modifies the definition of “self-defense spray or foam device” to include a device capable of carrying, and ejecting,

A new video has been released by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel warning about a common phone scam. In it, her parents answer a phone call from someone claiming to be Nessel and in need of help.

The Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor’s Youth of the Year for Benton Harbor is 17-year-old Donovan Frazier. He’s a senior at Eau Claire High School and continues a long legacy of Benton Harbor teens to

The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven is seeking volunteers for this summer, including those who could serve as sailors aboard its flagship, the Friends Good Will. Ship Captain and Michigan Maritime Museum Commander of the Fleet

The Berrien County Trail Court is ending its mask mandate. The court has released the following: In consultation with the Berrien County Health Department, the Berrien County Trial Court will update the following policies as they relate

Southwest Michigan is getting three new Michigan State Police troopers now that the 140th Trooper Recruit School has held its graduation. The school graduated 50 recruits this week. The Paw Paw MSP post will get two of

Berrien RESA Communications Supervisor Karen Heath is the Michigan School Public Relations Association’s 2021 Gerri Allen Outstanding School Communicator of the Year. The award recognizes a practicing school official for outstanding leadership in school public relations and

A Paw Paw man is a big lottery winner. The Michigan Lottery tells us David Flory won $282,000 in the Fantasy 5 game on February 13. He bought his winning ticket online at MichiganLottery.com. The 57-year-old Flory

Michigan State Police have identified the suspect arrested this week in a 1987 murder in Niles as 67-year-old Patrick Gilham of South Bend. 30-year-old Roxanne Leigh Wood was found dead in her home with her throat cut

Police have made an arrest in the murder of 30-year-old Roxanne Wood back in February 1987. She was found dead in her home south of Niles by her husband, Terry, after they had been bowling and at

State Senator Kim LaSata has introduced legislation designed to help new farmers enter the agriculture business. She tells WSJM News her bill would create a tax credit for existing farmers to give them an incentive to sell

The Michigan Senate this week approved a plan from state Senator Aric Nesbitt to cut both personal and business taxes while providing families a $500 per child tax credit, but it doesn’t look like the bill has

The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is hoping March will be declared Restaurant Month. Director Arthur Havlicek says March last year was declared Restaurant month to draw attention to the struggles faced by restaurants due to COVID-19 shutdowns.

Berrien County has honored a longtime and well-loved former employee by naming the veterans services conference room for him. Veterans Services Director Lee Lull told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday Warren L. Schultz served as

The Berrien County Health Department is hiring an emerging threats supervisor to help respond to lead issues in Benton Harbor. During Thursday’s county board meeting, Commissioner Ezra Scott questioned whether the county should make that hire, saying

The Van Buren Cass District Health Department is aligning its recommendations for COVID-19 with guidance shared by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to have optional masking in public settings, including schools. The local health

St. Joseph Public Schools has dropped the district’s mask rule. In a letter to parents Thursday, Superintendent Jenny Fee said with the state and county withdrawing mask recommendations for schools, masks will no longer be required at

From the Associated Press — President Joe Biden says the bipartisan infrastructure law will pump $1 billion into a Great Lakes restoration program. Biden went to Lorain, Ohio, on Thursday to highlight the measure’s benefits for the

The Berrien County Health Department has updated its COVID-19 guidance to remove a public masking recommendation. Acting Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday things are different now than they

The St. Joseph High School varsity wrestling team has won the regional championship for the first time ever. The team won in a home match Wednesday, first taking down Edwardsburg and then Plainwell. Coach Taylor Misel tells

The Berrien County Health Department is shifting its COVID-19 guidance for indoor public settings, including K-12 schools, from “mask recommended” to “mask optional.” The decision was made based on recognition of decreasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, increased

Three blood lead testing events are being hosted next week in Berrien County for families, including one at Benton Harbor High School on Thursday, Feb. 24, announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today.

Senator Aric Nesbitt’s personal and business tax cut passed by the state Senate is facing a possible veto by Governor Whitmer if it passes the House. The package would cut both to 3.9%, but she says it’s

The Van Buren County Road Commission will implement full Seasonal Weight Restrictions starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22 for all roads under its jurisdiction, except for county all-season roads. The road commission says vehicles determined

More than 50 new Michigan State Police troopers will graduate from the 140th Trooper Recruit School Thursday. Michigan State Police Sergeant Dwayne L. Gill tells WSJM News this comes as the MSP continues to fill positions being

A hearing has been held on Congressman Fred Upton’s Cures 2.0 legislation, the follow up to his 2016 21st Century Cures bill designed to speed up the development of new drugs and other medical treatments. He tells

A Van Buren County man will serve 18 months to five years in jail for deer poaching. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says 33-year-old Justin Ernst of Decatur pleaded guilty this week to one count of

Berrien County Animal Control says ten dogs and four cats were adopted during a special adoption day sponsored by Honor Credit Union this month. Honor’s Adoption Days was February 11 and 12th. Honor covered the cost of