Local News Archives

The Red Cross is once again putting out a call for blood donations due to a summer shortage. The Red Cross says more than 550 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups during

Rick “Pellet Gun” Krause once again holds the wining title from the annual International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship. The event was held this past weekend at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire for the 45th year in

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer has released a Clean Water Policy that she’ll put in place if she’s elected. Whitmer says she would create a Department of the Great Lakes and Fresh Water. She told Michigan News

From the Associated Press — Michigan regulators have significantly expanded the list of conditions approved for treatment by medical marijuana. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on Monday added 11 medical conditions deemed debilitating by the Michigan

A Watervliet daycare is going to raise money this week to buy some new playground equipment by putting up a lemonade stand. Shelynn Buckley is with Senicas Daycare and tells WSJM News they’ll be selling the drinks

Two suspects are being sought by St. Joseph Public Safety for an armed robbery overnight. The two hit the AGO gas station downtown at 220 Main Street just before 2 a.m., getting away with cash. Both men

An exploding propane tank has sent a Jones man to the hospital in South Bend. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, 44-year-old David Stiles was doing maintenance on a cabin at Blair Lake Bible Camp yesterday

Two 24-year-old men from South Haven and Covert are facing charges for a large fight in South Haven over the weekend. Police were called to Kalamazoo and Cartwright around 8:45 Saturday night on a report of shots

Congressman Fred Upton remains disappointed in the U.S. House’s failure to pass an immigration reform plan. Since President Trump signed an executive order to end the separation of families detained at the border with Mexico, Upton tells

A meeting will be this coming week in Eau Claire for everyone to learn more about Japanese knotweed. The invasive plant is a threat to infrastructure in southwest Michigan as the weed can grow through concrete. The

The November election could be pivotal for Michigan’s future, and a new effort is encouraging all Michiganders to make their voices heard. AARP of Michigan is kicking off its Be the Difference campaign to engage more voters

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says construction of a second Great Lakes navigation lock for large freighters will be included in its 2020 budget request to the Trump administration. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Sugrue of the agency’s

Several new laws took effect this week in Michigan aimed at getting the opioid crisis under control. State Representative Hank Vaupel of Fowlerville sponsored one of them, which limits opioid prescriptions to just a seven-day supply. He

Three Michigan members of Congress and one from Ohio are speaking out after visiting refugee children at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids. Republican Bill Huizenga of Zeeland says Congress needs to take action now, and they

A Benton Harbor woman is close to getting an unusual property tax problem resolved, thanks to action by the city commission this week. At this week’s meeting, commissioners waived about $12,000 in back taxes for the woman

A bill is before the state House Health Policy Committee to set up a mental health phone hotline referral system. Representative Mary Whiteford of the South Haven area has worked as an emergency room nurse and wants

The number of bats in Michigan testing positive for rabies has increased, according the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Spokesperson Lynn Sutfin spoke with Michigan News Network about the outbreak. “As of the 28th of June,

Applications are now being taken for the 2018 St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation grants. The Rotary Foundation tells us a total of $61,000 will be handed out to non-profits, with special consideration being given to projects

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to rename city hall the Dr. Wilce L. Cooke Municipal Building. At a Monday meeting, the commission approved the move in honor of the former mayor. Cooke served from 1981 to

If you’ve moved since the last election or haven’t registered to vote for whatever reason and want to cast a ballot in next month’s primary, you’re short on time. Secretary of State spokesman Fred Woodhams tells WSJM

It may be smokin’ hot on South Haven’s beaches this week, but smokin’ — or vaping for that matter — are definitely not welcome. They’ve been banned by South Haven’s City Council. The ordinance approved this week

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act turns 100 this week, leading conservation groups to dub 2018 the “Year of the Bird,” and to ask the Trump administration to live up to the spirit of the law. The MBTA

Boaters are being reminded of their role in helping to stop the spread of invasive species this summer. The Van Buren Conservation District’s Eleanor Serocki tells WSJM News you must wash your boat after it’s been used.

Four people were killed on Michigan roads between July 3 and 4 this year, according to the preliminary numbers from Michigan State Police. Special First Lieutenant Jim Flegel tells WSJM News that compares to 14 people killed on

Indiana Michigan Power is once again warning customers about a phone scam that’s going around. Spokesperson Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News customers have reported getting calls from someone who claims to be with the utility. The scammer

From the Associated Press — Police and fire officials say it’s doubtful that a boat that once carried passengers to an island amusement park in the Detroit River can be salvaged after the vessel caught fire at

Three Michigan members of Congress and one from Ohio are speaking out after visiting refugee children at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids. Republican Bill Huizenga of Zeeland says Congress needs to take action now, and they

The United States is now imposing tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese imports. Beijing immediately responded with the same 25% tariff. Sheila Ronis is a Distinguished Professor of Management at Walsh College in Troy and warns the

The annual “spit-tacular” International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship returns to southwest Michigan this weekend. The 45th such event will be held Saturday at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, and the farm’s Monica Teichman says it’s a

From the Associated Press — A Canadian energy company is suing the shipping company whose tugboat anchor allegedly dented an aging oil and gas pipeline in Michigan earlier this year. MLive reports that Enbridge Energy’s lawsuit filed Tuesday