Local News Archives

Addiction Center Opening

A $150,000 donation from Lakeland Health Foundations will help to start up a new center in southwest Michigan to help those suffering from a substance abuse problem. Lakeland Vice President of Quality Kendall Troyer tells WSJM News

Weak Year For Blueberries

The blueberry crop in southwest Michigan has been weak this year. Michigan State University Extension fruit educator Mark Longstroth tells WSJM News growers are hurting. “We had a really disappointing year in blueberries,” Longstroth said. “We think

Upton Confident On Proposed House Rules

The push for new rules in the U.S House continues. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the Problem Solvers group appears to be gaining momentum with so many new members having been elected this month. The Problem

Army Corps Releases Asian Carp Plan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released its final plan to stop the Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes. It centers around the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, and involves a

SMC Leader Talks Marijuana Policy

Leaders at Southwestern Michigan College are working to make sure students understand SMC’s policy on marijuana now that Michigan voters have opted to decriminalize the substance. SMC President David Mathews tells WSJM News no marijuana is allowed

[VIDEO] Bears in the Air Launches at South Bend International Airport

Video Playback Not Supported <iframe class=’wpb_videoplayer video-single-player-iframe’ allowfullscreen scrolling=’no’ width=’600′ height=’330′ frameborder=’0′ src=’https://www.wsjm.com/wp-content/plugins/wpb-video/wpb-video-embed/wpb-video-embed.php?blogid=&id=56474&flag_call=singleVideo&playerid=&player_slug=&chkFlagFrom=meta_insert_video’></iframe> Bears in the Air has taken off once again at the South Bend International Airport. On Wednesday, the airport launched its annual campaign, collecting

Bangor Man Facing Attempted Murder Charge

Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies and South Haven police have a 30-year-old Bangor man locked up on attempted murder and assault charges. Brandon McCollum is accused of shooting his 28-year-old girlfriend in the ankle and hitting her

Whiteford Receives Committee Assignment

State Representative Mary Whiteford of Casco Township has been named to the Michigan House Committee on Committees. That’s a body that decides which lawmakers get assigned to which legislative committees when the new term begins in January.

Part Of I-196 To Be Closed

There will be intermittent traffic closures on I-196 and Blue Star Highway Wednesday morning between 8 and 11 near the Palisades power plant. The International Transmission Company, or ITC, will be installing a new transmission line in

Support Grows For Pipeline Tunnel

As many have lined up in opposition to build a tunnel for Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council supports the tunnel, saying it would create 600 to 1,000 jobs.

UAW Rips GM Restructuring Plans

By Doug Cunningham UAW Vice President Terry Dittes says taxpayers, workers and politicians didn’t bail out General Motors during the Great Recession so they could just decide to destroy U.S. jobs as they pile up massive profits.

Wendzel Receives Committee Assignment

State Representative-elect Pauline Wendzel has received her first committee assignment in the Michigan House. She will serve on the House Committee on Committees for the 2019-2020 legislative term. The Committee on Committees chooses chairs and members of

Proos Talks Heating Assistance

Now that winter is here, state Senator John Proos is reminding everyone of where they can turn for help if they have trouble staying on top of their heating bills. He tells us there is a simple

Red Cross Asks For Donors

The American Red Cross in the Great Lakes region says it has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors as the holiday season continues. Those donations often decline around the holidays as regular donors are busy

Analyst Talks GM Plant Closures

The potential closure of five plants, including two in Michigan, are part of a restructuring announcement by General Motors. The plants impacted include the Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Detroit and Warren Transmissions Operations in Warren. Kristen Dzichzek

Marijuana Legalization To Become Official

  Recreational marijuana will officially become legal on December 6 following the certification of the election by the State Board of Canvassers in Lansing this week. Rick Thompson is with NORML, which helped with the legalization effort.

Money Allocated For New Soo Lock

$32 million has been awarded to the new Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells us the money is in the fiscal year 2019 work plan. Soo Lock Project Manager