Local News Archives

The city of Benton Harbor will honor a former mayor next week by naming the municipal building after him. A dedication ceremony for the Wilce L. Cooke Municipal Building will be on Monday. Wilce Cooke was Benton

Efforts are underway from both political parties to try to find ways to bring down the cost of prescription drugs across the country, with each side saying their plan is better than the other. Congressman Fred Upton

The woman shot and killed on Sunday at a home on West May Street in Benton Harbor has been identified by public safety as 29-year-old Quintina Jeffries. No arrests have been made in her murder, but detectives

The man called a person of interest in the disappearance of 30-year-old Jessica Gray is in custody in another state, but she is still missing. Benton Township police confirmed reports this morning that 38-year-old Willie Lark Jr.

From the Associated Press — Michigan farmers and lawmakers want the federal government to impose a hefty tariff on dried tart cherries imported from Turkey, arguing that a subsidy on the fruit is impeding American farmers’ ability

Discussions will continue between the city of St. Joseph and those who live near and along the shoreline whose properties and houses are threatened by the erosion from Lake Michigan. City Manager John Hodgson and others met

The next superintendent of Benton Harbor Area Schools could be chosen next week by the board of education. Trustees on Monday interviewed four candidates for the job, and then voted to bring back two for additional interviews

St. Joseph City Commissioners don’t want a pay raise. The city’s Municipal Officers Compensation Commission met on Friday for the first time in four years and recommended a 3% increase in what the commissioners are paid, noting

From the Associated Press — A southwest Michigan man has been sentenced to a year in jail for his 16-year-old son’s fatal drug overdose. Prosecutors accused Gary Birkhead of knowingly allowing his son to use illicit drugs

Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski looking back on the first year of his office’s Hopeful Home Fund as a success. He says the fund was started after donations poured in to pay off the property taxes of

Michigan lawmakers and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are expected to approve some spending bills this week. That’s after the governor line item vetoed nearly $1 billion in funding included in the budget approved by the Legislature earlier this

There will be a couple of public meetings of the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee tasked with drafting a turnaround plan for Benton Harbor Area Schools this week and next week. The Michigan Department of Treasury says

Larry Wozniak of Stevensville is being honored by state Senator Kim LaSata with her Veteran of the Year award. Wozniak served in the U.S. Army for five years of combined active and active reserve duty from 1969

Here’s your chance to buy a piece of Michigan state land as the Department of Natural Resources holds its annual winter auction. Almost 150 parcels of land, including some in southwest Michigan, will be up for auction

The South Haven City Council spent part of its meeting this past week reviewing its accomplishments in 2019. City Manager Brian Dissette tells WSJM News housing development was the top priority. Accomplishments on that front have included

Benton Harbor Public Safety detectives are investigating the shooting death Sunday of a 29-year-old woman. Director Dan McGinnis tells WSJM News the woman was found shot in the head at 185 West Main Street just before 11:30

The office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced that, as of this week, survivors of sexual assault can seek help via text message. They can text 1-866-238-1454 to receive immediate help and support from trained professionals. The

An Elkhart man picked the wrong house to break into in Cass County on Friday. The sheriff’s office says the 34-year-old man was shot by one of the residents, 35-year-old Jonathon Niswonger, during a fight after forcing

465 Christmas trees have been sent to two U.S. military bases thanks to Wahmhoff Farms in Gobles and nearly 100 volunteers who turned out this past week as part of the annual Trees for the Troops effort.

The Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph has opened its latest exhibit. Krasl Curator Tami Miller tells WSJM News Resiliency is the new members show. “Anybody who is a member of the Krasl Art Center, no matter

It is time to get your flu vaccine. So says the Berrien County Health Department. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News it’s not too late. “Usually, we see flu seasons peak between December and February, but it

The South Haven City Council has added its voice to the growing list of those seeking disaster relief funds due to coastal erosion. City Manager Brian Dissette tells WSJM News the council this week took action. “We

The Lincoln Township Police Department is investigating an early Saturday morning armed robbery at the Shell gas station on Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville . The department says two “partially masked white males” went into the store

Fifth grade students from all across Michigan are invited to enter the 2020 Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. Michigan State Police Missing Children’s Clearinghouse analyst Jolene Hardesty tells WSJM News there are around 800 missing kids in

Anyone who owes late fees to the Bridgman Public Library has a chance to pay them off this month while helping those in need. The library tells us they will accept donations of unopened, non-perishable food items

Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott is getting ready to fly out to New York for his appearance on the A&E show, Live PD next week. He tells WSJM News he leaves Tuesday, and doesn’t really know

Legislation from state Senator Kim LaSata to honor fallen police officers has been approved by the Michigan Senate. LaSata tells WSJM News her bill updates the rules for the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument. “My bill

State Representative Beth Griffin is pleased progress has been made on the state budget this week. The Mattawan Republican tells WSJM News House and Senate negotiators have been working with Governor Gretchen Whitmer to restore funding included

There will be extra Michigan State Police troopers out on I-94 this coming week, but it’s not the average drivers they’re necessarily watching. Inspector Patrick Morris with the MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division tells WSJM News the