Local News Archives

The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education is looking to the future as the district’s new superintendent and CEO is set to start next week. At a meeting this past week, Trustee Martha Momany said Robert

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

A nature preserve in the Paw Paw area has won an award from the U.S. Forest Service. The Portman Nature Preserve has been selected for the Wings Across the Americas Award for its efforts in the area

Michigan businesses and cities are being invited to become part of a global vision for a cleaner future. The Zero Emissions Vehicle Challenge, announced on Tuesday, is encouraging companies and communities to use their purchasing power and

Some Michigan business owners are endorsing a campaign that backs paid sick time for workers. Londell Thomas is manager for the MI Time to Care Campaign. He spoke with Michigan News Network about the effort. “Right now,

The Michigan Department of Transportation will hold an open house next week in Niles to talk about its plans to reconstruct the US-12-M-51 interchange. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the $25 to $30 million project

St. Joseph City Commissioners have signed off on $13 million in upgrades to the water plant. At Monday’s meeting, they approved phase one of work laid out in a 2014 Capital Improvement Plan. St. Joseph Water Treatment

Labor, civil rights, and health groups, along with seven states, have made their final arguments in court challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision not to ban a pesticide that they say is dangerous. The EPA had proposed

The Michigan Attorney General’s OK2Say school tip line continues to receive information from students even during the summer months. The AG’s office says 365 tips came in to OK2Say during June, with the top tip category being

The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program will begin its second roadside cleanup of the year today. MDOT’s Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News more than 2,800 groups statewide are signed up to protect their own

If you haven’t visited the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, today could be a good day to stop by. The museum is having its annual Fish Boil Fundraiser. The museum’s Ashley Demming tells WSJM News she

Now you can check on swimming conditions at South Haven’s beaches before you go. The city has added swimming conditions on its website that are updated periodically throughout the day. The website is South-Haven.com, where you can

Some upgrades have been made to the text messaging system in the city of Niles. The city offers residents a service that allows them to sign up for alerts via text. The alerts can be in regards

There will be a free Narcan training event next week in Benton Harbor. Organized by Families Against Narcotics and Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health, the session will be a chance for anyone to learn more about overdoses, the

More than a dozen Michigan communities have elevated levels of a dangerous chemical. That’s the finding of 2012 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality report that was suppressed until this year. Lisa Wozniak is the Executive Director of

A salary study for county employees will be conducted by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners following a Thursday meeting. The board voted to proceed with the study proposed by Commissioner Jeanette Leahey. She told WSJM News

Those who make the sacrifice to serve on juries are being recognized this month with Jury Appreciation Month in Michigan. Van Buren County Trial Court Administrator Frank Hardester tells WSJM News jurors have a usually thankless job,

Police departments in Coloma Township and St. Joseph Township are both warning the public of a phone scam that’s been going around. The departments say they’ve taken several reports phone calls regarding warrants or tax issues. Sometimes, the

State Senator John Proos has thrown his support behind a state board set up to help prevent sexual abuse and domestic violence. He tells us a 2012 executive order from the governor set up the Michigan Domestic

Four people who aren’t allowed to have guns are in jail accused of having guns, and a fifth is jailed on a charge of resisting and obstructing police. The arrests happened in Niles around midday Thursday in

From the Associated Press — Democratic U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan say they will oppose President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Stabenow, who’s up for re-election to a fourth term, and

Whirlpool’s annual “Rock the Boat” cardboard boat race is coming up Thursday in the St. Joseph River. The United Way of Southwest Michigan benefits from the annual event at The Inn at Harbor Shores. Ryan Cheevers is

There will be a little extra time on the commute for those who use M-43 in South Haven. The Michigan Department of Transportation is shutting down M-43 entirely for two-tenths of a mile between Blue Star Highway

A K9 with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department is getting extra protection in the form of a bullet and stab-protective vest. The vest comes courtesy of Vested Interest, a non-profit that has supplied more than 3,000 protective

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is taking issue with a state law governing speed limits in townships. At a Thursday meeting, the board approved five resolutions setting new speed limits on stretches of road around the

As many as 50,000 people will descend on downtown St. Joseph this Saturday and Sunday for the 57th annual Krasl Art Fair. The fair’s Dee Hodgson tells WSJM News the big event is one of the premier

A charge of assault with a dangerous weapon has been filed against a former officer for the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety over an incident that occurred in May. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells us

Labor, civil rights, and health groups, along with seven states, have made their final arguments in court challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision not to ban a pesticide that they say is dangerous. The EPA had proposed

The South Haven Board of Education has voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Robert Herrera as he assumes a similar role at Benton Harbor Area Schools. Dr. Herrera’s resignation is effective on July 17. The

The new buyer of the Orchards Mall in Benton Township intends to keep it as a mall property. That’s according to a realtor who helped sell the mall in an online auction last month. Steve Silverman of