Local News Archives

Allegan K9 Gets Protective Vest

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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

Commissioners Talk Speed Limits

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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

Krasl Art Fair About To Start

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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

BH Officer Facing Assault Charge

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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

Groups Fight Use Of Pesticide

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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

Interim South Haven Superintendent

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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

Hearing Set For Enbridge Pipeline

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From the Associated Press — Michigan regulators will take public comments on a proposal for more anchor supports in the Straits of Mackinac to bolster twin oil pipelines. Enbridge Inc. is asking the Department of Environmental Quality to

Maritime Museum Fish Boil

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If you haven’t visited the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, this could be a great weekend to stop by. The museum is having its annual Fish Boil Fundraiser this Saturday. The museum’s Ashley Demming tells WSJM

Charges After Crash, Chase

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A 26-year-old Niles man is facing charges following a crash and chase with police on Wednesday. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department tells us it all started around 7:40 p.m. when deputies were called out to investigate a

Campaign Encourages Electric Vehicles

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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

Fired Benton Harbor Officer Charged

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A former officer with the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety has been charged for actions during a police chase in May. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office tells us that on May 10, 51-year-old Patrol Officer Steven

Grand Rapids Corpse Flower

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In Grand Rapids, they’re waiting for a bad smelling, rare corpse flower to bloom. Senior horticulture manager at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Wendy Overbeck, told Michigan News Network they’ve had the flower for 18 years, but

Open House For Niles Construction Project

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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

Upton Talks Tariffs

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Congressman Fred Upton says a trade war possibly kicked off by the Trump administration’s tariffs on foreign goods will only hurt consumers. The Trump administration is putting 25% tariffs on 800 Chinese products worth $34 billion while

Celebrate Bridgman This Week

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This week brings the annual Celebrate Bridgman festivities. The fun begins Thursday with an Under the Big Top presentation by the Curious Kids Museum, and then the Family Night and Teen Dance downtown. Both Friday and Saturday

Woman Pulled From Burning Vehicle

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A Dowagiac woman is recovering at a hospital in Kalamazoo after being pulled from a fiery wreck on Wednesday morning. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department tells us 31-year-old Trisha Smith was westbound on Dewey Lake Street near

Award For SWM Nature Preserve

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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

Flint Water Lawsuit

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Attorneys for the city of Flint and the state of Michigan are asking a federal judge to throw out a class-action suit over Flint water, arguing they can’t be sued because of government immunity. The lawsuit is

Lakeland Integrating With Spectrum

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Lakeland Health has announced it’s integrating with Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health. Spectrum, which is the largest employer in west Michigan with 26,000 employees and 12 hospitals, will make the move with Lakeland official October 1. Lakeland, which

Adopt A Highway This Weekend

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

School Board Looks Ahead

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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 Tuesday board meeting, Trustee Martha Momany said Robert Herrera,

Peters Talks Supreme Court Pick

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President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, is preparing for a fierce confirmation battle amidst the turmoil of the upcoming midterm elections. Michigan Senator Gary Peters expressed some concern. “I’m concerned about his ruling on the Consumer

Paid Sick Time Campaign

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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,

Mattawan Company Expanding

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A $2.6 million expansion is being planned by Mattawan-based Tri-Mation Industries. Zachary Morris with Kinexus tells WSJM News the company is an automation solutions company founded in 1995 that right now has 35 employees. Its new 40,000

SJ Water Plant Work

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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