Here’s a Black Friday deal that won’t cost a dime: free entry to Michigan state parks if you don’t have the annual recreation passport. The state is waiving fees Friday at 103 state parks and recreation areas and
A homeless man who was ordered to tear down a shanty in the Grand Rapids area has found a new home — with a piano. John Foster Bentley tells WOOD-TV that he’s been “overwhelmed” by the kindness
A new plan to help the craft distillers in Michigan is being pushed by state Senator John Proos. He tells WSJM News the small makers of beer get big tax breaks in Michigan, so why not the small
Big box stores around southwest Michigan may be busy this week with the annual fun of Black Friday, but shops in downtown St. Joseph are inviting everyone to carve out some time the next day for Small Business
A year-long study done by Lakeland Health has given us a sense of what communities need to help residents live healthy, and also what folks around southwest Michigan are concerned about. The 2016-2019 Community Health Needs Assessment
Police are urging everyone who hits up big box stores for Black Friday to be courteous and take it easy. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey tells WSJM News you don’t want to contribute to any problems. “Saving
State wildlife regulators say another deer in southern Michigan may have been found with chronic wasting disease. The Department of Natural Resources says a hunter shot the 1 1/2 -year-old buck last week in Clinton County’s Eagle Township
On the orders of the FDA, most blood donation organizations around the United States are now testing samples for the Zika virus. That includes Michigan Blood, which started doing so last week. Michigan Blood’s Cindy Raven tells
Police could use the public’s help in solving a break-in and robbery in Buchanan this week. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us it was reported about 7 p.m. Tuesday at a home on East Glendora Road.
Southwest Michigan’s housing market has been strong throughout 2016, although sales took a bit of a breather in the month of October. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors’ Philip Amodeo tells WSJM News sales for the month
New questions have been raised about the presidential election count. So, could there really be a recount in Michigan? J Alex Halderman at the University of Michigan Center for Computer Security is among those raising the alarm
President-elect Donald Trump has added a well known Michigan Charter School advocate to his administration. Betsy Devos has been named Secretary of Education. Michigan News Network Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick says many public educators in the
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is warning everyone about a new scam. It says it’s gotten reports of well-dressed young men, ages about 16 to 22, hanging around the parking lots of some Benton Township area shopping
The government wants smartphone makers to lock out most apps when the phone is being used by someone driving a car. The voluntary guidelines unveiled Wednesday are designed to reduce crashes caused by drivers distracted by phones. The
A Michigan appeals court has found that the state’s 2014 wolf hunt was unconstitutional and the law allowing it should be struck down. The Detroit Free Press reports a three-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals made
A man is being treated at South Bend Memorial Hospital after being found “covered in smoke” and lying on the ground in Niles Township. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us it happened around 8:20 pm Tuesday
A Wayne State University police officer has died after being shot in the head while on patrol near the school’s campus in Detroit. The university announced Officer Collin Rose’s death Wednesday evening in a news release. Detroit police
The NCAA has ordered Notre Dame to vacate all 21 victories from the 2012-13 seasons because of academic misconduct. A former trainer was found to have done substantial course work for two players and impermissibly helped six
A Wayne State University police officer who was shot in the head while on patrol near campus has been released from surgery, and authorities said they were interrogating a man about the attack. The officer was identified
If you’re one of the growing number of Americans who cooks their turkey in the deep fryer, you’re reminded of the things you need to do to avoid a fire. Michigan Fire Marshal Julie Secontine tells WSJM
The Michigan House of Representatives will pay $515,000 in a settlement with two former legislative aides who alleged they were wrongfully fired and publicly humiliated after reporting two lawmakers’ extramarital affair and other misconduct. An agreement released Tuesday
Berrien County has graduated three new corrections deputies. They just finished a four-week corrections officer training program at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, studying a variety of disciplines for jail officers. Those include custody and security, defensive tactics,
With Thanksgiving on Thursday, fire officials around the country are reminding everyone to be safe in the kitchen. St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Brian Uridge tells WSJM News this is one of the more dangerous
State Representative-elect Kim LaSata has started putting together her Lansing team. She’s hired Bridgman native Arthur Havlicek to serve as her legislative director. LaSata says that Havlicek brings an understanding of the legislature and the district to
Judges all over Michigan are taking time this weke to finalize adoptions. Tuesday was Adoption Day, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen tells us it was a special, heartwarming occasion “To the extent that I can
The American Heart Association is hoping folks will try to keep their Thanksgiving dinner a bit healthier this year. Michigan Healthy Food Access Campaign Director Ted O’Dell tells WSJM News one tip is to first stack half of
Developers have broken ground on what is billed as a world-class testing facility in Michigan for driverless vehicles. Governor Snyder and other officials attended a Monday groundbreaking for the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township. The
Michigan Lottery officials say nearly $889 million will be contributed the state’s School Aid Fund in 2016, a year after it contributed a record of $795.5 million. MLive reports that lottery officials said in a news release Monday
It was a case of animal hoarding in Van Buren County. Now the couple charged with animal neglect and cruelty for keeping over 100 dogs in their small home in Lawrence Township will get the help they
A new report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation says child welfare agencies need to focus on helping foster parents meet the emotional needs of children in their care. Denise Goodman, a child welfare consultant, tells us
