Local News Archives

Home sales in southwest Michigan continue to be strong, as the month of August brought an increase in units moved. Gary Walter, with the Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors, tells WSJM News it was a good month

Western Michigan University is lining up hundreds of couples to renew their marriage vows as part of a homecoming weekend record attempt. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports the school on October 8 is seeking to set a new

Headed to a haunted corn maze during the Halloween season? Watch your step. The Michigan appeals court has given new life to a lawsuit by a man who broke his leg while trying to get out of a

In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, for September 23,2016, bravery awards are issued to two members of the Michigan State Police, a car crashes into a St. Joseph church, and more.

Tesla Motors has sued Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials, challenging a 2014 law that clarified that automakers can only sell through franchised dealerships. The federal lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment that the “anti-Tesla” law is unconstitutional

Governor Rick Snyder is helping out six state House candidates with a series of TV ads. Among the candidates is state Representative Brandt Iden, of Kalamazoo County. He says he doesn’t think the governor’s ad indicates he’s

The latest business outlook report from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research is out, and it’s anticipating flat hiring in Berrien County for the third quarter. Regional analyst Brian Pittelko tells WSJM News the main indicators for the

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has kicked off the 26th annual Harvest Gathering food drive. She tells WSJM News the drive began Thursday, collecting non-perishables for the needy at all 131 branch offices. Johnson says Michiganders are

The Berrien County Health Department is working to get the word out this month to new parents about the importance of putting their babies to bed safely. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM NEws you should put the baby

A Niles area man is facing charges after a fire in his home this week led police to discover marijuana growing there. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells our newsroom the fire was reported in the 1100

A grant of more than $694,000 is being awarded to Van Buren County for its specialty courts. The money will be used to run the county’s drug treatment court, family treatment court, Swift and Sure Sanctions Program,

This coming Monday marks the first of three presidential debates between Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and GOP candidate Donald Trump. Aaron Kall, Director of Debate at the University of Michigan, says that both Clinton and Trump are

Local non-profit organizations will benefit far into the future from a new endowment announced for the Berrien Community Foundation this week. Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News $1.2 million from Steve E. Upton will be used

Renovations are set to begin at the Berrien County Jail. WSJM’s Ray Gustafson has more.

Tesla has sued Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials, challenging a 2014 law that ensures automakers can only sell through franchised dealerships. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday seeks a declaratory judgment that the “anti-Tesla” law is unconstitutional

Michigan’s new Amber Alert-like system to quickly warn people of mass shootings, terrorist attacks and other nearby threats is operational. Michigan State Police spokeswoman Lori Dougavito explains that it can be used to interrupt radio and TV

Bravery awards for two members of the Michigan State Police for their actions on November 18 last year in Benton Township. Sergeant Brian Keely and Trooper Carlos Fossati were given the awards yesterday in Lansing. They stormed

A new online tool is allowing the residents of some communities around the country to track crime information in their areas. CrimeMapping.com offers maps of communities with icons indicating what kind of crimes have been reported recently

The top plow drivers in Van Buren County have been honored after getting a chance to compete for glory. The county road commission says its drivers and DPW employees from South Haven and Paw Paw competed in

Set for this weekend is the fourth annual Berrien RESA Festival of Families. RESA Superintendent Kevin Ivers tells WSJM News the gathering at the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds features information on all kinds of programs offered by

One ticket has been issued for a crash in St. Joseph on Tuesday that resulted in an SUV hitting the steps of a church. The department of public safety tells our newsroom the crash happened around 2

The South Haven branch of Honor Credit Union is moving. The credit union has bought some property on County Road 388 in town where it says it can add more amenities for customers. They’ll include drive-thru lanes,

The job market in Berrien County has been a little sluggish, according to the latest business outlook report from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. It says a decline in professional and business services employment pushed the

Set for this upcoming weekend is the annual St. Joseph Fall Festival. St. Joe Today’s Whitney Behnke tells WSJM News the event will kick off with Friday’s Rotary and Slumberland Great Bed Race, when a bunch of

Governor Rick Snyder has signed into law new marijuana regulations that he says clarify Michigan’s 8-year-old voter-approved initiative that legalized the drug for medical use. The Republican governor says the legislation signed Wednesday will implement a “solid framework”

Police documents show the suspect in the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa from a Norton Shores gas station where she worked had visited the store several times. Credit card records released Wednesday also show Jeffrey Willis was at

The Michigan House has approved an early literacy bill that requires that third-graders be held back if they lag in reading, unless they qualify for an exemption. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation later in the

The second property tax foreclosure auction of the year by the Berrien County Treasurer’s Office is being deemed a success. Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells our newsroom they sold about two-thirds of the properties available yesterday. He says