Local News Archives

A big event gets underway on Friday at Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. It’s the annual Chrysanthemums and More. Exhibition designer Adam Bundy has details and spoke with Michigan News Network. “At the celebration

From the Associated Press — A plan to dismantle a 1-mile-long depressed freeway that was built in Detroit by demolishing Black neighborhoods 60 years ago is a big winner of federal money. The $104.6 million for the

From touring with Prince and Toto to recording with Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, members of Ghost-Note have played with some of the biggest musical artists of all time. If that weren’t enough, founding members Robert “Sput”

Michigan Gas Utilities is awarding $10,000 to help Michigan public safety agencies purchase lifesaving equipment. The funding is part of MGU’s Rewarding Responders Grant program, and among the police agencies to receive funds this week is the

After a year of canceled flights, many travelers are already making arrangements for the holidays. AAA of Michigan spokesperson Adrienne Woodland tells us the latest survey finds 42% of those planning to travel for Thanksgiving have already

A railroad strike could start this week if a deal isn’t reached between the unions representing railroad workers and freight carriers. Congressman Fred Upton tells us such a strike would be a disaster, and Congress may have

Krasl Art Center and the Coastline Children’s Film Festival have combined forces for the third annual Flick-or-Treat on October 8 at the Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Boulevard, St. Joseph. Started in 2020, Flick-or-Treat is an evening

There’s a new Veterans Administration clinic about to open in Benton Township. VA spokesperson Brian Pegouske tells us the new outpatient clinic has been in the works for about three years. It’s to better meet the needs

The new COVID vaccine that targets the Omicron variant is now available from the Berrien County Health Department. Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller tells us this is called the bivalent COVID vaccine. “Bivalent just means that

Booster doses of the bivalent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed by the Berrien County Health Department. The boosters provide greater protection against the predominant COVID-19 strain along with the Omicron variant and its

Inflation was higher than expected in August, curbing optimism for lower day-to-day expenses. Tim Nash is the director of the McNair Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood University. He says there was

Michigan State University president Samuel Stanley says he stands by his actions including forcing the resignation of the Broad School of Business dean for not reporting sexual harassment allegations quickly. Stanley spoke to the faculty yesterday, but

Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon is proposing spending a billion dollars on public safety. She and running mate Shane Hernandez unveiled the idea in Grand Rapids yesterday, with Dixon saying violent crime has risen over the past

By Ryan Yuenger ryany@wsjm.com First-year festival director John Westbrook must have wanted attendees to be absolutely overwhelmed with positivity during the return of Lightning Bug Music Festival, because there was no other conclusion to draw after two

Stealing 11 Mustangs 5 days ago wasn’t enough for a group of thieves at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. They struck again Tuesday. 12 to 15 more Mustangs were stolen from the same storage lot early Tuesday

A new natural gas electric plant in Niles helps Michigan maintain its energy supply while providing additional tax support for the community. So says Congressman Fred Upton after visiting the Indeck Niles Energy Center last week. He

The St. Joseph School District will be getting some more improvements thanks to St. Joseph Public School Foundation grants. School Board trustee Rick Dyer, who also sits on the foundation board, told school board members about $319,000

The Berrien Community Foundation has increased the amount of its For Good Grants. The grants for non-profits have now gone up from $10,000 to $15,000. The BCF says the volunteers who review grant applications noticed the needs

Leaders at Lakeshore Public Schools are considering the pursuit of a capital improvement bond, and the public is being asked to weigh in. Speaking at a Monday meeting, Superintendent Greg Eding said the discussions have been underway

St. Joseph City Commissioners are thinking about the future of the Curious Kids Museum. Following a fire that closed the museum in July, talks started about how to rebuild. Museum Director Lori Marciniak told city commissioners Monday

The St. Joseph Public Schools (SJPS) Board of Education will embark on a new strategic planning process to develop the district’s long-range plan for improvement.  The new strategic planning process is data-driven and based on input from

An outburst of violence over a two-block radius in Niles has led police to believe there is a connection. The Niles Police Department announced Tuesday it believes the shooting deaths of Farries Maxwell on Aug. 16 and

Homeowners struggling to pay bills have may have an opportunity to receive help, thanks to a fund established by the state of Michigan earlier this year. In February, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan State Housing Development

Marcelo Aranda has been fired from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy after being accused of attacking a paralyzed man while off-duty in Ingham County. A passenger in Tyler Lueken’s vehicle recorded video of the

Five South Haven firefighters will be honored for their combined 118 years of service to the city when they are added to the Memorial Wall of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association in Roscommon. The service will be