Local News Archives

The OutCenter in Benton Harbor is gearing up for its annual Lake Effect Pride event. Set for Saturday, June 8 at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Lake Effect Pride is a chance for the OutCenter

A 3% pay increase for full-time, non-union staff has been put on hold by Benton Harbor City Commissioners. At last week’s meeting, they tabled the pay increase in order to get more information on the budget impact

Hands off. That’s the message from the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Trustees to Governor Whitmer and her administration regarding the possible closure of Benton Harbor High School after the 2020-2021 school year. The board has

The new Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor is getting ready to open for its first season. The black box theater at 101 Hinkley Street held a media day last week to show off to the public what’s

A 78-year-old woman is dead following a Sunday fire in Benton Township. The Benton Township Police Department tells us officers were dispatched to a home in the 1800 block of Wood Street around 3:20 a.m. Upon arrival,

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission will hold a summit on trails in Van Buren County next month. Senior Planner Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News the commission is putting together a seven-county trail plan for the Michigan Department

The County Road Association of Michigan has released a plan for getting roads under the jurisdiction of counties back into good condition. Its “Michigan County Road Investment Plan” concludes another $2 billion in annual funding is needed

An effort to clean up tires around the city of Benton Harbor made a splash last week. At this past week’s city commission meeting, Benton Harbor Director of Public Safety Dan McGinnis said the event last Friday

This Sunday will bring a chance for everyone to learn more about how they can stay safe and help protect others along piers in southwest Michigan. St. Joseph Department of Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker tells WSJM

Another Click It or Ticket campaign is underway this Memorial Day weekend to make sure Michigan drivers and their passengers are using their seat belts. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning’s Kendall Wingrove tells WSJM News

Martin’s Super Markets in St. Joseph and Stevensville are now offering same-day delivery of groceries. Martin’s has teamed up with Instacart, a North American leader in online groceries, for the program. To use it, you have to

There is a party going on this weekend at the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi campus in Dowagiac. Tribal council member Andy Jackson tells WSJM News they’re holding their tenth annual Memorial Day weekend pow wow. It’s smaller

The Michigan Secretary of State is advising everyone that new and enhanced REAL IDs will be needed to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities starting next year. Secretary of State spokesperson Shawn Starkey tells WSJM

A priest who once served at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Benton Harbor is facing two charges of rape. The Michigan Attorney General’s office tells us 84-year-old Jacob Vellian of the Kalamazoo Diocese faces life in

Flick Pick is a podcast about movies. In today’s episode, Andrew Green reviews John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. In this film, Keanu Reeves is back as America’s favorite assassin, John Wick. Throughout the film, John Wick

Legislation designed to allow for some medically frail inmates in Michigan to be moved out of prisons and into medical facilities has been signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan told

Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera doesn’t have much he can say about the proposal by the state to close the high school and switch the district to just grades K-8 starting in 2020. “I know

Look for your auto insurance rates to fall soon. A compromise plan to overhaul Michigan’s unique no-fault system has sailed through the House and Senate in a rare Friday session with broad bipartisan support. The House passed

The OutCenter in Benton Harbor is marking the first time it’s provided inclusivity training to a southwest Michigan business. OutCenter Director Mary Jo Schnell tells WSJM News on May 2, staff provided the training to the Moersch

The head of the state’s teacher’s union is supporting the proposal to close Benton Harbor High School after the coming year. Michigan Education Association President Paul Herbart says the proposal is not ideal, but is the “best

The Michigan Department of Treasury has shed light on what state officials are proposing be done with Benton Harbor Area Schools. The department issued a press release Friday saying it’s proposing operations at Benton Harbor High School

It’s a compromise years in the making, as Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republican leaders of the state House and Senate have a bipartisan agreement to reform the no-fault auto insurance system in Michigan. The Legislature is holding

From the Associated Press — Voting-rights advocates and a campaign-finance ballot drive group are challenging Republican-enacted requirements that make it harder to qualify proposals for the ballot. A lawsuit filed Thursday in the Michigan Court of Claims

There will be an open house for Van Buren County’s foster care system on Friday. Van Buren County Friend of the Court Lynn Bullard tells WSJM News the Judicial Court building in Paw Paw will host the

The city of South Haven is notifying drivers about some street paving starting next week. On Friday, May 31 the city will begin repaving Pearl Street from Erie Street to Church Street. During construction, the streets will

A two-year pilot program is about to get started in Berrien County to examine the need for a more robust mass transit system. Berrien County Board of Commissioners Chair Mac Elliot tells WSJM News the board on

Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce has changed its name. The organization is now to be called the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. After nearly 25 years of operating under the old name, the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber says its

There will be a heavy police presence out on Michigan roads this Memorial Day weekend. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Jim Flegel tells WSJM News there are three separate safety initiatives underway. He says Memorial Day weekend isn’t

Rumors are flying and things appear up in the air for Benton Harbor High School. An announcement could be coming out of the governor’s office today regarding the school’s future and possible forgiveness of some of the

Berrien RESA is planning some special summer camps for autistic children this year. It tells us “Makin’ Waves in Berrien County” will be a day camp for kids of middle and high school age on the autism