The U.S. Coast Guard and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department are trying to find 16-year-old Eliza Trainer’s body in Lake Michigan. The Flint-area girl was washed off the pier at Holland State Park by a large wave
From the Associated Press — The leaders of 18 environmental and civic groups want U.S. Steel to face tougher penalties over a spill of hazardous substances from a northwestern Indiana plant into Lake Michigan. The groups submitted
A kayaker has died after being part of a group that had trouble on the St. Joseph River in Niles on New Year’s Day. Firefighters rescued two of the kayakers, and a third got himself out of
The first baby born in southwest Michigan in 2020 didn’t wait too long after the new year began to make his appearance. Ryker Zavoral was born at 12:59 a.m. on January 1 at Lakeland Hospital Niles to
From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered Michigan’s environmental agency to review its pollution-inspection procedures and says her administration is reviewing if criminal charges can be filed after the discovery of a green substance
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office has mailed out 250,000 applications to the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to randomly selected voters. It’s the next step in a process to create Michigan’s first citizens redistricting commission, also one
The Three Oaks Village Council will interview three candidates for the job of village manager next week. The village says on its Facebook page Kevin Gillette, Patricia Rayl, and James Toth are the finalists out of more
A Biggby Coffee location is coming to Stevensville. Construction is underway now on the “B Cubed” Biggby, as it will be called. B Cubed locations are smaller Biggby establishments with no walk-in service. It will be drive-through
To help residents of Flint offset the negative health effects of lead, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is distributing nutrient-rich food in the community. The department says the mobile food pantry sites distribute foods
The Michigan State Police post in Paw Paw has welcomed two new troopers. State police say Troopers Chad Burnside and Larnell Hill graduated from the 136th Trooper Recruit School on December 20, and were assigned to Paw
Minimum wage in Michigan is going up tomorrow. Currently $9.45 an hour, it will rise to $9.65 on January 1 and up to $9.87 on New Year’s Day 2021. For tipped employees, the wage will go from
AAA of Michigan reminds those who go out to celebrate this New Year’s Eve of a free towing program it offers. Spokesperson Adrienne Woodland tells us “Tow to Go” was brought to the state in 2017. You
Michigan heads into 2020 with a months-long budget impasse behind it, but some analysts contend unresolved funding issues still need attention. Recently signed supplemental spending bills restored budget dollars from K-12 and higher education, public safety, and
The Berrien County Health Department is reminding everyone to avoid excessive alcohol consumption this New Year’s Eve. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News planning is key. “To avoid having too much to drink, you really need to
More than 10,000 pounds of food was collected this year through the Michigan Secretary of State’s Harvest Gathering food drive. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says the long-running program is just one way Michigan residents come together
Berrien County residents are being invited to a Flood Map Information Open House in Benton Harbor on January 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Benton Harbor Public Library and put on
Work is underway along the coast in St. Joseph to install limestone boulders to protect several homes between Lions Park Beach and Silver Beach County Park. As high waves crashed along the beach and eroded more sand
South Haven is closing out its sesquicentennial celebration on New Year’s Eve. The party will start with an early evening Youth Celebration at the South Haven Center for the Arts and will close out the city’s commemoration
Michigan State Police have stepped up patrols to make the roads safer this week and next week. Operation Care will mean additional highway enforcement through the end of the New Year’s period. The traffic initiative is a
The Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition is cheering final approval this month of a new law that will set up a statewide Suicide Prevention Coalition. Governor Whitmer signed the bill on December 20. Efforts to set up
Members of the Benton Harbor community are being invited to take a survey that has been put online by the Benton Harbor Area Schools Community Engagement and Advisory Committee. The Michigan Department of Treasury says the committee
The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has been asked for help in getting part of a road in Pipestone Township paved. A resident of the township addressed the board about Tabor Road between Evans and South Pipestone
Benton Harbor City Commissioners are slated to consider a tax break for a new development along Riverview Drive next month. The city commission will hold a public hearing on January 21 to talk about establishing a Commercial
Congressman Fred Upton is hoping legislation intended to ease the labor shortage faced by farmers each year could eventually lead to immigration reform. He tells WSJM News the House this month passed his Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced the creation of the Michigan Poverty Task Force. Housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, or LEO, the task force will bring together representatives of 19 state agencies to
From the Associated Press — The Michigan appeals court has affirmed the conviction of a man in the disappearance and death of a gas station clerk in western Michigan. The court says some evidence found at Jeffrey
Coming to the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph this winter will be an award winning lecture series put on by Calvin University. From January 8 through January 28, the library will be one of
Michigan’s OK2SAY tipline is now appearing on the big screen. The Michigan Attorney General’s office says OK2SAY advertisements are running in movie theaters throughout the state this season. Three different OK2SAY messages began airing on 372 screens
From the Associated Press — The National Park Service and a northwestern Indiana town will install sand traps along the Lake Michigan shoreline to combat beach erosion at the Indiana Dunes National Park. The federal agency was
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s investigation into abuse by clergy in the Catholic church will continue into the new year. AG spokesperson Kelly Rossman-McKinney tells us seven priests have been charged so far. That’s after millions of
