The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is holding a tour this week designed to teach residents how the environment is protected via wastewater treatment plants. Senior planner Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News they’re going to tour the Galien
The fall Berrien County land auction has been held, netting more than $288,000 for the county’s foreclosure fund. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News 112 of 120 properties were sold Tuesday. That money goes into
Congressman Fred Upton is pushing for a renewal of the federal pipeline safety law. He tells WSJM News the current law will expire on September 30, and negotiations are ongoing between different House committees. “Even if it
State and local health officials are urging everyone to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites as an increased number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases have been reported in Michigan this year. Berrien County Health Department
State Senator Kim LaSata is holding a Veteran of the Year contest. She says southwest Michigan is blessed with a large community of veterans, and she wants to recognize them for their service. Anyone who wishes to
A tele-town hall meeting will be held this Wednesday by state Representative Brad Paquette of Niles. He says with recent changes to Michigan’s auto insurance law, he wants to speak with residents to help them understand how
Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education President Stephen Mitchell has died. Board Vice President Joseph Taylor issued a statement Tuesday, saying the board, the district, and the community “are forever grateful for President Mitchell’s leadership and
From the Associated Press — Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is urging Republican legislative leaders to send her budget bills this week, so she has time to review and sign them before a September 30 deadline. Whitmer wrote
Chris Heugel’s exit as president of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is due to his return to the hospitality industry. Heugel tells our Pat Moody he’s taken a job with Aimbridge Hospitality, which is North America’s third-largest
A 25-year-old man is jailed for allegedly breaking into the Flagship True North Fish Market in Benton Harbor early Tuesday morning. Officers responded to the alarm just after 4 a.m. and found the suspect nearby. He was
Notification has gone out to around 48,000 people who are state employees in Michigan warning them of a possible temporary layoff starting October 1 if a new budget isn’t in place. Republicans in the House and Senate
From the Associated Press — More than 30 of Michigan’s state parks are hosting fall harvest festivals this year. They feature activities such as hayrides, pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating, costume contests, haunted trails, nature programs and horse-drawn carriage
Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved a six month moratorium on new billboards. At a Monday meeting, Mayor Marcus Muhammad read from the resolution stating the ban on new off-premises advertisements is to be in effect while
Berrien County is set to move forward with making improvements to the waterways in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The St. Joseph City Commission gave final approval to a long-term lease agreement with the county for two
There is no official word as yet, but sources confirm to WSJM News that there is a change coming at the top of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber. The board of directors plans to issue a statement
Around 800 students and faculty members from Andrews University are set to be out and about around southwest Michigan volunteering for non-profits next week. That’s because the third annual Change Day is Tuesday. Change Day coordinator Teela
The fall color season is about to start in Michigan. County Road Association of Michigan spokesperson Dustin Earley tells WSJM News people from outside of the state come here just to check out the fall colors. The
From the Associated Press — Michigan’s 48,000 state government workers have been notified of potential temporary layoffs in case the next budget is not enacted before October 1. Budget director Chris Kolb and department directors emailed employees
The rest of the varsity football season at River Valley High School has been cancelled. River Valley School District Superintendent William Kearney says the team was left with too few players to complete the season after the
A 26-year-old Bangor woman is headed to prison for a stabbing attack on a man in Grand Junction in December. Niki Leigh Murphy was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to
A Benton Township man is facing an attempted murder charge for allegedly shooting his girlfriend in front of a home in the 13-hundred block of Agard early Monday morning. Police were called to the Sunny Spot gas
More than 49,000 members of the United Auto Workers union went on strike early Monday as contract talks with General Motors broke down. Union members walked out of factories and set up picket lines at 33 plants
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department K9 Faust has caught a man who is accused of crashing a car that may have been stolen in Berrien County. The 59-year-old Niles man was found by Faust while trying to
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging everyone to check out some of the state’s trails this month. DNR Trail Coordinator Paul Yauk tells WSJM News many people don’t even know about the recreation opportunities that
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is notifying those who receive healthcare through the Healthy Michigan program that work requirements are going to kick in on January 1. Spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News because
A cleanup event along Ox Creek in the Benton Harbor area late last month attracted 29 volunteers from several organizations. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission senior planner Marcy Hamilton tells us local Rotary clubs, the Two Rivers Coalition,
The Berrien County Health Department has released its report for 2018. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the department gave its report to the Berrien County Board of Health earlier this month. She says some people might
Several thefts from parked vehicles are under investigation in Van Buren County. The sheriff’s department says the thefts occurred in the village of Bloomingdale in the early morning hours of Friday. In all, eight vehicles in the
Two people are dead following a Saturday crash in Lake Township. The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department says the crash happened at Jericho Road and Linco Road around 12:45 p.m. It was between a 2011 Chevy Silverado that
The Berrien County Parks Department will hold a community recycling event this month at Silver Beach. It says now is the time to clean out your garage and basement, and also take a look at what’s under
