Local News Archives

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle and a car on Saturday. Deputies were sent to the scene at the intersection of Red Arrow Hwy and Community Hall Road in New

There’s a whole lot of work planned for Napier Avenue starting this week. Berrien County Road Department Director Jason Latham tells WSJM News there will be two projects starting Monday. The first is the long-awaited reconstruction of

The Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor has kicked off its 2020-2021 year with the induction of a new president and board of directors. The new president is Matt Hanley. He replaces Brandi Smith, who says she

Michigan is reporting 398 additional cases of COVID-19 for Saturday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 65,533 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported three

The Allegan County Fair has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Allegan County Fair Board of Directors says the decision has been one of the toughest it’s ever faced, but it had to make the

Legislation from Congressman Fred Upton would provide funding to research labs that have not been much of a focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. He tells WSJM News the Research Investment to Secure the Economy, or RISE, Act

Those who plan to set off fireworks as they celebrate the nation’s independence this Fourth of July are being asked to take care not to start wildfires. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildfire prevention specialist Paul Rogers

The budget deal announced this week by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and state legislative leaders is a good start. So says state Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan, who tells WSJM News the plan uses federal coronavirus relief money

A Michigan bar industry leader says an executive order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week that brought back pandemic limits due to an uptick in COVID-19 cases could be last call for some local watering holes. Michigan

Legislation approved last year to reform Michigan’s auto insurance system is now in effect. State Representative Pauline Wendzel tells us Michigan drivers are no longer required to have unlimited injury protection in their policies. However, she notes

Lake Michigan College’s fall reopening plan was drafted with flexibility in mind. So says LMC Vice President of Academic Affairs Leslie Kellogg. She tells WSJM News the college will have five class types when the fall semester

From the Associated Press — Health officials in Michigan are telling people who attended a weekend garage sale near the community of Charlotte that a person working at the sale has reported having symptoms of the coronavirus.

The Berrien County Health Department is hard at work helping local school districts prepare for the resumption of classes in the fall. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the governor’s return to school road map leaves many

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department will be out in force this Fourth of July weekend as part of a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Undersheriff Chuck Heit tells WSJM News there will be zero tolerance

Michigan is reporting 543 additional cases of COVID-19 for Thursday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 64,675 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported 15

The Michigan Department of Transportation is doing what it can to help those who plan to take a trip this Fourth of July weekend. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the agency is suspending most road

The former Lewis Cass state building in downtown Lansing has been renamed the Elliot Larsen Building following an executive order from the governor this week. The move honors the authors of the state’s landmark civil rights act,

A new federal coronavirus stimulus package could be coming soon. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News talks are underway while Congress assesses the unemployment situation. He says whatever is proposed has to be bipartisan if it’s to

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation from state Representative Pauline Wendzel to increase the limit faced by breweries that self-distribute their beer. Right now, breweries are limited to 1,000 barrels per year when they self-distribute. Wendzel’s bill

Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week unveiled a plan to reopen K-12 schools this fall with extra safety precautions. Tonya Allen is the chair of the COVID-19 Return to Learn Advisory Council. She says students in grade six

Lake Michigan College has announced its plan to resume classes in the fall. LMC has released the following statement: It has been nearly four months since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we go about our day-to-day

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning swimmers to watch out for potential PFAS foam in lakes and rivers. Spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News in areas there has been PFAS contamination in the

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation giving Michigan drivers more time to get their licenses renewed. The governor’s office has released the following statement: Today, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 876-878, which codify her previous Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called on the Michigan High School Athletic Association to plan for the return of high school sports this fall in a safe manner. The plan could be to move some sports that allow

Southwestern Michigan College has announced in-person classes will resume this fall, while on-campus residence halls will be open as the institution operates as normally as possible while staying safe. SMC President Joe Odenwald tells WSJM News the

A $75,000 matching grant has been announced by the Berrien Community Foundation for ten arts groups in the area. BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News arts organizations have struggled a great deal during the pandemic, and

Michigan is reporting 262 additional cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 64,132 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported four

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is closing indoor seating in bars in parts of the state, including a city with a bar that has been linked to a rising number of infections. Whitmer on Wednesday also signed a bill

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders in Michigan have announced a plan to plug a budget hole for the coming year. Speaking Tuesday, the governor said the plan provides federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools, universities, community

Congressman Fred Upton has signed on to a letter asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to end a policy that has COVID-19 patients placed in nursing homes to recover. The letter is from 10th District Congressman Paul Mitchell. Upton