Local News Archives

Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan will hold its annual Mutt March today. The Mutt March raises money for the animal rescue organization. It’s a walk including dog owners and their friends in St. Joseph. The theme this

As county fairs are held around Michigan this summer, young future farmers have been receiving a lesson in risk management through a program of the CME Group. The company has teamed up with 4H chapters across the

From the Associated Press — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and residents have filed a federal lawsuit over Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance law. The Detroit News reports that the lawsuit was filed Thursday against Patrick McPharlin, the director of

You may have noticed that Red Arrow Highway is not in the best shape south of Bridgman in Berrien County, and at least part of that is about to change. Berrien County Road Department Director Jason Latham

From the Associated Press — The race to become Michigan’s next attorney general will be set this weekend, when 2,100 Republican activists choose between two state lawmakers vying for the nomination to face Democrat Dana Nessel this

Set for September 15 is the next Talons Out Honor Flight. Talons Out is an organization that provides free trips to Washington, D.C. for veterans of the Korean War and World War II so they can see

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan will benefit from a fundraiser this weekend. Director Jill Svoboda tells us they’re not the ones putting it on at Lakeside Family Church on Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville, but they’re

The Van Buren Conservation District is planning a Healthy Home Fair for next month in Hartford. The district’s Erin Fuller tells WSJM News he event will be a way to connect residents with Van Buren Conservation District

Kinexus is celebrating its Offender Success program. The employment agency in Benton Harbor tells us Offender Success pairs up recently-released inmates with job opportunities and programs designed to prevent them from re-offending. Offender Success Director Derek Knuth

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has approved its first tentative labor contract with the Berrien County Road Department since taking the road operation over last year. At a Thursday meeting, the county commission agreed to a

Michigan students will be missing out on almost $1 billion in funding this school year, and a new report blames what it calls “state budgeting gimmicks.” Voters approved the School Aid Fund more than two decades ago

From the Associated Press — Investigators say a former head gymnastics coach at Michigan State University lied in June when she denied that witnesses had told her in the past about being sexually assaulted by former sports

The West Nile virus has been found in Berrien County. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the illness was confirmed in a woman in late July. She couldn’t tell us more about the

From the Associated Press — A southwestern Michigan city is planning what are known as graffiti gardens where people can legally draw or paint on billboard-like plywood structures. Kalamazoo is working to provide more opportunities for art on utility

From the Associate Press — Michigan State University trustees have appointed 19 members to a search committee looking for the school’s next president. The selections were announced Wednesday. The committee will have 10 men and nine women –

A series of car break-ins has law enforcement busy around the South Haven area. Incidents of break ins in Casco Township and South Haven have been reported, leading the South Haven Police Department to tell residents to

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday it’s loosening rules on emissions from coal-fired power plants, rolling back the requirements of President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan. The new rules would largely allow states to regulate emissions, and

When the U.S. House gets back to work after Labor Day, Congressman Fred Upton will be pushing for the implementation of new rules for the chamber. He tells WSJM News November’s elections are likely to result in

From the Associated Press — Michigan officials say they’re halfway finished with collecting samples for a statewide study of toxic chemicals that have been detected in 33 states’ drinking water. The Department of Environmental Quality has sampled 892

A new theater in Benton Harbor is ready to begin renovations. Ghostlight Theater Director Martha Hesse tells WSJM News a crowdfunding campaign started this past Sunday, and was just a few hundred dollars from its goal as

Democratic candidate for Congress in Michigan’s Sixth District Matt Longjohn stopped by Benton Harbor City Hall on Monday to speak with the Benton Harbor City Commission. Longjohn, a doctor, promoted his healthcare credentials to commissioners, saying his

Sales of existing homes in July surged 18% over last year according to the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. Average and median sales prices were nearly unchanged. The inventory of houses for sale rose slightly from a

At least 143 Michigan school districts have asked for waivers to begin school before Labor Day this year, the largest number since a law was passed requiring the later start. The tourism industry argued the later start

A beach hazards advisory is still in effect until 8 tonight from the National Weather Service for the Lake Michigan shoreline all the way from Indiana to Manistee. While there have been people surfing the big waves

There could soon be an effort to beautify areas of Benton Harbor with murals. At this week’s city commission meeting, Anna Russo-Sieber with ARS Arts and Culture Center in Benton Harbor and Detroit-area artist John Sauve made

An effort in Chikaming Township to raise money for the expansion of a popular beach is now in its home stretch. Chikaming Township Supervisor David Bunte tells WSJM News the Cherry Beach Project seeks to raise about

There will be a debate or more between Congressman Fred Upton and Democratic opponent Matt Longjohn in the race for the Sixth District congressional seat. Upton tells WSJM News he’ll make it a priority. Longjohn has called

Preparations are already underway for next year’s Berrien County Youth Fair now that the 2018 event is all wrapped up. Berrien County Youth Fair Director Karen Klug tells WSJM News about 105,000 people walked through the fairground

Benton Harbor City Commissioners continue to discuss the status of City Manager Darwin Watson. At Monday’s meeting, they emerged from a closed session, requested by Watson, at which they considered his employment agreement. In the end, commissioners