Local News Archives

A new 14 by 12 foot mural has been painted on the outside brick wall of the St. Joseph Welcome Center downtown. St. Joseph Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News the organization hired Houston-based artist Anat Ronen

With the failure this week of a road millage in Van Buren County, it’s back to the drawing board for the road commission. The body had asked voters for an additional three mills for 12 years to

The Michigan Department of Transportation has updated its Drive website to be more user friendly. Spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News MDOT recently discontinued the MI Drive phone app, and redesigned the website to work better with

A couple of new principals have been hired at Niles Community Schools. Superintendent Dan Applegate tells us the district has hired Jeron Blood as the new Ballard Elementary principal and Jennifer Shabazz as the principal of Northside

A medical marijuana producer out of Colorado could soon own the vacant Alreco Industrial property in Benton Harbor. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells us NoBo Partners recently came to the Berrien County Land Bank with an

The local response to the PFAS contamination in Parchment and Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County is getting high marks from Congressman Fred Upton. He tells WSJM News when the harmful chemical was detected at high levels in

A new report looks at the effects immigrant entrepreneurs have on Michigan’s economy. The Michigan League for Public Policy report says immigrants account for 12% of business owners in the state, and 20% of Main Street business

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is hoping to attract public interest in its efforts to improve the Ox Creek Watershed. It tells us a new website has been launched specifically for the Ox Creek Watershed Improvement Plan,

Michigan’s Longest Garage Sale is underway this weekend. Taking place through Sunday, the US-12 Heritage Trail Garage Sale is a series of sales taking place all the way from New Buffalo to Detroit. The Southwest Michigan Planning

The number of concussions suffered by high school athletes in Michigan continues to fall. In its third annual report, the Michigan High School Athletic Association says concussions were down 10% in the most recent school year compared

The Michigan Department of Treasury is warning all students to watch out for loan and scholarship scams. Acting Deputy State Treasurer Anne Wohlfert tells WSJM News this is the time of year when many college-bound students are

Set for this Sunday is the 16th annual Maytag IronMan 70.3 Steelhead, an endurance triathlon that starts at Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor. Race Director Mike Ryan tells WSJM News about 2,000 people will take part

The Berrien County Land Bank is hoping to close a deal soon with a buyer for the vacant Alreco industrial property in Benton Harbor. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News the land bank has received

A move is in the works for Berrien County Cancer Service. Organization CEO Nancy Church tells WSJM News they’re relocating from their building on Red Arrow Highway near Stevensville to the second floor of the Marie Yeager

From the Associated Press– A January trial date has been set in the case of an Uber driver charged with killing six people in Michigan after a prosecutor said he won’t appeal a decision that keeps a

The University of Michigan marching band will perform at Lakeshore High School next month. The Lakeshore Excellence Foundation tells us Lakeshore High School will host the U of M band on September 1, before the university band

The Berrien County Youth Fair gets underway Monday in Berrien Springs. This year’s theme is “Passport to Adventure,” and the first day of the fair features several animal judging events including horses, goats, cats, and rabbits. The

As many as 100 new jobs are coming to Hagar Township. Cornerstone Alliance tells WSJM News that Dicastal Logistics Group will be opening a new operation in the township. The Chinese-based company is the largest manufacturer of

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission has big hopes for the Ox Creek Watershed in Berrien County. Deputy Executive Director Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News it’s an area of Benton Township. “Ox Creek is a creek that starts

A well-used privately owned road in South Haven may be closed if repairs are not made. The road runs off of Blue Star Highway just south of Phoenix and along the south side Walgreens. The road serves

The Van Buren Conservation District will be doing free water testing for residents next week. The district’s A.J. Brucks tells WSJM News anyone can bring by a sample of their well water to have it checked for

The Live Mannequins event held in downtown St. Joseph each December is being rebranded and moved to the spring. St. Joe Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News Live Mannequins, which featured displays of people dressed as mannequins

One key Republican in Michigan is not getting behind the party’s nominee for governor quite yet. That man is Rick Snyder, the term-limited current governor who had backed Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley’s bid for the party’s nomination.

The American Red Cross shelter set up at Upton Middle School for displaced residents of the Cosmo Extended Stay Motel is no longer needed. The Sodus Township motel was shut down due to a fire late last

A massive dairy processor is going to set up shop in Clinton County, north of Lansing. Nearly 300 jobs are set to be created following the announcement of the facility in the city of St. Johns, where

Congressman Fred Upton and the other members of his House Problem Solvers group continue to push for new House rules when the next House Speaker is chosen. The group recently announced it wants rules in place to

The Michigan State Police post in Niles and the Niles Police Department are the first law enforcement agencies in Berrien County to be picked for a statewide program to help identify vulnerable adults or impaired children. MSP

The number of concussions suffered by high school athletes in Michigan continues to fall. In its third annual report, the Michigan High School Athletic Association says concussions were down 10% in the most recent school year compared

The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is hoping to attract public interest in its efforts to improve the Ox Creek Watershed. It tells us a new website has been launched specifically for the Ox Creek Watershed Improvement Plan,