Local News Archives

Southwestern Michigan College moves to Phase 3 of its Campus Reopening Plan this weekend in preparation for the fall semester. Offices on both campuses in Dowagiac and Niles will be open to students, employees and the public

From the Associated Press — The Michigan Supreme Court has postponed arguments over Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s use of emergency powers until September 9. The one-week delay is tied to an illness on Justice Richard Bernstein’s staff. Bernstein,

From the Associated Press — The mother of a 6-year-old boy who drowned in Lake Michigan has pleaded guilty to child neglect. Iain Rowe drowned at Holland State Park on June 6, a day of high waves

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared August Immunization Awareness Month and Pet Immunization Awareness Month. Her office has released the following statement: Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued proclamations declaring August as Immunization Awareness Month and Pet Immunization Awareness Month. As flu season approaches, the

From the Associated Press — A federal judge in California has blocked a rule that Michigan and seven other states said would unlawfully allow too much pandemic relief aid to be diverted from K-12 public schools to

The Berrien County Health Department is feeling confident about the resumption of school next week. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the COVID-19 numbers for the area in recent weeks suggest “we are in a pretty good

Michigan students who are enrolled in college career and technical education programs this fall are now eligible to receive food assistance if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton

The Justice Department is asking for information from the Whitmer administration on state orders requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19 positive patients. Attorney General Dana Nessel said she thinks it’s a politically motivated effort that is targeting

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is going to have to decide what to do about Silver Beach County Park as high water levels in Lake Michigan eat away at the shoreline. During a Thursday meeting, Commissioner

Congressman Fred Upton is now involved in the battle to get USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend waivers needed to help students continue to receive two meals a day. Upton sent him a letter today asking for

Youth Solutions/Jobs for Michigan Graduates has been given a $10,000 grant from Michigan College Access Network. MCAN is giving away 10 grants over 10 days as part of its 10th anniversary. The money is in support of

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after some pipe bombs were found in Pine Grove Township on Wednesday. It says deputies were called out to County Road 388 and 23 1/2 Street shortly before 4

Indiana Michigan Power is sending more than 200 employees and contractors down south to help with power restoration following Hurricane Laura. I&M says the crews left their respective service centers early Thursday and would be ready to

Michigan State Police are announcing guilty pleas in a case against former South Haven Finance Director Wendy Hochstedler and Daniel Beck, who is a member of her household. She was fired in November 2018 after city auditors

Home sales in southwest Michigan during July were up, and so were the selling prices. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors says pent-up demand was unleashed as the number of homes sold went up by 51% from

The city of Niles is picking up debris kicked around by storms that hit the community this week. It says property owners should plan to have all their storm damaged vegetation at the side of the curb

State education leaders are expressing concern about their ability to meet the needs of students when it comes to meal distributions this fall. State Superintendent Michael Rice says the U.S. Department of Agriculture is not planning to

Southwestern Michigan College expects to find out in October if it can bring back its cross-country program. The college announced this summer it’s decided to resurrect the Roadrunners, which were disbanded about 25 years ago. College officials

A church in St. Joseph has received word that items it donated to refugees in the Middle East were destroyed in the Beirut port explosion this month. Pastor Steve Hartten with Peace Lutheran Church tells WSJM News

The Michigan Women’s Commission is moving from the Department of Civil Rights to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The move was announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday as she says she aims to enhance

In a Zoom call Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined the advocacy group Protect Our Care to advocate for the Affordable Care Act. Nessel said protecting the law is part of her job. “I tried to

From the Associated Press — The Justice Department is seeking data from the governors of four states about “orders which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents.” Officials say Wednesday that

1st Source Bank has donated $30,000 to the Spectrum Health Lakeland Foundation to help its staff who are facing financial problems. Spectrum Health Lakeland says the money is specifically for the Associate in Need Fund. Spectrum Health

From the Associated Press — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon discontinue the food program waivers that have ensured students are fed while schools are closed during the pandemic. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow said Tuesday that

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the US House to help with the mental health care of doctors and nurses. Congressman Fred Upton is among the sponsors of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

Barber Packaging in Bangor is expanding. After their successful conversion to make one-million face shields for the medical community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the firm is creating as many as 20 jobs with a six-acre, 36,000 square

Michigan is up by 779 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 20 new deaths. The Department of Health and Human Services says the total cases are now 98,439 and 6,417 have lost their lives. Locally, updated county numbers

Get a flu shot. That’s the bottom line from the state press conference today regarding COVID-19 and the Facing the Flu Together fight. Governor Whitmer got her shot on the stage. “When we all get our flu

IKEA is giving the state of Michigan $1.2 million for its COVID-19 response efforts. Governor Gretchen Whitmer took a moment at the start of Tuesday’s press conference to thank the retailer. “This is the largest donation to

Police in both St. Joseph Township and Benton Township are looking for the same woman. 25-year-old Shinnarah Bailey of Benton Harbor is accused of shooting at a 26-year-old Benton Harbor man in the 13-hundred block of Union