Local News Archives

A recent book drive undertaken by the United Way of Southwestern Michigan collected more than 10,800 books for kids from kindergarten all the way through the 12th grade in Berrien and Cass counties. The United Way’s Julee

The Allegan County Health Department has received a $20,000 grant from the state to increase hepatitis A vaccinations. It tells us the money comes from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which set aside a

As threats shut down schools across southwest Michigan following last month’s Parkland, Florida shootings, police want the culprits to know they’re making a big mistake. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey tells WSJM News someone who threatens a

An arrest has been in made in the case of a threat made this month to the Countryside Academy in Benton Township. The police department tells us officers were called to the charter high school on March

With hundreds of thousands of young people having held demonstrations around the country this past weekend, Congressman Fred Upton is hoping there can be some kind of gun legislation approved in Washington soon. He tells WSJM News

The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees has approved a tuition hike. At a Tuesday meeting, the board voted to raise tuition for in-district students by 2% and out-of-district students by 5%. LMC leaders say increased operating

Police are looking for a suspect in the robbery of the Family Dollar store in Benton Township Wednesday night. The Benton Township Police Department tells us it happened at the store in the 1,200 block of M-139

From the Associated Press — A Michigan class that teaches residents how to build their own semi-automatic AR-15 rifles drew protests from gun control advocates following recent mass shootings involving the weapon. Organizers say the class held Tuesday

Michigan State University interim president John Engler speaking following charges against Dean William Strampel. Engler told Michigan News Network their focus is to create one of the safest, if not the safest campus environment when it comes

Chicago is supporting a federal plan to shield the Great Lakes from invasive Asian carp by strengthening defenses at a crucial Illinois choke point. The city has joined the Great Lakes Basin Partnership to Block Asian Carp, an initiative

Prescription drug prices must come down. That’s the message from Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow is is introducing a three bill package to lower the cost of medicine. She told Michigan News Network there are more lobbyists in

A surprising turn of events in the race for governor. Polling numbers from a MRG Michigan Survey show Democratic candidate Shri Thanedar is now leading Gretchen Whitmer by three points — 21 to 18%. Michigan News Network

A big celebration is in the works for the Benton Harbor High School boys basketball team. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, a parade will start at Benton Harbor City Hall, go down Pipestone Street, Union Avenue, and

It’s another day off for students at Dowagiac Union Schools. The district will be shut down on Thursday due to threats received at the high school and the middle school on Tuesday. They remain under investigation. The

Some big staff and building changes have been approved by the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education. At a Wednesday meeting, the board voted to notify five administrators, including the high school principal, their contracts aren’t

A 17-year-old who has been picked as the Michigan Youth of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America says he thinks all kids with an interest should stop by the Benton Harbor club. Quincy

Leaders at Southwestern Michigan College are thinking about the long term. The board of trustees held a nine hour meeting this week to take at look at SMC’s strengths, weaknesses, and threats. President David Mathews tells WSJM

The city of St. Joseph could get a state grant to help residents replace lead water lines near their homes. At Monday’s city commission meeting, St. Joe Public Works Director Tom MacDonald said there’s a new state

South Haven Public Schools are signing on to the “Be Nice” program that started in Grand Rapids and is making its way around Michigan. Sandy VanderRoest of South Haven Public Schools spoke with WSJM News about the

Encouraging minorities to sign up for organ donations. That’s one of the main topics at a transplant symposium happening at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit this week. It’s attracting transplant experts from around the country. Transplant Dr.

We’re down to the final four in state Senator John Proos’ annual Southwest Michigan Spirit Tournament. Each year, Proos asks students throughout his district to submit photographic evidence of their school spirit to his social media accounts.

Michigan State Police are looking for three men who robbed the Citgo station on M-140 in Watervliet just before midnight Tuesday night. One of the three had a gun and got money from the register, while the

From the Associated Press — A prosecutor says a Michigan State University official failed to supervise Larry Nassar at a critical time when the sports doctor was facing allegations of sexual misconduct in 2014. Bill Forsyth announced charges Tuesday

Dowagiac Union Schools is closed for Wednesday due to threats found in two of the district’s buildings on Tuesday. One was found in a high school restroom, and the other in a middle school restroom. The district

From the Associated Press — The state of Michigan has declared a winner in its contest to find new ideas for preventing Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes. The top award of $200,000 in the “Carp Tank”

When the Senior PGA Championship takes place this summer at Harbor Shores, lovers of fine wines and other beverages will have a chance to check of what’s made right here in southwest Michigan. The Southwest Michigan Tourism

Congressman Fred Upton is waiting for the latest word on the fate of Ibrahim Parlak. The Kurdish immigrant has been fighting deportation to Turkey for years with Upton on his side. Upton tells WSJM News he went

The city of St. Joseph will hold off until next year to pursue a state grant for improvements at Whirlpool Centennial Park. At Monday’s meeting, the commission was asked to allow the public works department to seek

Everyone’s fine after Covert Public Schools went into a state of soft lockdown for most of Tuesday. The Covert Township Police Department tells us the decision to go into lockdown was made by the police chief and

Michigan State Police are looking for the archer who shot a man in the neck with an arrow in a wooded area in Almena Township, just before 1 pm Sunday. Investigators say 61-year-old Michael Downey was walking