Local News Archives

The St. Joseph Kiwanis Club has started a new effort to help improve parks in the community. St. Joseph Kiwanis Community Parks Foundation Chair Chris Wagner tells WSJM News the group will raise money for all of

In a sign of the summer, the safety flags are now flying at beaches in South Haven. South Haven Area Emergency Services tells us it monitors lake conditions as reported by the National Weather Service. Beach warning

From the Associated Press — State officials are asking Michigan residents to help find the next Christmas tree that will stand outside the Capitol building in Lansing. Department of Technology, Management and Budget Director Dave DeVries says the

Set for this Memorial Day in South Haven will be a roll call of all the American soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Vietnam-era veteran Major Craig Massey of the U.S. Army will spend

Congressman Fred Upton is among the lawmakers who have signed a discharge petition on immigration reform. Upton tells WSJM News a discharge petition is a little-used tactic for frustrated members of the House to force a vote

18 people have been sentenced in a bank fraud case out of west Michigan. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Grand Rapids tells us the fraud ring targeted Bank of America, and allowed the defendants to obtain more

Coming to Hartford High School on Wednesday will be Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. He’s going to chat with students enrolled in the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program. Youth Solutions Director Kristin Harrington tells WSJM News the

A household chemical recycling event is slated for this weekend in Berrien County. The Berrien County Parks Department tells us it will collect chemicals, home medical waste, electronics, and personal documents on Saturday at the Southeast Berrien

A candlelight vigil will be held this week in St. Joseph to remember the victims of unsolved murders in Benton Harbor. Lisa Gorman with Freedom Life Church in Benton Harbor tells WSJM News she’s worked with many

St. Joseph City Commissioners are making their commitment to sustainability official. At this week’s meeting, the commission approved a resolution to pursue bronze certification from Michigan Green Communities. Commissioner Peggy Getty tells WSJM News she and Commissioner

Governor Rick Snyder’s strategy to fill more than 800,000 job openings was discussed Monday  in Jackson. Local business leaders and educators came together to give input on the proposed “Marshall Plan for Talent,” as Snyder has called

From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is appealing a court ruling that blocked state reimbursements to private schools for the cost of inspections and other state requirements. The appeal was filed Monday on behalf

The water level at the Berrien Springs Hydroelectric Dam will be coming down later this month for maintenance. Indiana Michigan Power plans to draw down the level of the water by three-and-a-half feet at a rate of

American Craft Beer Week is underway, celebrating small businesses make beer. Craftbeer.com Editor-In-Chief Jess Baker tells us people are fans of craft beers because they have flavor and are always different. She says it’s also about community.

A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down a federal law that bars gambling on sports gives states like Michigan the chance to legalize sports betting. State Senator Rick Jones is not a fan. He spoke

If you’re a fan of mermaids, then you’ll want to be in South Haven this Memorial Day weekend. Set for May 25 through May 28 is the first ever Mermaid MegaFest. Organizer Brad Carrier tells WSJM News

The millage rate is locked in. At a Monday meeting, St. Joseph City Commissioners gave their final reading to some millage increases they discussed last week. The street millage is going up by 2.55 mills, or about

Residents in northern Michigan and the U-P should be careful with fire this week as dry, windy conditions are expected to heighten the risk of wildfires. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fire Prevention Specialist Paul Rogers spoke

The field of candidates in the running for the Republican nomination in the Michigan House in the 79th District includes a Watervliet woman with a long family family history in Bainbridge Township. Pauline Wendzel tells WSJM News

28 Walgreens stores will be part of an expansion into Michigan to provide drug kiosks so customers can get rid of unwanted medications. Spokesman Phil Caruso says millions of pounds of unused drugs have already been collected

The North Berrien History Museum is hosting a program called The German POW Experience in Michigan tomorrow. The program will feature Dr. Howard Poole speaking about the 400,000 German prisoners of war being placed in 32 camps

It looks like there will be a statewide vote of the people in Michigan to decide if recreational marijuana should be legalized. Speaker of the Michigan House Tom Leonard has reaffirming a vote by the people will

A record number of Michigan residents are planning to hit the road for Memorial Day. Triple-A Michigan is projecting nearly 1.3 million of us in the state are planning a trip, up nearly 5% from last year.

There’s a price war at a pair of southwest Michigan gas stations, but it’s not impacting the average in the area according to Triple-A Michigan. The Casey’s General Store and the Shell on M-140 in Watervliet are

State Representative Kim LaSata is among the Michigan lawmakers calling on the Michigan State Waterways Commission to drop plans for a tax on small watercraft like canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. She tells WSJM News the House

There will be another vendor selling hot dogs at a St. Joseph summer attraction this year. On Monday, the St. Joseph City Commission gave its thumbs up to Myles Hambley to have a hot dog cart at

An effort is underway in the United States Senate to block the FCC from implementing its repeal of net neutrality protections, and Senator Gary Peters of Michigan is a part of it. Speaking on the Senate floor

The North Berrien History Museum is hosting a program called The German POW Experience in Michigan tomorrow. The program will feature Dr. Howard Poole speaking about the 400,000 German prisoners of war being placed in 32 camps

If you’re behind on your taxes, Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski wants you to know a state program to help pay them off is still available. Last year, Witkowski and other treasurers promoted the Step Forward Michigan

Barbecues can be fun, but that can change quickly if someone gets food poisoning. Marianne Gravely with the USDA has some advice that she shared with Michigan News Network. “The Center for Disease Control estimates that 128,000