Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Director Julia Dale testified before a Joint Oversight Committee in Lansing this week. The hearing focused on a report that estimates the agency paid out about $8.5 billion in fraudulent benefits during the
An independent study of Michigan State Police traffic stops in 2020 has found racial disparities in the number of stops and their outcomes. Michigan State University’s Dr. Scott Wolfe was part of the study and said during
A $690,000 improvement project planned for Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph has moved another step forward. During a meeting this past week, St. Joseph City Commissioners approved a request for proposals, agreeing to seek bids for
A new non-profit has been launched to advance the development of trail systems in Berrien County. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Marcy Hamilton told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners this week about Friends of Berrien County
State Senator Aric Nesbitt is back to work in Lansing along with his colleagues as the Michigan Senate convened for its first session of 2022 on Wednesday. Nesbitt told WSJM News looking ahead to the new year,
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education has moved forward with a strategic plan for the district. During a meeting this past week, trustees approved a document worked out with the help of the Michigan Association
Indiana Michigan Power is offering customers some advice for saving energy in the new year. It says you can sign up to take part in the IM Green program, which enables customers to buy Renewable Energy Certificates
Michigan Works will hold a couple of workshops on getting criminal records expunged in the next month. It says its resource and expungement fairs are for anyone looking to clear their criminal record, look for a new
There’s a new candidate in the running for the new 38th District in the Michigan House. Joey Andrews, who previously ran for state House in the current 79th District, is seeking the seat. The state’s redistricting commission
The addition of a bottling operation to the Lawton facility of Welch Foods will mean more than 50 new jobs and more than $26 million in investment for the community. Market Van Buren’s Zach Morris tells WSJM
Part of Lakeshore Drive in St. Joseph will close on Monday for five weeks. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News it’s for a maintenance project. “Most folks would probably know it as Lakeshore
Michigan is reporting 37,114 additional cases of COVID-19 for Thursday and Friday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that works out to an average of 18,557 per day across the two days. The state
Tri-County Head Start Discovery Enrichment Center is hosting a blood lead testing event on Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. for City of Benton Harbor residents, announced the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
A Ferris State University professor has been put on leave after a bizarre video about grades, attendance, COVID and a bunch of other topics. Barry Mehler is a 74-year-old instructor at the school in Big Rapids. He
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday issued mixed decisions in a pair of cases challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The ruling allowed a mandate for certain health care workers to go into effect, but blocked
US Customs and Border Protection is out with a report on its seizures over the past year at Michigan’s international crossings. The Detroit field office says it seized over 14,000 pounds of marijuana, 240 pounds of cocaine,
Brandywine High School in Niles is taking part in the Strive for a Safer Drive program of Michigan State Police and Ford Motor Company this year. Program coordinator Kayla Thomas-Wright tells WSJM News Strive for a Better
There’s a new nature preserve in southwest Michigan. Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy President Peter TerLouw tells WSJM News the group last month cleared the purchase of the 160 acre Armintrout Milbocker Nature Preserve in Allegan. It sits
Congressman Fred Upton has sent a letter to the secretary of Homeland Security asking H-2A farm workers from South Africa be allowed to temporarily travel to the United States to supplement labor shortages on American farms. He
A new non-profit has been launched to advance the development of trail systems in Berrien County. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Marcy Hamilton told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners Thursday about Friends of Berrien County Trails.
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Director Julia Dale testified before a Joint Oversight Committee in Lansing Thursday. The hearing focused on a report that estimates the agency paid out about $8.5 billion in fraudulent benefits during the pandemic.
Michigan State Police are still looking for the driver behind a hit and run on I-94 in Kalamazoo County that killed a Battle Creek man on Tuesday. The 71-year-old man was killed after he pulled over his
Southwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees Jan. 12 heard a presentation on supporting student engagement through campus life events despite ongoing pandemic challenges. Dr. Joe Odenwald’s President’s Report featured Executive Director of Campus Life Jeff Hooks, who
The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will close to marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15 through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform critical maintenance. The operating season is fixed by federal regulation and is
Øystein S. LaBianca, retired professor of anthropology at Andrews University, recently completed a decade-long book project that reveals the history of human cultural production in the Mediterranean region. The volume, which LaBianca edited with Terje Stordalen, professor
With Michigan receiving more federal funding for home heating assistance, utility companies are also chipping in to help people stay warm this winter, as gas prices rise. Consumers Energy, the state’s largest utility, is committing $4.5 million
We’ve seen it at the grocery stores and gas stations. A new report out Wednesday says prices paid by U.S. consumers jumped 7% last month from a year earlier. Michigan News Network Business Editor Murray Feldman has
Lake Michigan Catholic Schools will be providing students with Chromebooks thanks to a donation from the LMC Schools Fund. The funds will allow for the purchase of 100 Chromebooks for students in the third through fifth grades,
Congressman Fred Upton this week predicted a tough road ahead for voting rights legislation being pushed by President Joe Biden. Upton told us Tuesday a slightly different version of the Senate bill already passed in the House
State Senator Aric Nesbitt is back to work in Lansing along with his colleagues as the Michigan Senate convened for its first session of 2022 on Wednesday. Nesbitt told WSJM News looking ahead to the new year,
