Local News Archives

This year’s Blossomtime Grand Floral Parade is tomorrow in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. The two-and-a-half mile parade starts at 1 p.m. at Main and Pearl streets in St. Joe and ends at Main and 5th streets

From the Associated Press — Local communities and public universities would receive about 2% more in state funding next fiscal year under Senate-passed budget bills that leave out Gov. Rick Snyder’s request for additional money for infrastructure

Competitive Edge in Stevensville has once again been named a great place to work. It’s shown up on Promotional Products Business magazine’s 2017 list of the Greatest Companies to Work For in 2017. CEO Mary Jo Tomasini

A celebration is planned at Benton Harbor High School next week for residents and supporters of the school district to mark passage of the critical sinking fund millage this week, as well as the new partnership agreement

An improvement project at the Berrien County Jail is coming together now that the board of commissioners has received bids for the work. Their next task is to settle on the final plan. It could include security

Hot on the heels of news this week that fatal traffic crashes were up 10% last year in Michigan, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is urging everyone to reduce distractions while behind the wheel. Lieutenant Steve Campbell

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan is making a new fundraising push thanks to a recent donation from a local couple. The Humane Society’s Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the owners of B&L Systems in Bridgman have

A Senior and Veterans Expo will be held on Monday in Van Buren County for residents to come out and learn about the services available to them and also mingle with their elected leaders. State Representative Beth

Congressman Fred Upton has joined his colleagues in approving the American Health Care Act, the GOP’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. He came out in support of the plan this week after introducing an amendment

Kalamazoo County law enforcement officials will keep trying to convince voters of the need for a new consolidated 911 dispatch system following this week’s failure of a ballot proposal that would have created one. Sheriff Richard Fuller

The Michigan Senate has approved a $25.5 billion health and human services budget that would spend less than what Governor Snyder has proposed. Majority Republicans say trimming the Republican governor’s plan would make room as they push

The Michigan Department of Transportation is advising drivers of some work coming up on I-196 in Van Buren County. It tells us there will be lane closures on I-196 at Blue Star Highway in South Haven all

The latest Roads and Bridges Report from the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council has been delivered to the legislature. The council’s Roger Belknap tells WSJM News the report uses data from road commissions to determine what shape

461 degrees and 62 certificates will be handed out to 514 students as Lake Michigan College holds its 70th commencement ceremony this weekend. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke tells WSJM News he can’t wait to personally hand out those awards

Leaders in Van Buren County are considering their next steps now that a courthouse and jail improvement millage has failed. The plan to put about $32 million into the facilities was shot down by voters Tuesday. Van Buren

The Michigan League for Public Policy has released its annual Making Ends Meet in Michigan report, which shows how much you have to earn in order to get by in each county. Policy analyst Peter Ruark tells

Traffic fatalities are on the rise in Michigan, as more than 1,000 people were killed on the state’s roads in 2016. Kendall Wingrove, with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, tells WSJM News there was a

The Berrien County Health Department has honored former state Representative Al Pscholka with its Friend of Health Award. The department bestowed the award on Pscholka Wednesday at its headquarters in Benton Township. Pscholka said six years in Lansing

Congressman Fred Upton has backed off in his opposition to the Republican healthcare bill. After meeting with President Donald Trump Wednesday morning, Upton said he’s flipping his position after introducing a new amendment to the legislation designed

A Coloma man has been charged with open murder in the shooting death of an Eau Claire man this week. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells WSJM News 37-year-old Nicholaus Kling was shot in the chest three

From the Associated Press — More than 200 lead water pipes will be removed from a southwest Michigan city this summer. MLive reports the Kalamazoo City Commission approved a nearly $850,000 construction contract on Monday with Rieth-Riley Construction

Congressman Fred Upton’s opposition to the current Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has gotten the attention of the White House. CNN is reporting the southwest Michigan congressman and Congressman Billy Long of

Officials say Michigan traffic deaths rose 10% last year as drug-impaired, bicyclist and motorcyclist traffic deaths increased. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning noted Wednesday that it’s the second consecutive year to show a 10% increase.

Landslide. Van Buren County voters have told county leaders in no uncertain terms they do not want to pay more taxes to renovate the jail and court buildings. The 20-year millage proposal was destroyed by nearly 3,000

From the Associated Press — Legislation advancing in Michigan aims to let residents legally leave a vehicle running unattended on private property. The bill, approved 77-30 by the House Tuesday, was proposed after a Detroit-area man was ticketed

Some awards have been given out for projects throughout Michigan to preserve historic buildings. State Historic Preservation officer Brian Conway tells Michigan News Network one went to the rehab of the Strathmore Hotel in Midtown Detroit, and

A victory for Benton Harbor Area Schools as its sinking fund millage was renewed by voters Tuesday. The sinking fund is a millage that generates about $1.3 million per year for the district to handle building maintenance

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and all drivers are being reminded to pay extra attention for those on two wheels. Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson tells WSJM News folks in cars need to give more time

Cornerstone Alliance has moved to a temporary headquarters as it prepares a new permanent facility at 80 West Main in downtown Benton Harbor. Vice President Greg Vaugh tells WSJM News the new place downtown could help Cornerstone

Coming soon to Benton Township will be a full service Comcast Xfinity store. Comcast is closing down its Benton Harbor office to make way for the new retail location where you’ll be able to do all of