Leaders at Benton Harbor Area Schools are planning for substantial state funding cuts in the coming year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During a Tuesday virtual session of the school board, district Chief Financial Officer Scott Johnson
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education has approved a turnaround plan drafted for the district by its Community Engagement and Advisory Committee. During a virtual meeting Tuesday night, Superintendent Andrae Townsel read from the resolution
From the Associated Press — A lawmaker is warning of a potential 25% cut in state funding for K-12 schools due to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Republican Senator Wayne Schmidt, who chairs the Senate’s education
Congressman Fred Upton is calling on the Trump administration to work with the auto industry to make sure it can meet its supply chain needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, auto sales are projected
The city of South Haven is installing some barriers to protect high priority infrastructure from coastal flooding. It says its new HESCO barriers are being installed at the waste water treatment plant and at the water treatment
The Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra has cancelled all of its performances through the end of August. The SMSO says due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it felt the health and safety of the community should be the top
Michigan is reporting 469 additional cases of COVID-19 around the state for Tuesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the statewide total since the start of the pandemic is 48,021. There are 90 additional
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is hoping the federal government will come through with aid to states facing budget shortfalls because of the COVID-19 crisis. She says we’re looking at a possible $3 billion hole. “It is my hope
Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and St. Clair all hit record high water levels in April and they are expected to rise through the end of summer. Drew Gronewald is an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says guns shouldn’t be allowed in the Michigan Capitol. However, it’s up to the Capitol Commission or the Legislature to act on the matter. Whitmer says lawmakers shouldn’t feel intimidated while doing their job.
From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she wants 450,000 Michiganders to be tested for the coronavirus this month, an average of nearly 15,000 a day. She said Monday the goal is critical because social-distancing
The city of St. Joseph is the latest to call off the Independence Day fireworks celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “This just isn’t a summer when so many of our treasured cultural events are going to
The Berrien County Health Department is offering everyone advice about how they can avoid COVID-19 related scams. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Brandon Vallee says in a new video there are five basic things you can do. First… “Do
Should the next federal coronavirus stimulus package contain funding for transportation agencies? The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials thinks so. It sent a letter to both chambers of Congress asking that $50 billion be
A maintenance project on part of Napier Avenue in Benton Township and Bainbridge Township is now underway. The Berrien County Road Department says the project involves the application of an HMA overlay from Blue Creek Road to
Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s briefing on the state’s response to COVID-19 took on a more somber tone than previous sessions toward the end during the question and answer period. Right out of the gate came a question on
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be a Berrien County Peace Officer’s Memorial Day Service this year. It had been scheduled for noon on Friday. The Blossomland Lodge #100 Fraternal Order of Police says the
Michigan is reporting 414 additional cases of COVID-19 around the state for Monday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the statewide total since the start of the pandemic is 47,552. There are 33 additional
A freeze over the weekend could mean damage to some of the area’s fruit crops. Michigan State University Extension’s Mark Longstroth from the Van Buren County office says the coldest temperatures were along I-94 between Benton Harbor
Unit 2 of the Cook Nuclear Plant is now back in service. Indiana Michigan Power says repairs have been completed to the unit’s pressurizer system and it was safely returned to service on May 11 at 1:07
The Berrien Community Foundation is switching its focus this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It normally provides two competitive grant cycles each year for its For Good Grants, but says this year it’s supporting non-profits with
Michigan is reporting 382 additional cases of COVID-19 around the state for Sunday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the statewide total since the start of the pandemic is now 47,138. There are 25
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a single vehicle crash on Saturday that injured a Three Oaks woman. It says deputies were called to the scene at South Pardee Road near Sawyer Road in Weesaw Township
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging those who use ORV trails to be extra cautious due to the suspension of maintenance along those trails. The DNR has released the following statement: Although motorized trails are
Employees of the Michigan Secretary of State who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be off the job for at least another week. The Michigan Secretary of State has released the following statement:
The state of Michigan has announced some contracts it has reached to manage COVID-19 contact racing. The State Emergency Operations Center has released the following statement: The State of Michigan has approved contracts to rapidly expand Michigan’s
Michigan’s overall COVID-19 case numbers are up by 430 for Saturday to 46,756 with 133 additional deaths for a total of 4,526. However, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says 22,686 have recovered, which is
Testing capacity for COVID-19 is continually going up in Berrien County, but the supply is still too short. So says Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel, who gave a coronavirus update with Berrien County officials Friday. Hamel
Congress is going to have to set aside partisan differences in order to help the nation through the COVID-19 crisis. That’s the message Congressman Fred Upton had for colleagues during a virtual House session this week. He
Fruit growers in Michigan are bracing for the worst as freezing temperatures are expected to hit tonight. Michigan State University Extension’s Mark Longstroth in Van Buren County says peaches, cherries, and pears are already blooming in southwest
