Local News Archives

The Michigan Public Service Commission has given approval to Indiana Michigan Power to raise its electric rates. MPSC spokesperson Nick Assendelft tells WSJM News I&M asked the state for permission to do so in May of last

The unemployment agency in Michigan is reminding businesses and individuals to beware of identity theft. Michigan Talent Investment Agency Deputy Director of Unemployment Insurance Michelle Beebe tells WSJM News recent data breeches have led to a jump

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Friday night. It tells us a Jeep Cherokee driven by 32-year-old Gary May of New Haven was northbound on Kessington Road in Mason Township

Here’s something you’ve probably never heard before. The city of St. Joseph has accepted the donation of a castle. At Monday’s meeting, Marketing Director Susan Solon told city commissioners Turner Construction, the company doing work at Lakeland,

Everyone in southwest Michigan is being asked to keep their eyes open for an invasive insect that could pose a threat to trees. The Southwest by Southwest Corner CISMA’s Eleanor Serocki tells WSJM News it’s the Asian

Kinexus in Benton Harbor is a great place to work. So says The Nonprofit Times, a trade group representing non-profit organizations around the country. It’s selected Kinexus as one of its top 50 non-profits when it comes

The Coloma Comets are the winners of state Senator John Proos’ annual Southwest Michigan Spirit Tournament for 2018. They beat out the River Valley Mustangs in the final round of the tournament, which is a March Madness-like

Holland’s Tulip Time Festival this year will run May 5 through the May 13, and it’s expected to draw more than 500,000 thisyear. If you don’t want fight traffic and hunt for a parking space, Amtrak can

Troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Niles will be out in extra force for the rest of this month watching out for distracted drivers. MSP Sergeant Matt Waters tells WSJM News police statewide are taking

A new report from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy takes a look at the rate of cigarette tax evasion, noting how common smuggling is largely depends on what a given state’s cigarette tax is. Fiscal Policy

Despite the recent weather, summer is actually coming to southwest Michigan at some point and that means getting South Haven’s beaches ready for visitors. City Manager Brian Dissette tells WSJM News work on the City’s North Beach

State Senator John Proos has saluted a southwest Michigan veteran by inviting him to the Michigan Capitol. Juanito Dela Cruz of Riverside got applause from state lawmakers this week. Dela Cruz served 19 years in the U.S.

Congressman Fred Upton says the recent leak of coolant into Lakes Huron and Michigan from an underwater line containing electric cables in the Straits of Mackinac is a sign Enbridge’s Line 5 needs to be replaced. Speaking

The Michigan House has unanimously approved a bill proposed by Representative Mary Whiteford of Allegan County designed to help the parents of stillborn babies. Whiteford tells WSJM News it would give a one-time income tax personal exemption

The Michigan Department of Transportation is gearing up for this year’s first Adopt a Highway cleanup event this month. Spokesperson Dan Weingerten tells WSJM News all kinds of organizations throughout the state sign up to pick up

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s House wants to give parents free reign in listening to their children’s conversations. In a 105-3 vote, lawmakers passed the bill that adds parental exemptions to Michigan’s eavesdropping prohibition. Eavesdropping is defined

Officials at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids are calling on the Michigan Legislature to amend the state’s current Large Carnivore Act. Zoo CEO Peter D’Arienzo tells Michigan News Network it currently prevents the breeding of

The food and beverage industry in southwest Michigan is showing very strong growth in a new study. Commissioned by Indiana Michigan Power, the study was done to help better plan for the utility’s responsibilities and also to

No details have been released yet by Michigan State Police, but authorities from several police agencies raided a Benton Harbor home last night for a drug bust. A block of Catalpa near Colfax was blocked off by

From the Associated Press — No bans on pit bulls allowed, Michigan’s Senate says. The chamber voted 22-13 on Thursday to prohibit local governments from dictating breed-specific regulations on dogs. The legislation will benefit canines that are perceived

A lifetime of learning, training, and self-improvement. Those are among the things Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger believes led up to the famous “Miracle on the Hudson.” In an address to the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Thursday

Two people have been picked as Berrien County’s Dispatchers of the year. At Thursday’s Berrien County Commission meeting, the honor was given to Eric Ruth and Lanny Duffel. Ruth, who works for Niles Dispatch, handled a call

The Michigan Public Service Commission has given approval to Indiana Michigan Power to raise its electric rates. MPSC spokesperson Nick Assendelft tells WSJM News I&M asked the state for permission to do so in May of last

A teen from Berrien Township is facing a charge of terrorism due to a threat of violence. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office tells us the 15-year-old Berrien Springs High School student was taken to the Berrien County

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that a body found in the Paw Paw River this week is that of a missing kayaker. 35-year-old Cory Wright of Niles went missing while kayaking in the Paw Paw

A community forum for stakeholders in Benton Harbor Area Schools is in the works. At this week’s school board meeting, Lou Ann Vidmar, a union representative of district teachers, invited everyone to take part in a discussion

From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says twin oil pipelines beneath the waterway linking two of the Great Lakes apparently were damaged by the same vessel believed to have caused a recent 600-gallon coolant fluid

Consumers Energy is out in force this week at the FIRST Robotics state championships in Saginaw. Spokesperson Roger Morgenstern tells WSJM News that competition features robotics teams from all over the state, and Consumers has executives on

Honor Credit Union is hoping customers will step forward to help out moms in need this spring. The credit union will have donation boxes set up at its locations throughout southwest Michigan through May 7 to collect

State Senator John Proos will receive a special honor from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office this week. On Friday, he’ll get the Shining Star Award, which is given out to groups or individuals who work to