Local News Archives

With the dangerously frigid temperatures this week, several warming stations are being announced in the Benton Harbor area, many of them at churches. Among the places where someone can go to warm up are Keep It Real

We have a new date for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State address. It had been scheduled for next Tuesday, February 5, but that’s the same night that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President

Schools around southwest Michigan are already calling off classes through Thursday. It’s due to the blowing snow and life-threatening wind chills and frigid air heading in. Along with schools, some businesses are also closing down because of

The woman charged with murder for allegedly plotting the death of her Army sergeant husband on New Year’s Eve is scheduled to be in court today. That, however, is weather-dependent as all Berrien County offices including the

From the Associated Press — Scientists are rushing to salvage a study of wolves and moose at Isle Royale National Park now that the government shutdown is over. Biologists and support personnel typically spend seven weeks every

Normally, we take the time to write news stories and re-work what happens to come in from a press release. This is not going to be one of those times. Here is Governor Whitmer’s press release concerning

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan has received a service dog. “Pawnee” is a 15-month-old female chocolate lab who came to the agency through the Canine Advocacy Program in collaboration with Leader Dogs for the Blind

Income tax filing season is officially underway. The Michigan Department of Treasury tells us starting this week, Michiganders can start filing their 2018 state individual income tax returns online, or they can submit paper forms through the

A Lawton man is facing charges after a weekend arson. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department tells us firefighters were sent to a home in the 29,000 block of 62nd Avenue in Antwerp Township around 7:40 p.m.

From the Associated Press — A Van Buren County police officer who fired five shots at a stolen car has been acquitted of reckless discharge of a gun. A jury returned the verdict on Friday. Chelsey Omilian

She was elected on a promise to “fix the damn roads,” but how that will be done by Governor Whitmer is still up in the air. There have been several reports, notably from the Michigan News Network’s

With temperatures expected to drop below zero in the middle of this week, several warming centers will be opening in Niles. The city tells us UltraCamp on East Main Street will make soup and water available from

A huge fire at a furniture factory in Dowagiac Sunday night remains under investigation. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Smith says six fire departments battled the fire at Ameriwood Industries. Smith says the fire was caused by an explosion

The Chemical Bank name is going away. The Detroit-based financial institution is merging with Minnesota-based TCF Bank, which will keep its name. The new bank will be headquartered in Detroit, and Chemical Financial CEO David Provost says

Due to the winter storm, the city of St. Joseph is postponing tonight’s city commission meeting. The meeting will now be held next Monday night, February 4, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. City manager John Hodgson

All county offices in Berrien and Van Buren counties are closed for the day due to the weather. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says all non-essential workers in that county were sent home at noon. As for

Berrien County Animal Control is urging people to get their pets inside during this storm and the coming extreme cold. Tiffany Peterson is the director of the agency and reminds people dogs can suffer severe health effects

If you have any business that needs to get done at a Secretary of State branch office, you’re out of luck until tomorrow at the earliest. All state government offices, including those branches, are closed for the

Several fire departments were called to the scene of a fire at Ameriwood Industries in Dowagiac Sunday night. The blaze caused the third and first shifts at the furniture maker to be canceled, according to Moody on the

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Berrien and Cass counties on Monday. It is in effect from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. The National Weather Service says total snow accumulations are expected

Legislation designed to ensure the clean-up of PFAS is being pushed by Congressman Fred Upton. Upton has introduced the plan to require the EPA to report releases into the environment and clean up tainted PFAS sites with

As St. Joseph Today prepares to hold the first March Mannequins event downtown, it’s asking residents to submit photos that could be displayed in storefronts that day. St. Joe Today tells us the theme for this year’s

The city of Benton Harbor has to make some improvements to its water plant as part of a new agreement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. At this past week’s city commission meeting, the relocation of

A new treatment center for people struggling with an addition is open in southwest Michigan. Carol’s Hope is a non-profit operated by the Community Healing Center. It’s a free resource for those in need to get access

The city of Benton Harbor’s income tax is now being implemented. City Manager Darwin Watson tells us businesses located within the city have been withholding the tax for affected workers, while those who will need to submit

From the Associated Press — The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to install a new warning system on highway ramps with the goal of reducing deadly wrong-way crashes. Spokesman Nick Schirripa says flashing lights are being installed at

Michigan State Police are warning everyone about a rental property scam. Troopers out of the Paw Paw post say they’ve learned of a case where someone found information online about a property supposedly for rent and requested