From the Associated Press — A judge has turned aside a legal challenge aimed at trying to keep a prison open in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. State law requires the Corrections Department to consider the economic impact on
A $150,000 donation from Lakeland Health Foundations will help to start up a new center in southwest Michigan to help those suffering from a substance abuse problem. Lakeland Vice President of Quality Kendall Troyer tells WSJM News
The blueberry crop in southwest Michigan has been weak this year. Michigan State University Extension fruit educator Mark Longstroth tells WSJM News growers are hurting. “We had a really disappointing year in blueberries,” Longstroth said. “We think
The days of paying a 10¢ deposit on all your carbonated beverage bottles and cans will be over if legislation proposed by a Detroit-area Republican gets passed in the lame duck session. Representative Joe Bellino of Monroe
The push for new rules in the U.S House continues. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the Problem Solvers group appears to be gaining momentum with so many new members having been elected this month. The Problem
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released its final plan to stop the Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes. It centers around the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, and involves a
Leaders at Southwestern Michigan College are working to make sure students understand SMC’s policy on marijuana now that Michigan voters have opted to decriminalize the substance. SMC President David Mathews tells WSJM News no marijuana is allowed
Changes have been approved to the state’s new minimum wage law by the Michigan Senate. The Government Operations Committee voted to push back the full implementation of the $12 minimum wage to 2030 instead of 2024, and
State Representative Mary Whiteford of Casco Township has been named to the Michigan House Committee on Committees. That’s a body that decides which lawmakers get assigned to which legislative committees when the new term begins in January.
With snow now on the ground in southwest Michigan, the Berrien County Road Department is reminding everyone of rules they have to follow when it comes to shoveling. The department tells us every year it gets calls
Congressman Fred Upton is pleased the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has set aside more than $32 million to start work on a new Soo Lock. The Soo Locks in the St. Marys River allow for shipping
By Doug Cunningham One Fair Wage is urging state lawmakers to uphold Michigan’s constitution and not vote to thwart the will of hundreds of thousands of voters who signed petition to raise Michigan’s minimum wage. One Fair
There will be intermittent traffic closures on I-196 and Blue Star Highway Wednesday morning between 8 and 11 near the Palisades power plant. The International Transmission Company, or ITC, will be installing a new transmission line in
As many have lined up in opposition to build a tunnel for Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council supports the tunnel, saying it would create 600 to 1,000 jobs.
More than 500 Christmas trees for soldiers on U.S. military bases have been shipped out from Wahmhoff Farms Nursery in Gobles as part of the Trees for Troops campaign this year. The farm’s Betsy Perales tells WSJM
It’s nine months of probation for the former Benton Harbor Charter School Academy teacher who threw a chair in class this fall, injuring a student. The “Herald-Palladium” reports 49-year-old Thomas Barnes of St. Joseph pleaded guilty Monday
By Doug Cunningham UAW Vice President Terry Dittes says taxpayers, workers and politicians didn’t bail out General Motors during the Great Recession so they could just decide to destroy U.S. jobs as they pile up massive profits.
Buchanan residents want to be part of the discussion about whether or not the city should allow recreational marijuana sales and production with the decriminalization of the drug taking effect statewide next Thursday. The city commission pulled
This weekend brings the annual Hometown Christmas celebration in Watervliet. Chair Deah Muth tells WSJM News the fun kicks off Saturday afternoon. “Saturday we are doing a cookie decorating contest at the Arclight from 3 to 5,
The city of St. Joseph will have a new ordinance next Thursday banning any businesses from opening up to sell, manufacture, or transport recreational marijuana now that Proposal 1 will be in place the same day. Mayor
State Representative-elect Pauline Wendzel has received her first committee assignment in the Michigan House. She will serve on the House Committee on Committees for the 2019-2020 legislative term. The Committee on Committees chooses chairs and members of
Drivers that take I-196 in the South Haven area probably have noticed that the Michigan Department of Transportation has put up signs indicating traffic will be stopped near the Palisades nuclear plant Wednesday morning from 8 to
Now that winter is here, state Senator John Proos is reminding everyone of where they can turn for help if they have trouble staying on top of their heating bills. He tells us there is a simple
The American Red Cross in the Great Lakes region says it has an urgent need for blood and platelet donors as the holiday season continues. Those donations often decline around the holidays as regular donors are busy
The potential closure of five plants, including two in Michigan, are part of a restructuring announcement by General Motors. The plants impacted include the Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Detroit and Warren Transmissions Operations in Warren. Kristen Dzichzek
Recreational marijuana will officially become legal on December 6 following the certification of the election by the State Board of Canvassers in Lansing this week. Rick Thompson is with NORML, which helped with the legalization effort.
$32 million has been awarded to the new Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells us the money is in the fiscal year 2019 work plan. Soo Lock Project Manager
Former Michigan State University president Lou Anna Simon is now officially facing charges in Eaton County, just west of Lansing. She’s been charged with lying to police, regarding if she knew former sports doctor Larry Nassar was
The snowstorm is causing more problems than just slowing down travel. Indiana Michigan Power says there are just over 10,000 customers in Berrien County who have lost power, with 500 in the dark in Cass County and
What do you think of the roads in Michigan? Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer pledged to fix the roads during her campaign, but she’ll be working with a Republican controlled House and Senate. Republican Lee Chatfield is the new
