Property inspections are about to begin in the city of St. Joseph. Code Enforcement Officer Joan Ross tells WSJM News staff goes around checking each property every five years. “We look at each house or structure starting
Drivers on I-94 and I-196 are having an easier time seeing Michigan Department of Transportation plows this winter. In addition to the flashing yellow lights, flashing green lights have been added to the trucks. MDOT’s Jeff Cranson
State Representative Beth Griffin is saluting a new Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreational Passport grant for the village of Paw Paw. She tells us funding in the amount of $61,500 has been approved to develop a
A replacement for the federal DACA program could be coming by the end of the month. That’s according to Congressman Fred Upton, who tells WSJM News a meeting on immigration reform with President Trump this past week
Indiana Michigan Power has received an award for its efforts to help with hurricane recovery this past summer. Spokesperson Schee Garrett tells WSJM News I&M stepped up to help with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. “For Hurricane Harvey,
The Niles Scream Park has announced a new memorial scholarship. Scream Park Manager Matt Herm tells WSJM News the Niles-area attraction gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships each year as part of its mission to support
Martin Luther King Day is this coming Monday, and the United Way of Southwest Michigan is encouraging everyone to do some community service for the occasion. The United Way’s Julee Laurent tells WSJM News the organization has
How many elk are in Michigan? That’s what the Michigan DNR is attempting to find out with an elk count over the next week in northeast northern Michigan. 2018 is also the 100th anniversary of elk in
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education starts off a new year with a new president. Marletta Seats was picked for the post at the board’s re-organizational meeting Tuesday. Seats told WSJM News the new board
State Representative Kim LaSata is pleased with this year’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, which is the first economic forecast of the year for the Michigan legislature. She tells us steady, sustainable economic growth will continue based on
St. Joseph City Commissioners are considering ways they can get the public more involved in local committees and boards. At this week’s meeting, Commissioner Peggy Getty said she would like to see different city boards receive attention
Consumers Energy is working to do its part to help Michigan residents struggling with their winter heating bills. Spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells WSJM News the company has put up $10 million for non-profits to be used for
January is School Board Recognition Month, and Berrien RESA Superintendent Kevin Ivers is calling on everyone to salute their school board. Ivers tells WSJM News school board members put in countless hours of work attending meetings and
The Michigan Senate has unanimously approved a resolution declaring January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton proposed the resolution. She tells WSJM News the intent is to get Michiganders thinking about
State Representative Dave Pagel is applauding a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant that’s been announced for Chikaming Township. He tells us Harbert Park will get some work thanks to the $56,000 Recreation Passport from the DNR.
Congressman Fred Upton is expecting quick approval of a plan to fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program — or, CHIP — for five more years. Congress went home for the holidays without extending the life of the
The Van Buren County Trial Court is set to graduate eight enrollees from the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program this Thursday. Van Buren County Specialty Courts Administrator Rachel Lindley tells WSJM News Swift and Sure is
State Budget Director Al Pscholka is resigning next month and will be replaced by Governor Rick Snyder’s strategy director. The Republican governor announced the change Friday, effective February 28. Pscholka, a former state representative from Berrien County
Road commissions around Michigan are dealing with a fresh round of potholes. Van Buren County Road Commission Engineer Manager Larry Hummel tells WSJM News when the snow melts, like it did this past week, his crews can
From the ASsociated Press — The Michigan Legislature is mandating more frequent sexual harassment training amid the national reckoning with sexual misconduct. Until now, lawmakers were required to receive anti-harassment training after they were first elected to the
From the Associated Press — The Michigan attorney general’s office has asked a judge to sentence a disgraced Michigan sports doctor to 40 to 125 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting seven girls. The
The U.S. Coast Guard once again reminding everyone to avoid going out on ice this winter. Petty Officer Lazaro Lopez with the St. Joseph station tells WSJM News if you do wind up on the ice for
This is the month to talk about the vaccine for Human papillomavirus, or HPV. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and the vaccine for HPV will help
The Michigan House has approved legislation from state Representative Kim LaSata to re-name part of Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County after a fallen state police trooper. She tells us under her bill, Red Arrow between Glenlord
There is a wave this year of members of the U.S. House and Senate deciding they will not seek re-election. Congressman Fred Upton had weighed running for the Senate instead of the House, but recently decided to
How many elk are in Michigan? That’s what the Michigan DNR is attempting to find out with an elk count over the next week in northeast northern Michigan. 2018 is also the 100th anniversary of elk in
The Michigan League for Public Policy is calling for several changes to the state’s unemployment insurance system. League Policy Analyst Peter Ruark tells WSJM News the maximum benefit hasn’t been raised since 2002, low-income workers don’t even
The Niles Scream Park has announced a new memorial scholarship. Scream Park Manager Matt Herm tells WSJM News the Niles-area attraction gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships each year as part of its mission to support
From the Associated Press — A group pushing to repeal Michigan’s law that requires higher “prevailing” wages on state-financed construction projects may be short signatures – again. The state elections bureau said Tuesday that of 535 signatures sampled,
Two Indiana men are in the Cass County Jail awaiting breaking and entering charges. The sheriff’s department tells WSJM News they were called out to help Silver Creek Township police for a possible burglary in progress in
