Local News Archives

Berrien County’s budget for 2020 is now in place, but it does include a deficit that was made up for by taking out some reserve funds. At Thursday’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner

You can now apply for a dog license online in Berrien County. Animal Control Director Tiffany Peterson tells WSJM News the agency’s website has a tab for accounts and licensing. Follow that tab, and follow the instructions.

A donation of $120,000 has been announced for the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor by Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook nuclear plant. Boys and Girls Club Director of Operations Liji Hanny tells WSJM News the money

Shoreline erosion has been a major problem all over the Great Lakes region this year as levels in the lakes reach record highs or near record highs. That’s why Berrien County Commissioner Ezra Scott is preparing to

From the Associated Press — Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is launching initiatives to cut opioid overdose deaths in half in five years. Whitmer and other top officials on Thursday announced a series of steps to combat an epidemic

If you’re heading out over the river and through the woods for Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. AAA Michigan is projecting 1.7 million of us in Michigan will go at least 50 miles from home for the upcoming

The two suspects in the most recent arson inside the Niles Walmart are in custody in Indiana. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says 34-year-old Stephen Taghon and 36-year-old Paula Krysi, both of South Bend, are now awaiting

South Haven Area Emergency Services is now hunting for its next executive director. Ron Wise is retiring next year, and SHAES has put out notice that its Authority Board has set an application deadline for the job

Rather significant changes are being proposed in the St. Joseph Downtown Vision Master Plan. Consultant John Houseal of Houseal and Associates met with dozens of city residents last night for the final open house to discuss the

Following the passage of reforms to the state’s no-fault auto insurance system earlier this year, a big change is on the way for 2020. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is dropping the assessment charged per vehicle from

State Senator Jeff Irwin wants local governments to take another look at recreational marijuana busineses. The Ann Arbor Democrat says the communities voting to opt out of the system permanently are creating more of a problem in

A 40-year-old Cass County man is facing a list of child pornography charges. Michigan State Police say Travis Howey of Cassopolis was arraigned in late October on three charges of distributing or manufacturing child sexually abusive material,

The final public open house on the city of St. Joseph’s Master Plan is today from 4 to 7 p.m. Kristen Gunderson is the city’s community development director. “After this meeting, the consultant will finalize the draft

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is surging in Iowa among the Democratic presidential hopefuls. In the latest Monmouth University poll, Buttigieg is on top with 22% support of likely caucus goers in Iowa, up 14 points from

Doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit say they have successfully performed what they believe to be the first double-lung transplant on a person with irreparable damage from vaping. The patient is a teenage male whose lungs

(Lansing, MI – AP) – A budget standoff between the Republican-led Legislature and Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is unlikely to be resolved until December at the earliest. The Michigan House won’t convene for voting Wednesday. It began

Speakers will be added to the light poles in downtown St. Joseph between now and the Winter Wonderland and Light Up The Bluff festival put on by St. Joseph Today and the city on December 6. The

Just in time for the holiday season, there are special gift packages being offered from the 2020 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid. Director Ryan Ogle tells WSJM News says they’re offering something new for the first

The death of a man in a farm accident in Van Buren County is under investigation. The sheriff’s department says the man was crushed by a Bobcat while cleaning an area of snow between greenhouses in Arlington

South Haven officials continue to look for affordable housing solutions. The second in a series of public meetings on the issue was held Monday with the city, South Haven Charter Township, and the South Haven Housing Commission.

Main Street at Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor in front of the Whirlpool Riverview Campus is closed. The Michigan Department of Transportation has closed the road due to flooding once again. The stretch has been a problem

As there were no changes to the St. Joseph City Commission in last week’s election, no changes will be made to leadership. Commissioners on Monday unanimously voted Mike Garey to serve another term as mayor, with Laura

A winter storm warning is still in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. WSBT meteorologist Matt Rudkin says St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Stevensville, and Bridgman will likely be spared the brunt

(Associated Press) – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar says she and other top female presidential candidates wouldn’t be on the debate stage if they had the same experience as South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. The Minnesota Democrat said

The firearm deer season opens Friday in Michigan, but there are fewer people planning to head out into the woods than in years past. The decline is partly due to more baby boomers aging out. Young adults,

(Detroit, MI – AP) – Doctors at a Detroit hospital have performed a double lung transplant on a man whose lungs were damaged from vaping. No other details of the transplant were released Monday by Henry Ford Health

Governor Whitmer is on social media today thanking veterans on Veterans Day. “I wanted to take a moment to thank all of those who serve, and have served, our country, and their families who support them during

Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg says if elected he’d like to name a woman to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time. Campaigning on Veterans Day, the 2020 hopefuls are

Near record-high water levels, massive storms, high waves are all combining to make big changes to the Lake Michigan shoreline in the past few years. New Buffalo Shoreline Alliance president Ted Grzywacz has been working to get