Local News Archives

The new United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement will be good for the U.S. economy. That’s the thought of Congressman Fred Upton, who hailed House passage of the NAFTA replacement just before Christmas. He tells WSJM News the new

Benton Harbor City Commissioners want to avoid a repeat of a situation that arose last year when the trash wasn’t picked up for nearly a week. At a Monday meeting of the city commission, Mayor Pro Tem

Census workers are needed this year, and there will be an event to get more information out to those who may be interested later this month in Van Buren County. The Bloomingdale Branch Library will host an

From the Associated Press — Federal officials are giving the public more time to comment on a proposed settlement with one of the companies responsible for polluting the Kalamazoo River in Michigan. The Environmental Protection Agency and

It’s a done deal. The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education has approved a contract for new Superintendent Andrae Townsel. The board voted on the agreement Tuesday night with Townsel in attendance. He then sat in

The Disability Network Southwest Michigan will hold a workshop on service animals and emotional support animals this month. Disability Network Community Education Coordinator Miranda Grunwell will lead the discussion, titled “Do’s and Don’ts: Assistance Animals.” She tells

A postal worker is dead following a fiery crash in Allegan County on Monday. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department says it happened shortly before 12:30 p.m. on 10th Street south of Carrie Avenue in Gun Plains Township.

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have agreed to a joint meeting between officials from Benton Harbor, the city of St. Joseph, and St. Joseph Township to discuss the Twin Cities Sustainable Harbor Project. The project is an effort,

From the Associated Press — The state of Michigan is holding public forums on ways to strengthen its Medicaid-funded behavioral health and developmental disabilities system. Forums start Wednesday in Detroit, according to the Department of Health and

The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department is looking for a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on Monday. Police say Vivianna Jenkins was last seen in a yellow Notre Dame hoodie with gray jogging pants and no shoes.

To date, the focus regarding the shoreline erosion along the Lake Michigan coast has been on protecting homes and properties. But there’s another factor looming large a few months from now: tourism. The beach at Rocky Gap

Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer is among business leaders in Michigan calling for a statewide ballot initiative to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. LGBTQ advocates have tried several times in

President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the top federal prosecutor in west Michigan is being held up by Michigan’s two Democratic senators. The Detroit News reports former state House Speaker Tom Leonard’s nomination, announced in August,

Upgrades are coming to the electric grid in Berrien County. Indiana Michigan Power plans to invest around $62 million in the area over the course of this year to improve the reliability of the system. The Berrien

The most popular dog name in Van Buren County last year was Bella. So says the Van Buren County Treasurer’s office, which runs the county’s dog licensing program. With Bella being the most popular name for dogs,

More than $14 million in water and sewer work will be done in Benton Harbor in the coming years following action Monday night by the Benton Harbor City Commission. The body approved securing a low-interest state loan

Employees of United Federal Credit Union have been able to donate more than $16,000 around their communities in the past year thanks to the organization’s Pay it Forward program. With Pay it Forward, UFCU gives each employee

Drivers in Van Buren County are being advised to watch out for intermittent lane and shoulder closures along I-94 for the next few years. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News crews will be

Students at 57 Michigan high schools will take part in the state’s Strive for a Safer Drive program this year. Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning spokesperson Kari Arend tells WSJM News the program is a partnership

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says one of its K9s was able to track a domestic violence suspect over the weekend. Deputies were called out to a home in the village of Lawrence shortly after midnight

There’s a common message from law enforcement all over southwest Michigan to people: lock the doors of your vehicle. The latest comes from Bloomingdale, as the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says five vehicles were broken into

An official with Michigan State University Federal Credit Union says 2,300 cards were charged with false transactions to an international televangelist network. Officials with the Lansing-area credit union say it’s unclear who was behind the fraudulent charges

There’s a critical need for blood donors of all types in Michigan now. American Red Cross spokesman Todd Kulman says there’s less than a three day supply of Type O blood. “Which of course is the universal

Michigan’s OK2SAY tipline is now appearing on the big screen. The Michigan Attorney General’s office says OK2SAY advertisements are running in movie theaters throughout the state this season. Three different OK2SAY messages began airing on 372 screens

There is still no sign of a 16-year-old girl from Flushing who was swept off the pier at Holland State Park on New Year’s Day. Eliza Trainer is presumed drowned, and the search has been suspended due

The city of Bridgman is taking public input on its next five year parks master plan. A draft is now online and will be available for public viewing through January 20. The five year plan outlines the

The Michigan Department of Treasury is inviting everyone to contribute to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund. The fund provides college scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled at a Michigan college

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s investigation into abuse by clergy in the Catholic church will continue into the new year. AG spokesperson Kelly Rossman-McKinney tells us seven priests have been charged so far. That’s after millions of

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is appealing to all residents to make sure they lock their cars. With a rash of vehicle break-ins around the area the last few months, Bailey tells WSJM News one simple step