Local News Archives

A $500,000 grant from DTE Energy to the Motown Museum in Detroit will support its  plans for an expansion of the facility. CEO and Chairwoman of the Motown Museum Robin Terry told Michigan News Network this week

An area grocery chain is being bought out. Grand Rapids-based SpartanNash is purchasing Martin’s Super Markets and all 21 of its locations in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. SpartanNash owns 139 stores under the names D&W Fresh

As they work to reach a new contract with City Manager Darwin Watson, Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to terminate his old contract. At a Monday meeting, the vote was unanimous to end the contract originally

Ground has been broken at the state’s women prison in Ypsilanti for a new vocational center. This marks construction of the third  of what are known as “vocational villages” in the state — the first for a

An amendment to the short-term rental ordinance has been approved by the South Haven City Council. At Monday’s meeting, the vote was four to two to update the rules that govern homes that are rented out to

City officials in Benton Harbor are still waiting on results from water tests after elevated levels of lead were found in eight of 35 homes recently tested. At Monday’s city commission meeting, City Manager Darwin Watson said

This holiday shopping season is expected to be a good one for retailers. Meagan Holland of the Michigan Retailers Association tells Michigan News Network the organization does a monthly survey in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank

New legislation from Congressman Fred Upton is designed to protect senior citizens from being impoverished due to medical problems. He and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell have introduced the Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act. It would extend spousal

Gathering with family on Thanksgiving provides a good opportunity to discuss health history. So says the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which is pushing the holiday as “National Family History Day.” Spokesperson Lynn Sutfin spoke

From the Associated Press — Michigan State University has joined a list of universities nationally that provide on-campus housing to students in recovery from substance abuse disorders. The East Lansing school says its Collegiate Recovery Community is in

Muskegon and Kent counties were the first in west Michigan to pull the plug on prosecuting marijuana cases after the November 6 election, and Kalamazoo County has joined them. Prosecutor Jeff Getting told WKZO News with the

AAA Michigan says average gas prices statewide are down 12¢ in the past week to about $2.48 per gallon ahead of the Thanksgiving travel period. The Dearborn-based auto club says early Monday the average price for self-serve

Flooding earlier this year is prompting the closure of Red Bud Trail in Buchanan for two weeks starting next Monday. The closure is just north of the Wheatberry restaurant according to the Berrien County Road Department. They

This past Thursday was the Great American Smokeout, when smokers were urged to give quitting a go. The Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News 17% of Berrien County residents are still smokers, which is

The Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor is ready to begin renovations on its Arts District building now that it’s completed the location’s purchase. Ghostlight’s Martha Hesse tells WSJM News thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, they now

A new partnership is in place between Benton Harbor Area Schools and Western Michigan University. Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera made it official this week, bringing in WMU to provide training to district teachers and

Those who have an interest in the Short Term Rental Ordinance in the city of South Haven are urged to attend the city council meeting on Monday for a public hearing. City Manager Brian Dissette spoke with

Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey this week laid out to some members of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners highlights this past year for the parks department. He tells WSJM News parks revenue was up this

The Michigan Department of Transportation is ready to go for the winter. Spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News construction projects in southwest Michigan, especially Berrien County, look like they’ll all be wrapped up before construction work is

The new code of conduct for students at Benton Harbor Area Schools is now officially in place. At this past week’s CEO meeting, district CEO and Superintendent Robert Herrera signed off on the plan that he tells

The results of water fixture tests at Benton Harbor Area Schools are in, and they show lead levels at five of 135 testing sites throughout the district exceeded federal standards. The federal action level for lead is

By Doug Cunnigham The proposed Line 5 replacement tunnel project under the straits of Mackinac may well be Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s first big issue. Whitmer has said it should be shut down but Michigan’s Building and Construction

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan has received a donation from the Benton Harbor-Fairplain Lions Club that now has triple its original value because of the ongoing capital building fund. Humane Society General Operating Manager Alissa Saul

The winner of Celebration Cinema’s 2018 Celebrated Service Award is Sophia’s House of Pancakes in Benton Township. Each year, the theater chain’s employees nominate businesses for the honor, and then the public votes on the winner. A

The Berrien County Road Department has announced a road closure in the Benton Harbor area. It tells us Crystal Avenue from Napier Avenue to Empire Avenue will be closed for two weeks starting Monday for water main

The Berrien County Road Department has suspended work on Red Arrow Highway just south of Bridgman until early spring. It had been reconstructing the road from south of town to Browntown Road. It has the first of

Andrews University expects to increase the number of students from Ghana attending its campus in Berrien Springs. That’s after Andrews President Andrea Luxton this week signed the agreement with the Ghana ambassador to the United States to

November is Adoption Month in Michigan, when the state encourages everyone to learn more about the need for adoptive families. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News at any given time,

From the Associated Press — Michigan drivers will be required to slow down when passing an emergency, maintenance or utility vehicle that is on the side of the road. A law signed Thursday by Governor Rick Snyder mandates