Local News Archives

A one car crash, just before midnight last night, sends a woman to the hospital with critical injuries. Around 11:45 Saturday night, officers were dispatched to a one car accident on Maudlin Rd near Behner Rd in

Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is hoping everyone has a safe Fourth of July weekend, and that’s why he’s putting out a safety advisory about fireworks. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News there’s one big circumstance that leads

Experience ruled the day as Rick “Pellet Gun” Krause took the top prize in Saturday’s 44th annual Cherry Pit Spitting Championship at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire. The 63-year-old Krause captured his 17th victory. His

Congressman Fred Upton is applauding the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to withdraw a controversial rule. He tells WSJM News the EPA is dropping the Waters of the United States rule classifying ditches and standing water in farmers’ low-lying fields

State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker is disappointed Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed a bill that would have created a “Choose Life” license plate in Michigan. The specialty plate created by Senate Bill 163 would have raised money for

The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners has given its thumbs up to a buoy stationed off South Haven in Lake Michigan. This week, the board approved spending $5,000 to help pay for the buoy provided by

A sergeant with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has been honored with a Life Saving Award for his role in helping a fellow officer who had a heart attack last month. The sheriff’s department tells us

This is the weekend for Operation Dry Water. That’s when law enforcement agencies across the country send out extra patrols on waterways to look for drunk boaters. Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Nathan Penning tells WSJM

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of one of its K9s. Vento passed away this week from natural causes. Vento had served the county for several years. The sheriff’s department tells us Vento

The Blue Star Highway bridge over the Black River just north of South Haven is back open. South Haven Area Emergency Services tells WSJM News the Michigan Department of Transportation opened up the bridge on Friday afternoon.

Conservation groups from around southwest Michigan are planning an invasive species blitz for this weekend and next week. Eleanor Serocki, with the Van Buren County Conservation district, tells WSJM News events to educate boaters on how to avoid

The Michigan State Police post in Niles is looking for volunteers to help run a program designed to assist people struggling with addiction and reduce drug demand. Michigan State Police have joined with nearly 200 other law

Congressman Fred Upton is among those criticizing President Donald Trump’s controversial tweet this week about MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinski. Trump made a remark about the Morning Joe co-host attacking her for her physical appearance. Many have called

Michigan State Police are watching you this weekend. They’ve got Operation CARE set to take place Saturday through Tuesday. Special Lieutenant Jim Flegel tells WSJM News extra troopers will be on the road keeping their eyes out

A Benton Township car dealership has been hit by tire thieves. Management at Brookfield Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep tells WSJM News staff showed up Friday morning to find the wheels and tires had been removed from six Ram pick-ups. They

A cougar has been spotted near Lansing. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed the sighting last Tuesday in Clinton County’s Bath Township. The DNR’s Kevin Swanson spoke with Michigan News Network about the cougar. “We really

The 44th annual Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm’s International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship is tomorrow in Eau Claire. Qualifying will start at 10 a.m., with the championships starting at 1 in the afternoon. The farm’s Monica Teichman tells WSJM

The Berrien County Youth Fair is still about a month and a half away, but for people planning to exhibit small animals, a deadline is looming tomorrow. Fair officials say small animals have to be registered by

Just about everyone loves a good fireworks show, and there are plenty of them planned for this weekend around southwest Michigan. The fun begins Friday with a show in Dowagiac. It’ll be at Russom Park. Saturday will

A southwest Michigan church is putting together meal packages for the hungry this Saturday, and it aims to assemble 80,000 of them. Community Church in Douglas has been doing this every year for the past eight years. It

Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is hoping everyone has a safe Fourth of July weekend, and that’s why he’s putting out a safety advisory about fireworks. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News there’s one big circumstance that leads

12 students from southwest Michigan high schools are receiving scholarships from the Niles Scream Park thanks to their service in the past year. The Scream Park’s Pete Carlowitz tells WSJM News they’re able to hand out a

From the Associated Press — Officials say an intensive search so far has turned up no additional Asian carp in a Chicago-area waterway system where one of the invasive fish recently was found. The discovery of a live

Auto insurance costs are about to go up in Michigan. Insurance Alliance of Michigan spokesperson Lori Conarton tells WSJM News it’s because the cost every driver has to pay for unlimited medical benefits as required by the

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette wants the petroleum pipeline which runs under the Straits of Mackinac to cease operation. Michigan News Network Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick tells us Schuette has plenty to say about Line 5.

06-29-17 WSJM News Now 5 PM

From the Associated Press — Michigan officials have released a consulting firm’s draft report listing alternatives for dealing with twin oil pipelines beneath the waterway where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet. The state commissioned the report as environmental

There are 41 states with part-time state legislatures, and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley thinks this state should be number 42. He joined WSJM’s Pat Moody to discuss his push for a constitutional amendment for that, and

St. Joseph’s Lincoln Elementary School has its next principal. In a message to parents and Lincoln staff, St. Joseph Public Schools Superintendent Ann Cardon says she has decided to transfer Brown Elementary Principal Craig Hubble to Lincoln

The Michigan Department of Transportation says it will be lifting work zone restrictions at the majority of project sites statewide over the Independence Day weekend. That means smoother driving on Interstate 94 through southwest Michigan, but MDOT