State Representative Kim LaSata’s plan to protect the safety of court employees is making its way toward approval in the legislature. She’s proposed a bill to increase the penalties for assaulting those who work in a courthouse.
A preliminary hearing has been held for former Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Leonard Seawood. He’s charged with embezzlement and accused of taking $45,000 in extra cash payouts for unused vacation days between 2012 and 2015.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department will hold its annual Police Officers Memorial Service will be this Wednesday. The event this year is dedicated to Deputy Shane Britton, who was killed in the line of duty in 2000.
Congressman Fred Upton has welcomed the family of Joseph Zangaro to his office in Washington, D.C. Joseph Zangaro was a Berrien County Court bailiff killed in a shooting at the courthouse in St. Joseph last summer. Also
Ford is expected to use voluntary buyouts to trim its work force by about 10%, with reports of Ford wanting to cut costs by $3 billion. That’s a prudent move says Joe Phillipi, a long time auto
From the Associated Press — Michigan officials are banning most vehicles from the Mackinac Bridge during the annual Labor Day bridge walk because of concerns about terrorism. Tens of thousands of people join the annual walk across the
State Senator John Proos has some thoughts on changing up the way the state funds its prisons. He tells WSJM News the current model looks at things on a per-facility basis, but he wonders if there’s another
It’s a summer tradition in St. Joseph. The day the public art goes up downtown for the summer, and that day is this Friday. City Marketing Director Susan Solon tells WSJM News “Fishing for Fun in St.
From the Associated Press — More Medicare recipients in Michigan will qualify for subsidies to buy supplemental health insurance that covers their coinsurance and deductibles. The Michigan Health Endowment Fund announced Monday it’s raising the eligibility threshold, starting in July.
This is National Bike to Work Week, and the Michigan Department of Transportation is reminding drivers of the rules when it comes to bicyclists. MDOT tells us while biking is a healthy and environmentally friendly way to
St. Joseph City Commissioners have approved a broad plan to help reduce downtown congestion and ease quality of life problems for residents that arise during the summer. The plan proposed by Public Safety Director Brian Uridge came
The Ransomware cyber attack affecting thousands of computers has not spread as much as feared with the start of a new work week. Europol says the global attack impacted 200,000 organizations in 150 countries last Friday, but
A South Haven man has been honored by the Rotary International for his work to improve health and water resources in Kenya. Dr. Martin Graber received the Rotary’s Service Above Self Award, the organization’s highest honor, at
Drivers are being advised of some slight traffic changes this week near Three Oaks. Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News crews will be working on US-12 between Basswood and Schward Roads. They’re doing
A real life American hero will be honored during a performance at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center this upcoming weekend. Center Director Mike Nadolski tells WSJM News Jim McCloughan, of South Haven, is a Medal of Honor
From the Associated Press — Michigan’s corrections director says a Senate-approved plan to cut tens of millions of dollars in prison spending would lead to layoffs and low staffing levels that would make prisons unsafe. Heidi Washington lodged
Final state revenue projections are coming this week in Lansing to allow the House and Senate to finalize the next fiscal year’s budget. State Representative Mary Whiteford of South Haven says there are some “great things” in
A 29-year-old Kalamazoo woman is facing drunk driving, child endangerment, and driving with an expired license charges after a crash just before midnight last night in Cass County. The sheriff’s department says her 9-year-old daughter and 11-month-old
AAA Michigan says gas prices statewide have risen by about 6 cents per gallon in the past week. The Dearborn-based auto club says late Sunday the average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline was about $2.40 per
St. Joseph Director of Public Safety Brian Uridge is thinking about how to make the summer go more smoothly this year. He’s been working on a safety plan for the city to reduce traffic and parking headaches
The Van Buren Conservation District is working to get the word out about how to spot the invasive Japanese knotweed. With summer approaching, the district’s Eleanor Serocki tells WSJM News the damaging plant is already becoming apparent.
The St. Joseph City Commission is speaking out against some legislation proposed in Lansing. The bill would stop local governments from regulating short-term rental properties. St. Joe City Manager John Hodgson tells WSJM News municipal governments should
The village of Stevensville has approved a tax break for a local manufacturer as it plans an expansion. This week, the village council approved a tax abatement for Darren Mayer Performance Engineering, a company that designs custom
The numbers are in from the national Drug Take Back Day conducted two weekends ago and the DEA reports we set a new record for disposing of old and unwanted prescription drugs. More than 900,000 pounds were
First responders in Buchanan now have a new tool to help save pets in distress. Invisible Fence of Southwest Michigan has donated a pet oxygen mask to the fire department. The organization has a goal of equipping
The annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser for Berrien County Cancer Services is underway. The organization’s Nancy Church tells WSJM News they’ve been collecting pennies for 28 years now. “The idea behind it is that anybody can collect a
Now that spring has sprung, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is organizing a new round of volunteer beach cleanup events. Spokesperson Jennifer Caddick tells WSJM News thousands of volunteers take part in the effort to pick up
A new education technology pilot program has been launched at the STEAM Academy at MLK in Benton Harbor. eBravium, an education tech company, is providing two third grade classrooms with a new tablet-based arithmetic learning system called
South Haven Area Emergency Services has honored some of its firefighters with awards for the year. The agency held its annual awards dinner on May 6, giving the honor of Firefighter of the Year to David Griessel.
From the Associated Press — Michigan personal-injury lawyer Geoffrey Fieger says he’s “darn serious” about running for governor again 20 years after he won the Democratic primary but lost to Republican incumbent John Engler. The outspoken Fieger expressed
