The Michigan House this week approved legislation designed to combat a shortage of psychiatric workers around the state. State Representative Pauline Wendzel tells WSJM News she has spoken with staff from the Berrien County Health Department who
New numbers regarding the measles outbreak in Michigan have been released, and this time, there are a couple of Grand Rapids locations listed as possible exposure sites. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin
Help could soon be just a phone call away for anyone in Michigan struggling with their mental health. A bill sponsored by state Representative Mary Whiteford of the South Haven area has easily passed the House this
State Representative Beth Griffin has been pleased with progress on addressing the PFAS problem in the water systems of two Kalamazoo County communities. PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals, were found in the water in Parchment and
Congressman Fred Upton is pleased the report on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election will be released on Thursday. He tells WSJM News he’s not in Washington right now, but
Governor Gretchen Whitmer hopes to improve jail and pretrial systems throughout the state by signing an executive order to create a 21-member, bipartisan Michigan Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration. Republican House Speaker Lee Chatfield praised
Sports fans can now support their favorite professional team while driving around. Specialty license plates for the Detroit Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers were unveiled by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and team representatives this week.
A 31-year-old Berrien Springs man is dead as the result of a crash between his motorcycle and a delivery truck in Baroda. The crash happened at the intersection of Stevensville-Baroda Road and Linco Road just a few
The deadline is 4 p.m. next Tuesday for anyone interested in running for the St. Joseph City Commission this year to file their paperwork. Three incumbents: Jeff Richards, Laura Goos, and Lynn Todman, are up for reelection
The former Whirlpool Corporation office building at 150 Hilltop Road in St. Joseph is changing hands. United Federal Credit Union is purchasing the roughly 80,000 square foot facility and will transform it into its new headquarters. The
The former owner of a large Decatur farm is facing prison time for fraud. U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge says 46-year-old Mike Stamp of Decatur pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit
From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says if the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision is overturned, she won’t enforce state laws on the books that ban abortion. The Democrat told a
Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera says an update on the high school graduation numbers for this year will be given to the board of education next month. At this week’s CEO Meeting, Herrera said board
Congressman Fred Upton is hoping to help approve a renewal of the Older Americans Act sometime this year. He spoke to the Area Agency on Aging’s Legislative Forum last week, and tells WSJM News that’s one of
Talks are underway regarding a possible consolidation of the fire departments in Baroda Township, Lake Township, and Bridgman. Baroda Township Supervisor Jim Brow tells WSJM News the idea came up a few months ago, and one meeting
The Coloma Township Police Department is advising residents to be vigilant when they pump gas since a couple of razor blades were reported hidden in a pump handle at the local Speedway Monday. Chief Wes Smigielski WSJM
“A mistake” is how Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey characterizes his use of his county email in an exchange with a staffer for the Senate campaign of Kim LaSata last fall. Bailey made that comment to MIRS
Berrien County is experiencing a sharp increase in suspected opioid overdoses. Prosecutor Michael Sepic says heroin-based OD death numbers have been averaging around 30 per year in the county, with a slight downward trend since the introduction
A crackdown on vaping in schools is underway in Mattawan Consolidated Schools. Superintendent Tim Eastman has sent a letter to parents reminding them that students are banned from anything that provides them with nicotine while in class,
It’s on to the World Championship in FIRST Robotics for several area high school teams. Three, including St. Joseph and Berrien Springs, performed well enough at the state championship recently at Saginaw Valley State University to move
A success is how a massive training exercise involving South Haven Area Emergency Services and six other fire departments went on Sunday in downtown South Haven. SHAES Chief Ron Wise says the purpose of the event was
The first quarter of fundraising for another term in the U.S. House is in the books for Congressman Fred Upton. The St. Joseph Republican says his campaign has raised $323,000 in the quarter and has more than
The Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor and Berrien RESA are honoring the winners of this year’s Rotary Scholarship Essay Contest. Lakeshore High School’s Carter Welch took first place and earned a $2,000 scholarship, with second place
A Paw Paw woman will spend between 31 and 50 years in prison for killing her three-year-old stepdaughter. Kate George was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty earlier this spring to charges of second-degree murder and child abuse
Any Benton Harbor residents looking to run for the five city commission offices up for election this year has just a few more days to turn in nominating petitions. The deadline is next Tuesday, April 23 at
Bridgman police say the abduction attempt reported last week was a hoax. In a Facebook post, police say the student who reported the stranger danger situation admitted to making it up due to an unrelated disagreement with
The County Road Association of Michigan has given awards to the Berrien County Road Department for three of its projects in 2018. Berrien County Road Department Managing Director Jason Latham tells WSJM News one of the IMPRESS
The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin a repaving project on M-139 in Berrien County next week. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the work will be south of Benton Harbor. “We will be repaving about
The Hartford Public Library is now ready to move forward with plans for a new home thanks to a $400,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Library Director Stephanie Daniels tells WSJM News the goal
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Berrien County Health Department is urging parents to keep an open dialogue with their kids about the dangers of underage alcohol abuse. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells WSJM
