The U.S. House voted on Thursday to approve the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, renewing the landmark 1994 law designed to help protect the survivors of domestic violence and to prevent the crime. Congressman Fred Upton voted
The Cook nuclear power plant will be running extended tests of Berrien County’s emergency sirens this weekend. The sirens are sounded for one minute the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. and this Saturday’s test
Michigan is making an effort to keep foster kids in family settings, with a 9% improvement over a 10 year period, according to a new report. Michigan is home to almost 12,000 foster children, and researchers from
The Kent County Prosecutor’s office will decide if charges will be filed against a 19-year-old man for defacing the grave of former President Gerald R. Ford. Chris Johnson tells the “Grand Rapids Press” he took the letter
Michigan State Police are handling the investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Kalamazoo. Inspector Dale Hinz tells WSJM News police were trying to arrest a parole absconder around 10 a.m. Thursday on East G Avenue in the
A Berrien County man is a half-million dollar richer thanks to a Michigan Lottery scratch off game. He won the top prize on the 777 instant game, purchasing the ticket at the Meijer on Pipestone in Benton
Set for April 20 is the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan’s third annual Village Charcuterie Festival in Stevensville. Humane Society Director Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the event is a fundraiser that comes in the form of
It was a packed house at Benton Harbor High School Wednesday night for a town hall regarding the future of Benton Harbor Area Schools. On hand were members of the State Board of Education, and local residents
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
Residents of Benton Harbor and people who work in Benton Harbor take note — the new city income tax will be due this month. City Manager Darwin Watson updated everyone at this week’s city commission meeting. “Income
The spring kick-off of this year’s Adopt a Beach cleanup events will be this month. Alliance for the Great Lakes spokesperson Jennifer Caddick tells WSJM News from April 13 to April 29, clean-ups will be held along
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of K9 Medo. The dog had been with the department since 2011, and lived with the family of Deputy Ben Haas. The department says it received Medo as
The Michigan Department of Transportation has projects underway along Interstate 196 in Berrien and Van Buren counties to remove trees and create a larger vehicle safety area when cars and trucks unexpectedly leave the highway. MDOT’s Nick
The University of Michigan is among six colleges competing to host a presidential debate during next year’s election season. Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald says there’s a chance students could even question the candidates if the university if chosen.
Illegal dumping has become a serious concern across the state, as we’ve seen in Benton Harbor with a renewed effort to crack down on the problem. State Representative Cynthia Johnson of Detroit has submitted two bills to
An investigation is underway into vandalism on the graves of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. Grand Rapids police have released surveillance images of two people seen defacing the graves on the property of
The death of a 59-year-old Lawton man who drove his Hyundai into Cedar Lake in Marcellus is under investigation. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has identified him as John Catalino, who was found shortly before 5
Two area nonprofits are being recognized for being among the best such organizations to work for in the country. Kinexus Group is 29th on the list put out by “The NonProfit Times,” and the United Way of
From the Associated Press — Automobile sales in the U.S. fell 2% in the first quarter, another sign the nation’s economy is starting to slow. Automakers sold just over 4 million vehicles from January through March. Industry
The 135th Trooper Recruit School of the Michigan State Police will hold its graduation on Wednesday. That means 101 new MSP recruits will be sent out to posts throughout Michigan, including five coming to the Niles post.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources started doing some prescribed burns on state lands this week. DNR Fire Superintendent Dan Laux tells WSJM News the DNR burn season lasts throughout the spring, and there are more burns
Congressman Fred Upton has joined with colleagues from the Great Lakes states in signing a letter in support of President Trump’s request for $75 million in the next federal budget to build a new Soo Lock. Upton
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety’s war on illegal dumping is heating up. At a Monday city commission meeting, department Director Dan McGinnis said there have been 13 arrests so far as police investigate. The department
A federal judge is ordering a government agency to take a closer look at pipeline company Enbridge’s plans for dealing with a potential oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan. The Pipeline
Lake Michigan College is taking registrations for summer classes. LMC tells us a student who just graduated from high school could get an early start on racking up college credits by signing up for a summer class.
(Flint, MI – AP) – A judge says former Governor Rick Snyder can be sued by residents in the Flint water scandal, reversing a decision from last summer. Residents claim Snyder violated their right to bodily integrity
Governor Whitmer says among the chores she has planned for Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist will be to tap his background in computer technology to improve rural broadband, and to also upgrade the state of Michigan’s antiquated computer
Michigan’s Impaired Driving Safety Commission has recommended to Governor Whitmer that Michigan set no limit for the amount of THC in a driver’s blood. Commission member Norbert Kaminski says there’s a poor correlation between blood levels of
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has raised $7 million in the first quarter toward a possible presidential run. “We wanted to see what that first quarter was going to be like, to be honest,” Buttigieg tells our
From the Associated Press — A Michigan judge has blocked yet another attempt by state officials to shut down unlicensed medical marijuana provisioning centers. About 50 unlicensed shops in Michigan were set to be shut down by
