Local News Archives

Set for July 19 through July 24 is the Van Buren Youth Fair. Fair Board member Paul Garrod tells us things will be back to normal after a year of cancellations, postponements, and other adjustments. “The 66th

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has announced more than $14 million in grants around west Michigan to bolster mental health programs, including a grant of $3.8 million for Berrien County. The grant to the Berrien County Mental Health

A $17 billion school aid budget has been signed by governor Gretchen Whitmer. She spoke in Macomb Township Wednesday morning as the record education spending plan was given final approval. Whitmer said the bill gives districts and

The Berrien County Administration building, the Berrien County Courthouse, and the Berrien County Public Defender’s office in St. Joseph are all closed due to a power outage that started around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Indiana Michigan Power says

What are the greatest impediments to fair housing in Benton Harbor? That’s the subject of a review done by the Benton Harbor Community and Economic Development Department. Director Alex Little went over some of the results with

The Berrien County Health Department is seeking to increase COVID-19 vaccinations with the help of what it’s calling Vaccine Champions and by making opportunities to get the shots more convenient. Speaking during a Wednesday update, Berrien County

More than one million Michiganders have now signed up for the state’s COVID-19 vaccination sweepstakes, MI Shot To Win. The office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer has released the following: Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced more than one million Michiganders have entered

Fr4om the Associated Press — More people have drowned in the Great Lakes so far in 2021 than were reported by this time last year, prompting officials to urge swimmers to practice water safety measures. Data collected

From the Associated Press — Ex-Detroit police chief James Craig is seeking to burnish his Republican credentials before a likely run for governor, telling party stalwarts about his evolution from being a “born” Democrat. Craig, who retired

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced new steps in her office to improve service. Benson’s office has released the following: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today announced advances to the department’s service-driven operating model, and

Courtesy Kale and Courtney Buchholtz (NEW YORK) — Courtney and Kale Buchholtz had just put their 5-month-old son Cannon to bed and sat down on the couch the night of July 2 when a loud bang shook

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved a new summer event in the community intended to give young people something positive to celebrate. During a Tuesday meeting, the city commission approved the Wilson Chandler Free Community Concert. The

Market Van Buren will make a presentation this week to students enrolled in summer learning programs at Paw Paw High School. Market Van Buren says community and business leaders will speak to students at the Paw Paw

A hiking program designed for families has been launched for the year by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. The group’s Amelia Hansen tells WSJM News the Hike Our Preserves, or HOP, program is intended to get people

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a meeting this week on the operations of the Cook plant in Bridgman. The NRC’s Viktoria Mitlyng tells WSJM News these meetings are held each year at all nuclear power plants.

The U.S. House Problem Solvers Caucus has announced its support for a $973 billion infrastructure package proposed in the Senate. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the 50-plus member caucus decided to back the proposal, which is

Spectrum Health’s Veggie Van will head to Hartford next week. Spectrum Health Lakeland says the van will be at Lakeland Primary Care Hartford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 16. The Veggie Van is

Michigan State Police say they made several arrests and confiscated nine guns over the past four weeks in the city of Benton Harbor as part of the Secure Cities Partnership with the community. In their latest report,

A 24-year-old man is hospitalized after being found in a Coloma Township apartment shot early Tuesday morning. Township police were called to the 58-hundred block of Paw Paw Lake Road just before 2:30 a.m. They identified the

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced a new plan to invest $150 million in federal funding in local parks and trails. The governor’s office has released the following: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today announced an historic investment in community parks and recreation facilities, proposing

The Silver Beach Carousel is planning to reopen this month. Masks will be required for everyone 3 and older, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Carousel staff say they appreciate everyone’s “support and patience through these 16

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that killed a 73-year-old woman as she was walking in a dark area on Marquette Woods Road. Linda Martinez died early Monday when she was hit by 46-year-old

Volunteers are invited to come out to Grand Mere State Park next week to help remove invasive plants. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says they will hand pull spotted knapweed from the open areas allowing native

The Twin City Players have announced the group is retaking the stage. The players announced their 2021-2022 Mainstage Season, which represents TCP’s 89th year of producing community theatre in southwest Michigan. They’ll put on six shows from

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says a 73 year old Saint Joseph woman is dead after being hit by a vehicle in Royalton Township early on Monday. It happened shortly after midnight on Marquette Woods Road near

Berrien County has nearly $135,000 to spend on programs for veterans thanks to a new state grant from the County Veteran Service Fund. Veterans Services Director Lee Lull tells us they’re still working on how it will

The Mendel Center is looking for some volunteers. Director Grace Kelmer tells WSJM News says with the new season approaching and things returning to normal, it’s now taking applications from those who would like to help. The

As floods closed highways in Detroit last month, the Michigan Department of Transportation is factoring future flood events into its project planning. Speaking on the MDOT podcast “Talking Transportation” this week, spokesperson Rob Morosi said the new

Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette marked one year on the job this week. During the weekly meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, Dissette said it’s been quite the year. “I have really enjoyed working here,”