Local News Archives

Michigan is reporting 543 additional cases of COVID-19 for Thursday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 64,675 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported 15

The Michigan Department of Transportation is doing what it can to help those who plan to take a trip this Fourth of July weekend. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the agency is suspending most road

The former Lewis Cass state building in downtown Lansing has been renamed the Elliot Larsen Building following an executive order from the governor this week. The move honors the authors of the state’s landmark civil rights act,

A new federal coronavirus stimulus package could be coming soon. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News talks are underway while Congress assesses the unemployment situation. He says whatever is proposed has to be bipartisan if it’s to

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation from state Representative Pauline Wendzel to increase the limit faced by breweries that self-distribute their beer. Right now, breweries are limited to 1,000 barrels per year when they self-distribute. Wendzel’s bill

Governor Gretchen Whitmer this week unveiled a plan to reopen K-12 schools this fall with extra safety precautions. Tonya Allen is the chair of the COVID-19 Return to Learn Advisory Council. She says students in grade six

Lake Michigan College has announced its plan to resume classes in the fall. LMC has released the following statement: It has been nearly four months since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we go about our day-to-day

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning swimmers to watch out for potential PFAS foam in lakes and rivers. Spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News in areas there has been PFAS contamination in the

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation giving Michigan drivers more time to get their licenses renewed. The governor’s office has released the following statement: Today, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bills 876-878, which codify her previous Executive Orders

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called on the Michigan High School Athletic Association to plan for the return of high school sports this fall in a safe manner. The plan could be to move some sports that allow

Southwestern Michigan College has announced in-person classes will resume this fall, while on-campus residence halls will be open as the institution operates as normally as possible while staying safe. SMC President Joe Odenwald tells WSJM News the

A $75,000 matching grant has been announced by the Berrien Community Foundation for ten arts groups in the area. BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News arts organizations have struggled a great deal during the pandemic, and

Michigan is reporting 262 additional cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 64,132 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported four

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is closing indoor seating in bars in parts of the state, including a city with a bar that has been linked to a rising number of infections. Whitmer on Wednesday also signed a bill

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders in Michigan have announced a plan to plug a budget hole for the coming year. Speaking Tuesday, the governor said the plan provides federal COVID-19 relief funding for schools, universities, community

Congressman Fred Upton has signed on to a letter asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to end a policy that has COVID-19 patients placed in nursing homes to recover. The letter is from 10th District Congressman Paul Mitchell. Upton

From the Associated Press — A board overseeing Michigan’s Capitol has determined that it has the legal authority to decide if guns will continue to be allowed in the Lansing building and on its grounds. The Michigan

A music video produced in Benton Harbor and highlighting the importance of filling out the census is among the finalists in a national competition. The U.S. Census Bureau’s the Get Out the Count Video Prize Competition received

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation allocating more than $850 million in federal COVID-19 relief money. The office of the governor has released the following statement: Today, Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 690, which appropriates nearly $880

From the Associated Press — Orders have been issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that allow for expanded visitations at nursing and other residential facilities. Visits to the facilities have been restricted to

Those who plan to set off fireworks as they celebrate the nation’s independence this Fourth of July are being asked to take care not to start wildfires. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildfire prevention specialist Paul Rogers

Health officials continue to implore the public to wear face coverings as COVID-19 cases shoot back up around the country. Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit told WSJM News this week while there technically is an order in

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan remains in a better position than most other states when it comes to COVID-19, but the news still isn’t great. Speaking Tuesday, Whitmer said we’ve seen some places in Michigan become high

Opening for the season this week is the Benton Harbor Farmers Market. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News since it’s an outdoor event, people can social distance and still make healthy food purchases.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Safe Schools Roadmap has been released, directing school districts throughout the state to draw up their own back to school plans with local conditions and local health departments as their guide. She was

Michigan is reporting 373 additional cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 63,870 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported 32

From the Associated Press — A Michigan regulatory agency has denied Enbridge’s request for quick approval of its plan to put a replacement oil pipeline beneath a Great Lakes channel. The state Public Service Commission on Tuesday

The former Lewis Cass Building in downtown Lansing has been renamed the Elliott-Larsen Building by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Her office announced on Tuesday the governor would honor the state legislators behind Michigan’s civil rights law, the Elliott

From the Associated Press — Dealerships in northern Indiana that sell recreational vehicles are seeing a surge in demand for RVs as people eye summer road trips with their families in place of air travel and cruises

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has released her plan for a return to school in the fall. The Return to School Roadmap directs districts to come up with localized plans for classes with the help of their health departments.