Local News Archives

Suspected mass murderer Jason Dalton is now scheduled to go on trial June 13 in Kalamazoo County. Dalton faces 16 charges, six of them murder counts, for a shooting spree around Kalamazoo last February. Among his victims

From the Associated Press — The head of Flint’s water pipe replacement program says the city hopes to finish the project in 2019. Retired National Guard Brigadier General Michael McDaniel coordinates the FAST Start initiative to replace lines

A plan that would guarantee all Michigan workers paid sick time has been introduced in the state legislature. A bill in the Senate would mandate employers give an hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked.

Congressman Fred Upton is among the Republican rank and file supporting the House GOP’s American Health Care Act, designed to replace the Affordable Care Act. The plan released this week would keep in place the ACA’s prohibition

Leaders from Benton Harbor Area Schools will soon learn details of the district’s new partnership agreement with the state, buying three buildings targeted for closure 18 months of extra time. Last week, the governor’s office announced it’s

Part of the repackaging of the Affordable Care Act is now underway. Republicans released details of their ACA replacement this week, and Democrats like Congresswoman Debbie Dingell don’t like it. She spoke with Michigan News Network. “Seniors

Calls for fire service have been down in the city of Benton Harbor. Acting Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis tells our newsroom they had 498 fire calls in 2015, but just 273 in 2016. He notes this

Michigan is ranked 44th in the country when it comes to property taxes. Jill Gonzalez, with personal finance website WalletHub, says the average Michigan resident annually spends about $3,200 on property taxes. “Michigan has always been an outlier

Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety Acting Director Dan McGinnis is hoping to get the public’s thoughts on what police should do this summer to keep the community safe. He’s now working on the department’s annual spring

As National Consumer Protection Week begins, Attorney General Bill Schuette has released his annual Consumer Complaint list. Spokeswoman Andrea Bitley says it was compiled by analyzing nearly 8,500 written complaints filed in 2016. “The consumer protection part

LECO Corporation has announced a $19 million expansion in St. Joseph Township. It’s putting in a new 64,000 square foot applications lab and customer demonstration facility. According to Cornerstone Alliance, the additions will be right next to

All of this coming week, students at Lakeshore High School will be talking about suicide prevention. Principal Brad Brunner tells WSJM News the kids have organized a series of events set to kick off Monday with an

If you’re having a little trouble with your heating bill this winter, Consumers Energy wants you to know there’s a place to turn for help. Spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells us you could always apply for the Michigan

It’s Legomania in St. Joseph. On Thursday, a series of events around the downtown area kicked off as part of Build Your Way Around Town. St. Joseph Today’s Amy Zapal tells WSJM News you can go to several

A partnership between Michigan State Police and the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety has resulted in a reduction of violent crime in the city, according to authorities. MSP Captain Michael Brown tells WSJM News the department

The small Van Buren County village of Breedsville is finally getting its south side bridge replaced. The bridge on County Road 215 over the Black River partially collapsed in December of 2015, causing a big headache for

From the Associated Press — Mayor Rosalynn Bliss wants to start an education program for immigrants who move to Grand Rapids. MLive.com reports Friday that Bliss announced her plan during Thursday’s State of the City address.Bliss told reporters

A candidate for governor will be stopping in Kalamazoo this weekend. Todd Schleiger is a business owner and an independent. He told WKZO News he’s got big plans to clean up Michigan. “The two party system is broken

U.S. Senator Gary Peters, of Michigan, has slammed Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his contacts with Russian diplomats during the presidential campaign. He tells WKZO News the whole situation is suspicious. “They are not our friend, and

The head of the Michigan School Reform Office testified in Lansing Thursday, answering questions as to why some children would need to travel as far as 30 miles to attend school next year if their current school

The Cook nuclear power plant in Bridgman is cleaning up after about 1,000 gallons of sulfuric acid leaked out of a tank via a drain flange Wednesday. Cook spokesperson Bill Schalk tells WSJM News the acid essentially

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has identified a Grand Junction woman killed in a Wednesday crash involving a train. It says 47-year-old Tiffany Glidden died in the crash with a CSX train. Glidden was driving an SUV through

From the Associated Press — Grand Valley State University has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit that said the university unfairly restricted free speech on campus. Student group “Turning Point USA at Grand Valley State University” was critical

Charges are in place against five South Haven High School students for allegedly having sex with an underage classmate. All are charged as adults, and have been identified as 18-year-old brothers DaMari and DeShaan Palmer, 18-year-old Darion

From the Associated Press — Having problems with coyotes? The resourceful species is turning up increasingly in urban neighborhoods as well as its traditional countryside habitat. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has advice for people who aren’t

A report shows a very small percentage of west Michigan kids on Medicaid make it to the dentist as early as recommended. Michigan Oral Health Coalition Director Karlene Katola tells WSJM News kids should see a dentist