Local News Archives

Police say the driver involved in a fatal hit and run crash in Van Buren County last week has been identified. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department tells us the crash happened last Wednesday in the 61,000

Governor Whitmer’s budget proposal will include a 45¢ per gallon increase in gas taxes, enacted in three phases. Her office is confirming that part of the proposal, which follows a plan floated by a bipartisan group of

The Benton Harbor man who admitted to authorities over the weekend that he stabbed and killed his roommate in an argument over money is now charged with that murder. Berrien County Prosecutor Mike Sepic says 60-year-old Jerry

The 28th refueling outage for Unit 1 of the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman will start this week. Indiana Michigan Power says the unit was reduced to 50% power over the weekend to prepare for the refueling

There is no official word as yet, but there are reports the Orchards Mall is about to lose its last anchor store. KBJR-TV in Duluth, Minnesota is reporting JCPenney officials have confirmed to them that the Benton

Three people are facing charges following a drug bust in Dowagiac. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department raided a home on Bradley Street on Friday, arresting a 55-year-old man and 37-year-old woman for meth possession and a 32-year-old

Berrien County is pursuing a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Waterways Grant to develop four public access points along the St. Joseph River in St. Joe and Benton Harbor. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners approved the

With tax season now well underway, the Michigan Department of Treasury has some tips for those looking to hire a tax preparer. Spokesperson Ron Leix reminds everyone that hiring the wrong person or service could harm you.

Southwestern Michigan College is increasing its tuition for the 2019-2020 year. The SMC Board of Trustees approved the changes Monday night, saying state appropriations for the college are about the same as they were 17 years ago

A grant program at Cornerstone Alliance aims to help St. Joseph and Benton Harbor area businesses save energy and spruce up their facades. The Small Business Facade Grant program will provide funds for the repair, maintenance, or

Indiana Michigan Power has announced two economic development grants for Berrien County. I&M spokesperson Tracy Warner tells us the first one is to expand access to broadband internet in the Niles area. “One of them will extend

A man is in custody following a fatal stabbing discovered by police in Benton Harbor on Saturday. The Benton Harbor Department of Public safety tells us officers responded to a call about a man down at a

The United Way of Southwest Michigan aims to collect 5,000 books at 40 locations across Berrien and Cass counties with its Spring Into Reading book drive this month. The United Way tells us it’s teaming up with

An event is planned for today in St. Joseph to help encourage and inform women interested in running for political office. Organized by Laura Goos, Amanda Hirsh, and Kim Jorgensen Gane, “Vote Her In, Why Not You?”

Berrien County Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin has received an award from the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners for a recent New Buffalo area project. He went to Kalamazoo last month to pick up the 2019 Innovation

A Van Buren County state lawmaker is part of an effort to ensure e-cigarettes and other vaping products are kept out of the hands of minors in Michigan. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News

The Berrien County Health Department says it will continue to provide water filters to residents of Benton Harbor as the city works to rid itself of lead issues. Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News they’ve

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad says emergency funds from the city’s new income tax will be used to repair a sink hole that formed along Highland Avenue near Hall Park on Friday. The sink hole snagged a

Around 30 students from the Benton Harbor Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program headed to Lansing this week to meet with their state lawmakers. The third annual JMG Legislative Day was Thursday, says program deputy director Mollie Waller.

The U.S. House of Representatives Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee held a hearing Thursday on the consequences of the United States pulling out of the Paris Climate Change Accord. Meanwhile, Michigan climate activists say they are forging

More than a dozen new apartments and over 3,000 square feet of retail space are coming to downtown Benton Harbor. Cornerstone Alliance has secured a tentative commitment from Cressy Commercial Real Estate to redevelop the iconic Harbor

South Haven once again has a finance director. The city has hired Kari Bennett to take over the Finance Department following the firing earlier this year of Wendy Hochstedler after an audit turned up a variety of

As leaders at Benton Harbor Area Schools grapple with difficult financial decisions, another matter that needs to be resolved is the question of who’s in charge. Right now, it’s still CEO Robert Herrera under the cooperative agreement.

Legislation from state Senator Aric Nesbitt is designed to increase access to broadband internet in rural areas. His office tells us his bill would create a tax exemption for new broadband equipment installed in places where it’s

Benton Harbor Area Schools may be facing more than $18 million in debt, but that isn’t necessarily the district’s biggest problem. The biggest problem is declining enrollment. That’s the message from Michigan Department of Treasury Office of

More than 500,000 elderly Americans experience abuse each year, and that’s why Michigan State Police are reminding everyone of the warning signs. MSP Trooper Holly Higgs of the Niles post tells WSJM News the abuse isn’t always

A former member of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners has been honored by having a conference room at the county administration building named for him. Kenneth Wendzel served on the county commission from 1969 to 1998

Police are investigating a fatal hit and run crash in Van Buren County. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department tells us it happened in the 61,000 block of County Road 378 in Bangor Township around 7:30 p.m.

From the Associated Press — Michigan State University says its more than seven-year fundraising campaign brought in about $1.83 billion. The Lansing State Journal reports more than 250,000 donors contributed to the Empower Extraordinary campaign, which in

Michigan House Republicans have launched a new website dedicated to car insurance reform. State Representative Brad Paquette of Niles tells us ReduceMiRatesNow.com is designed to keep people informed about auto insurance action in the House while giving