First responders face extra stress right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in South Haven they’re getting extra encouragement from the community. South Haven Area Emergency Services Director Ron Wise tells WSJM News they had a
State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan will hold a teletown hall next week on the COVID-19 pandemic. Her office says it will be held on Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. She will give everyone an update on
The self-response rate for the U.S. Census in Berrien County is currently at 48%. That’s according to Berrien Census Hub Coordinator Kathy Stady, who heads up the Berrien Community Foundation’s census promotion effort. She tells WSJM News
@MyKitchenTable is the name of a daily column Congressman Fred Upton is now writing as he works mostly from home. He tells us he’s been talking with a variety of officials as he waits out the COVID-19
Firefighter and paramedic Brandon Hinz will be the next director of South Haven Area Emergency Services. He’ll take over for Ron Wise when Wise retires on September 30. Hinz has been a firefighter and EMT for SHAES
The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is asking for an easing of Michigan’s stay home order as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The chamber has released the following statement: Arthur Havlicek, President of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, today
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor those who have died as a result of COVID-19. The governor’s office has released the following statement: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has
Self-employed workers who have found themselves affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply for unemployment benefits starting next week. The office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer has released the following statement: Michigan’s self-employed workers, gig
Michigan is reporting 1,279 new cases of COVID-19 for Friday, bringing the state’s total up to 22,783. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the number of deaths statewide is now 1,281, up by 205
Michigan Farm Bureau is asking Governor Whitmer to make a change to the expansion and extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order to allow garden centers to reopen. MFB says over 32,000 messages were sent to
The St. Joseph City Commission will be the latest area governmental body to move its meetings to the virtual world on Monday night. The commission canceled its last regular meeting on March 30 due to the COVID-19
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is creating the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to try to figure out why the virus is impacting African-Americans at higher rates than other races. “The task force will start meeting this
Traveling to anyone’s home except your own is now banned in Michigan starting Saturday and going through the end of the month. That’s among the changes to the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order issued by Governor Whitmer
Several health insurance companies have agreed to waive costs associated with the treatment of COVID-19. The State Emergency Operations Center has released the following statement: The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) announced that the
High water levels on the Great Lakes have caused over $37 million in damage to county roads. The data being released by the County Road Association of Michigan from a survey of 38 responding counties. Director Denise
Berrien County now has 80 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday afternoon, and the Berrien County Health Department says at least 35 have recovered. The number of cases in the county rose by eight on Thursday.
The changes announced by the governor to the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order are not necessarily being well received by some lawmakers. In Berrien County, state Senator Kim LaSata and Representative Pauline Wendzel have issued statements saying
Volunteers are needed in Berrien County to help the coronavirus response efforts. Gillian Conrad with the Berrien County Health Department says it’s being coordinated by the United Way of Southwest Michigan. “At this moment, there aren’t necessarily
The “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order in Michigan is now in effect through the end of the month. Governor Whitmer today extended the order, set to expire next week, until April 30. It directs everyone who is
As lawmakers in Washington consider how to help bolster the economy during this coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan has proposed raising the pay of essential workers like healthcare and grocery workers. “The proposal I’m
Steve Miles is being honored by the Rotary Club of South Haven as its Rotary Hero for this year. The Rotary Club says he’s been an active Rotarian since 2018 and in a short time has “faithfully
Even during a pandemic, crime continues. The St. Joseph Township Police Department says they’re investigating after 12 cars were broken into early Wednesday morning in the Fairplain area. Two juveniles were arrested, but officers don’t think they
The Benton Harbor City Commission is set to hold a public hearing on a proposed special use permit for a medical marijuana provisioning center on Tuesday, May 5, just under a month from now. Redbud Roots is
The number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan is now 20,346, up 1,376 from Tuesday. The increase is more than 400 fewer than the day before. The number of deaths statewide has risen from 845 to 959, up
Berrien County officials are continuing to stress the need for people to adhere to the governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. Health Department Health Officer Nicki Britten says that’s because COVID-19 can be very easily spread, and
An Elkhart, Indiana man is hospitalized after hitting a deer while on his motorcycle in Cass County early this morning. The sheriff’s department says 42-year-old James Craft hit the deer on M-62 near Pine Lake Street in
A 46-year-old Benton Harbor man is recovering at home after being treated and released from Spectrum Health Lakeland for a graze wound from a shooting at the Blossom Acres Housing Project in Benton Township. Police say the
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Community Engagement and Advisory Committee has released its list of recommendations for turning the district around. During a virtual meeting Tuesday, Michigan Deputy State Treasurer Joyce Parker read the state-created committee’s assessment
From the Associated Press — Chicago’s mayor pledged an aggressive public health campaign aimed at the city’s black and brown communities amid alarm that black residents make up an overwhelming number of those to die of COVID-19.
The National Federation of Independent Business is applauding an announcement by Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey that a taskforce is being formed to look at safely reopening some businesses around the state. NFIB Michigan Director Charlie
