Local News Archives

Berrien County Register of Deeds Lora Freehling will spend part of this year going around the county speaking at senior centers. She says her talks will focus on the role of the Register of Deeds and the

The United Way of Southwest Michigan is once again offering tax preparation help now that tax season has arrived. Program manager Vera Sebree tells WSJM News you can get your taxes filed for free if you make

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is planning several volunteer stewardship days at Warren Dunes State Park throughout February. It says you don’t need experience when it comes to helping remove invasive plants from the park. This

The Michigan State Transportation Commission has already approved Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to issue $3.5 billion in bonding to pay for road repairs around the state. The governor announced the move in her State of the State

Coming up in February will be one of the biggest events for lovers of the outdoors held in southwest Michigan each year. It’s the 23rd annual Dowagiac Conservation Club’s Hunter’s Rendezvous on Saturday February 8 at the

All activities at Bridgman Public Schools are canceled this weekend and buildings will be closed Friday due to the flu. The district says on its Facebook page it’s been hit hard by influenza this year. District administrators

A state panel has authorized borrowing $3.5 billion to roughly double spending on state road and bridge construction over five years, hours after Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the plan in her State of the State speech. The

A 72-year-old Oakland County man is under arrest and facing possible terror charges for alleged threats against the Secretary of State. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Mike Shaw says there were two threats made against Democrat Jocelyn Benson.

A Niles man found guilty in 1997 of the 1993 murder of his 15-year-old girlfriend has a chance at being free within the next year. Robert Leamon was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the

(South Bend, IN – AP) – Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has won the endorsement of one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ membership organizations. Equality California and its Nevada partner organization have

From the Associated Press — A group organizing a Michigan ballot drive to protect LGBT people from discrimination says it will begin collecting signatures after state election officials approved the format and wording of the petition. The

It’s official. Ellis Mitchell has been appointed the city manager of Benton Harbor. At a meeting on Wednesday night, the Benton Harbor City Commission interviewed Mitchell. He’s been serving as interim city manager since July. During his

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named a new resident inspector for the Cook nuclear power plant in Bridgman. The NRC says Paul Zurawski will serve in the post. He joined the NRC in 2006 as a Region

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is shifting gears when it comes to her pledge to fix Michigan’s roads. During her second State of the State address on Wednesday, she announced plans to ask the State Transportation Committee to issue

From the Associated Press — A Lansing man who owned medical marijuana shops around Michigan has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison. Marijuana has been legal in Michigan to ease the effects of certain

An effort is underway to bring a program to southwest Michigan to help boys grow up healthier and with more respect for themselves and others. Al Mussman, who used to run Zoup and Biggby Coffee in St.

Arraignment has been held for two suspects in the murder of a Dowagiac man this week. The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office says Justin Carlton and Jay Penar both face open murder charges in the death of 40-year-old

The Disability Network of Southwest Michigan will continue its Winter Movie and Discussion series next month with a screening of a documentary called Far From the Tree. The network’s Miranda Grunwell tells WSJM News the film, based

Lakeshore’s Hollywood Elementary has a little something extra for supplies. Farmers Insurance agent Christopher Thompson gave the school a $2,000 grant this morning during a staff meeting, surprising everyone. He explains how it came to be. “I

Berrien County nonprofit agency GateWay Services is under new leadership. The organization has been working since 1972 in the area to help people with disabilities with job coaching, job development, in-home care, and more. Tami Gould has

From the Associated Press — The Michigan Senate has voted to require that a study be done to assess the feasibility of tolls along the state’s highways. The bill was sent Tuesday to the House for future

Congressman Fred Upton is urging leaders in Washington to discuss ways that wildfires can be prevented. He addressed a meeting of the House Energy Subcommittee on Tuesday, telling members better forest management and electrical infrastructure improvements would

A home in Benton Harbor is a total loss after a fire on Tuesday. The Benton Harbor Department Public Safety says it was sent to 1297 Superior Street just after 3 p.m. on reports of heavy smoke

The Orchards Mall narrowly avoided being shut down this week when its owner paid a water bill to Benton Township in the eleventh hour. Benton Township Treasurer Debbie Boothby tells WSJM News the mall as of Tuesday

Berrien RESA has filed a waiver with the Michigan Department of Education to ask if school districts in the county may start their school years before Labor Day for the next few years. RESA Superintendent Kevin Ivers

Set for next month at the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven is a lecture about the St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouses. The museum’s Ashley Deming tells WSJM News they’ll have Heritage Museum and Cultural Center Community

Michigan will create a statewide mental health hotline under legislation signed by Governor Whitmer. The telephone referral system will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and refer people experiencing a mental health crisis

Life Saving Award presentations by police can sometimes get emotional. That’s just what happened Monday night at the St. Joseph City Commission meeting when Deputy Public Safety Director Steve Neubecker honored Vedette Cordes for saving the life

An online survey is being offered for the public to help review and update Michigan’s Top 10 in 10 strategic education plan. Michigan Department of Education spokesman Bill Disessa says the goal is to get the state