From the Associated Press — Michigan drivers will be required to slow down when passing an emergency, maintenance or utility vehicle that is on the side of the road. A law signed Thursday by Governor Rick Snyder mandates
Downtown St. Joe will be set alight tonight with the Luminary Festival. St. Joseph Today’s Tess Carragher tells us this is the 24th annual event. “We have over 1,000 luminary bags that line the downtown streets,” says
Michigan State Police say the body found on the Lake Michigan shore this week in Casco Township came from the other side of the lake. The body is that of 59-year-old Daniel Sprecksel of Racine, Wisconsin, and
St. Joseph has lost one of its most prominent benefactors, as John Howard has died at the age of 99 in Holland. It’s hard to miss his name on things like the John and Dede Howard Ice
There is a possibility that Red Arrow Highway between about Bridgman and New Buffalo could go from four lanes to three lanes in the coming years as part of a repaving project, and some Berrien County Commissioners
The winner of Celebration Cinema’s 2018 Celebrated Service Award is Sophia’s House of Pancakes in Benton Township. Each year, the theater chain’s employees nominate businesses for the honor, and then the public votes on the winner. A
Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey this week laid out to some members of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners highlights this past year for the parks department. He tells WSJM News parks revenue was up this
The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan has received a donation from the Benton Harbor-Fairplain Lions Club that now has triple its original value because of the ongoing capital building fund. Humane Society General Operating Manager Alissa Saul
From the Associated Press — Michigan residents will be able to use the internet to register to vote under laws signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The measures enacted Thursday require the state to develop an interface so voter
Two meetings are set for next month for the Pokagon Fund to tell the public about its Harbor Country Community Needs Assessment study. The Pokagon Fund worked with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan and others
By Doug Cunningham An innovative new Medicaid program allows Michigan to negotiate with drug companies to potentially lower the costs of innovative and costly new drug therapies. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services just gave
A chief deputy has been hired for the Berrien County Register of Deeds. Register of Deeds Lora Freehling tells us Cindi Connell joined the ROD office this week. She comes to the office with eight years of
Too many foster youth in Michigan struggle in their transitions to adulthood, trying to go to school, get a job, and find a place to live, according to a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
A new partnership is in place between Benton Harbor Area Schools and Western Michigan University. Benton Harbor Area Schools CEO Robert Herrera made it official this week, bringing in WMU to provide training to district teachers and
Party doesn’t matter when it comes to one of the top legislative issues: bringing down the state’s high auto insurance rates. Members of both parties have identified it as their main concern going forward. Incoming House Speaker
Andrews University has announced a new formal partnership with the government of Ghana. At a meeting this week, Andrews President Andrea Luxton signed the agreement with the Ghana ambassador to the United States to create educational opportunities
UPDATE — Police say the woman has been located. Original story: Police are looking for a Granger, Indiana woman who went missing in Michigan this week. 55-year-old Dawn Marie Smith was last heard from by phone on
Michigan State Police are investigating the discovery of a body on the Lake Michigan shore in Allegan County. The body was found north of South Haven around 8 a.m. Wednesday, and investigators say it appears to have
South Haven Public Schools is going with Kevin Schooley as the new superintendent. The board of education voted unanimously to hire him away from the same job in Watervliet to succeed Robert Herrera. Herrera left to become
The new code of conduct for students at Benton Harbor Area Schools is now officially in place. At Tuesday’s CEO meeting, district CEO and Superintendent Robert Herrera signed off on the plan that he tells WSJM News
The Bridgman Police Department has put out a warning about a phone scam. It says it’s been getting calls from local reisdents who have been contacted by someone claiming their children or grandchildren have been arrested. The
Raises have been approved for teachers at Benton Harbor Area Schools. At Tuesday’s district CEO meeting, Superintendent and CEO Robert Herrera made it official for most of the school system’s teachers. He told WSJM News they’re getting
The Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor is ready to begin renovations on its Arts District building now that it’s completed the location’s purchase. Ghostlight’s Martha Hesse tells WSJM News thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, they now
This Thursday is the Great American Smokeout, when smokers are urged to give quitting a go. The Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News 17% of Berrien County residents are still smokers, which is a
The Michigan Department of Transportation is ready to go for the winter. Spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News construction projects in southwest Michigan, especially Berrien County, look like they’ll all be wrapped up before the end of
By Doug Cunningham Creating economic development while balancing the needs of companies, communities, governments and working families is a big job. It’s a job the Cornerstone Alliance has been doing for 30 years in Berrien County. Rob
State Representative Mary Whiteford of Casco Township has been selected as the Republican Assistant House Majority Floor Leader for the next legislative session. Whiteford tells us she’s glad to have moved up into a new leadership position.
Some Michigan communities are already saying no to marijuana businesses after voters approved the use of the drug for people 21 and older. The St. Joseph City Commission voted prior to the election to opt out, and
We all love our pets and despite our best efforts to keep them safe and secure sometimes they escape outdoors. That’s one reason the Al-Van Humane Society and Community Education Center is having a free microchipping clinic
The St. Joseph City Commission is expecting to have the draft of a non-discrimination ordinance on the table within the next three months that would provide legal protection in the city for LGBTQ residents. Mayor pro tem
