Local News Archives

2017 has been a busy year for Michigan lawmakers, and state Senator John Proos says much of the work has positioned the state for a successful future. Proos tells WSJM News a big focus this year has

If you’ve got a pet, animal experts say you need to be extra aware of its safety in this cold weather. Berrien County Animal Control Director Tiffany Peterson tells WSJM News your dog should not be left

The Michigan Department of Transportation is pointing to a recent bridge project in St. Clair County as an example of how the agency could team up with local agencies and others to make road projects more efficient

AAA of Michigan has seen a 157% increase in calls for roadside assistance this past week with single digit or near-single digit temperatures around the state. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz tells WSJM News your car needs extra care

Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley has signed legislation designed to fight the opioid epidemic in Michigan. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News one of the bills Calley signed Wednesday was her plan to have the

Due to a shortage of skilled trades workers, the number of new homes being built in 2018 is only expected to increase by 1%. Bob Filka, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Michigan, spoke with Michigan

From the Associated Press — Michigan lawmakers are working on a bill to allow out-of-town veterans to buy drinks at clubs run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion. Under current law, veterans from out

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s high court is expected to weigh in sometime in 2018 on whether school districts can ban anyone not in law enforcement from carrying guns onto school grounds. The Detroit News reports that

How did Michigan’s economy fare in 2017 and what’s expected going forward in 2018? Michigan’s economy had a solid 2017 and the head of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is optimistic for 2018. MEDC CEO Jeff Mason

Michiganders can get a jumpstart on their financial resolutions with a series of free financial empowerment events taking place around the state in the coming weeks. Allyson Brooks with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan tells

Molly Pate of Berrien Springs is the winner of the annual Pure Michigan Summer Photo Contest run by the office of state Senator John Proos. Her “Sunset Sail at South Haven Beach” will be displayed at the

Michigan State Police have a warning for the state’s residents with extremely cold temperatures this week. Spokesperson Dale George tells WSJM News it’s a good idea to limit your time outdoors when it’s this cold. A person

2017 was a busy year for Michigan lawmakers, and each is now reflecting on what they feel were the biggest accomplishments. State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton tells WSJM News she is disappointed the Michigan House didn’t

With the 2017 tax year coming to a close, the Michigan Department of Treasury is asking state residents to consider making a contribution to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund. The fund provides scholarships to young adults

The weather in southwest Michigan is expected to remain in or near the single digits for the next couple of weeks. WNDU Meteorologist Mike Hoffman tells WSJM News you can expect the temperature to get into the

From the Associated Press — The state of Michigan is trying to stop a court order that prevents officials from suspending the driver’s licenses of people who can’t afford traffic fines. Lawyers representing the secretary of state have

As 2017 comes to a end, lawmakers in Lansing are looking ahead to next year’s session. Speaker of the Michigan House Tom Leonard tells Michigan News Network an increased emphasis on skilled trades and technical education is

From the Associated Press — Opponents of partisan gerrymandering have filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Michigan, alleging that Republican-drawn congressional and legislative districts unfairly hurt Democratic voters. The suit was filed in Detroit Friday by

Benton Township has approved an expansion project for a local church. The First Church at Benton Heights is planning a new 7,100 square foot building to be located at 990 North Euclid. The church tells us it

Unit 2 of the Cook nuclear power plant is now on its second life. Cook plant spokesperson Bill Schalk tells WSJM News Unit 2 started operating on its renewed license Sunday morning. The unit is now licensed

Eight people have graduated from the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School. They completed their training last week. One of the grads, Brett Negus the Second, told Michigan News Network it was a tough 19

A 28-year-old from Kalamazoo woke up Christmas morning in the Van Buren County Jail after a drug bust in in Almena Township. Van Buren County deputies stopped his car along M-40 and 36th Avenue because of defective

The annual Harvest Gathering food drive run by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office has resulted in more than 10,000 pounds of food being collected. Secretary of State spokesperson Fred Woodhams tells WSJM News branch offices across

Michigan Blood is hoping southwest Michigan residents will step up to contribute blood this month. Spokesperson Mariya Mohrbach tells WSJM News there will be a special drive at the Michigan Blood office in St. Joseph on Wednesday

A new year means it’s a good time to think about cleaning out your medicine cabinet. That’s the message of the Berrien County Health Department as it aims to help reduce the rate of opioid abuse in

With Christmas and New Year’s here, food safety experts are reminding everyone how to avoid illness when they’re partying. USDA Food Safety Specialist Archie Magoulas tells WSJM News making sure foods stay at their intended temperature is

If your house is decorated with festive lights for this holiday season, remember you could probably be saving some money on your energy bills by upgrading. Consumers Energy spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells WSJM News those old C

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph is shut down due to flood damage. The museum tells us major flooding was discovered in the building on December 11. It was caused by an HVAC boiler

The holidays may be a time of fun for most of us, but state Senator John Proos reminds everyone of things they need to do to avoid being ripped off. He tells WSJM News online shopping may

Southwestern Michigan College has received a $250,000 donation to its nursing facility expansion. SMC President David Mathews tells WSJM News Kelly and Karen Rose of Elkhart are both former students. Karen studied nursing at SMC, and Kelly