Local News Archives

Health Department Fights Underage Drinking

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Berrien County Health Department is hoping to remind all parents and young people about the dangers of underage drinking. The department’s Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells WSJM News the brain doesn’t stop

Lampricide To Be Applied To Creek

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be treating Rogers Creek in Van Buren County this month for sea lamprey. They’ll apply lampricide to the creek between May 1 and May 10. The agency’s Scott Grunder told

MI Student Wins National Art Contest

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A Macomb County ten-year-old girl is the winner of a national poster art contest to help find missing children. Michigan State Police Missing Children’s Clearinghouse Manager Jolene Hardesty tells WSJM News more than 2,000 submissions from 17

MI Unemployment Edges Down

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From the Associated Press — Michigan’s unemployment rate declined slightly to 4.7% in March. Figures released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget show Michigan’s jobless rate last month fell from 4.8 % in February. It was

US-31 Work Starts Tomorrow

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The Michigan Department of Transportation is planning some work for US-31 in Berrien County. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa spoke with WSJM News about the project. “We’re going to be doing some concrete joint sealing on US-31 both

South Haven Company Saluted For SAfety

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A South Haven company has been saluted by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or MIOSHA, for its safety record. Albemarle Corporation is now a recipient of the Michigan Voluntary Protection Program Star Award for 2018.

All Clear After School Illness Scare

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After a brief scare last week at the STEAM Academy at MLK, Benton Harbor Area Schools tells us the building has been cleared of illness by the Berrien County Health Department. The district says an illness was

New Rules For Recounts

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From the Associated Press — Political candidates who lose big like Jill Stein wouldn’t be able to seek a recount under legislation nearing the Michigan governor’s desk. The Republican-led Senate voted 27-8 Wednesday for legislation upping the standards

Former Lawmaker Pursuing Lawsuit

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From the Associated Press — A former Michigan lawmaker who was expelled from office amid a sex scandal is asking a court to reconsider her lawsuit against the Michigan House, legislators and staff. The Holland Sentinel reports that

Amtrak Planning Special PGA Train

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Folks from the Chicago-area who want to come to Benton Harbor next month for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will have a new way to do so thanks to Amtrak. Spokesperson Mark Magliari tells WSJM News Amtrak

School Hires Attendance Officials

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Benton Harbor Area Schools is getting serious about maintaining student attendance levels. At this week’s meeting, the board of education approved the hiring of some attendance ombudsmen to make sure students make it to class each day.

Medicaid Work Requirement Advancing

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From the Associated Press — Able-bodied adults would have to complete 29 hours of work, job training or education per week to qualify for Medicaid under a bill advancing in Michigan. A Republican-controlled Senate committee approved the legislation

Bills Aim To Prevent Nassar Repeat

Legislation is being worked on in the Michigan House to help ensure there is never a repeat of the Larry Nassar situation. Although the former sports doctor will be behind bars for the rest of his life,

School Official Talks Homelessness

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A recent report based on numbers from the University of Michigan inaccurately reported the number of homeless students at Berrien Springs Public Schools. So says the district’s special education director. Danny Bartz tells us a report run

School Safety Forum Planned

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A forum for parents of students at St. Joseph Public Schools to discuss safety will be held Thursday night. The district notified parents this week “Creating a Safer School Environment through Prevention, Intervention, and Response” will be

South Haven Robotics Team Gets Boost

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The South Haven Robotics Team is headed to the World Championship in Detroit next week. There was some concern about financing a trip to Detroit for the team but, that concern was put aside rather quickly, according

Line 5 Remains Under Fire

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The Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straights of Mackinac is being inspected by Enbridge. It was shut down on Sunday due to high waves and reopened Monday afternoon. David Holtz is with the Oil and Water

Casino Donates To Autism Center

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The Four Winds Casinos have announced a $30,000 grant for the Logan Center, a non-profit that provides therapy to those with autism. Logan Center Director of Development Pat Roemer tells us Four Winds employees collected the money

Tugboat Blamed For Pipeline Damage

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From the Associated Press — The U.S. Coast Guard says it’s still looking into what caused damage to underwater electric cables and oil pipelines in the channel that connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Cmdr. Shaun Edwards declined

Commission Talks Procedures

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Benton Harbor City Commissioners this week shot down a couple of proposals that would have changed up some of their own procedures. At Monday’s meeting, the commission considered changing a rule which states the mayor gets to