Local News Archives

There will be no HarborFest this year in South Haven. The HarborFest Committee has decided to cancel the event and say they will return “strong in 2022 with amazing music, vendors, activities and fun that everyone has

Ford Field in Detroit will become a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Monday. Detroit Lions president and CEO Rod Wood says they’re proud to take part. “Over the next eight weeks, Ford Field will become not just

The executive director of Market Van Buren has been named one of the nation’s 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 awardees. Zack Morris got the honor during a virtual ceremony held this week. The awards program is

State Representative Beth Griffin is hailing Michigan House passage of legislation designed to increase access to broadband internet in rural areas. Her bill exempts broadband equipment from personal property taxes when a provider installs it in areas

Work is underway in the U.S. House on some immigration bills this week. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News one addresses the status of Dreamers, or those brought into the country illegally when children and who now

The former board president of the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan says it’s in the best interest of the organization and the animals to bring back Jill Svoboda as the executive director. Svoboda resigned in February after

Michigan is reporting 3,164 new cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services coronavirus dashboard shows Michigan has had a total of more than 615,000 COVID cases since the start of the

From the Associated Press — Advocates for open government have unveiled the specifics of their ballot proposal to open Michigan’s governor and lawmakers to public-records requests. Michigan is one of only two to wholly exempt the governor’s

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is once again warning Michiganders about the dangers of scammers trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her office has released the following: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today warned Michiganders again to

Whirlpool Corporation’s Jeff Noel will serve as a co-interim CEO for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as they seek a new leader in a national search. Noel is currently the vice chairman ofthe MEDC and will lead

From the Associated Press — Republican senators critical of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic are weighing whether to reject her appointee to run the state health department, which has issued orders restricting business

The COVID-19 vaccination effort in Berrien County is ramping up. Speaking during a Tuesday update, Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel said the supply is improving. “The vaccine is becoming more plentiful,” Hamel said. “As you heard,

With COVID-19 vaccine eligibility opening up to more people in Michigan soon, Congressman Fred Upton is encouraged to see light at the end of the tunnel. He tells WSJM News Michigan is going to be one of

South Haven Public Schools will hold a meeting this week for residents of the area to learn about a bonding proposal set to appear on their ballots May 4. The district is seeking $34.8 million for what

Michigan is reporting 2,048 new cases of COVID-19 for Tuesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services coronavirus dashboard shows Michigan has had a total of more than 612,000 COVID cases since the start of the

The pandemic has exacerbated the struggles of low-income Michiganders, including the severe housing cost burden faced by many renters. New funding can help ease that burden, including $622 million available through the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Berrien County Health Department is preparing for more residents to become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. It has released the following: The Berrien County Health Department and Spectrum Health Lakeland, along with area federally qualified health centers

Former Paw Paw insurance agent Brian Lietzau will spend three years on probation and serve six months of house arrest after pleading no contest to embezzling from a vulnerable adult. The 60-year-old will pay roughly $70,000 in

A 21-year-old Holland man is facing two felony charges for threatening to kill President Biden, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Joshua Docter turned himself in today (Tuesday) and was arraigned on a

From the Associated Press — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has declined Republicans’ request to investigate whether nursing home orders issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer led to COVID-19 deaths or if related data is inaccurate, citing a

The Michigan Department of Treasury has announced some grants will be available to financially distressed cities in Michigan. The department has released the following: Cities, villages and townships experiencing financial struggles can now apply for a grant

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved some minor changes for a couple of streets as part of ongoing planning. During a Monday meeting, the city commission approved a request to the Michigan Department of Transportation that East

The Michigan Department of Transportation has gotten recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers for its use of a new method of inspecting bridges. MDOT spokesperson Dan Weingarten tells WSJM News the agency has been using

The Michigan Department of Labor and Opportunity says the response to the state’s new Michigan Reconnect program has been strong. In fact, acting Director Susan Corbin tells WSJM News it’s been “incredible.” “We announced today that so

A 73-year-old Benton Township woman is dead after being struck by a vehicle on Monday. The Benton Township Police Department says it happened at Cinema Way and Orchard Crossing shortly before 11:30 a.m. Officers arrived to find

New COVID-19 cases to be identified in Michigan for Sunday and Monday total 3,143. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that works out to an average of 1,571 per each day. The state also

From the Associated Press — Michigan appears poised to amend a 1,000-patron limit so more Detroit Tigers fans can attend home games on Opening Day and after. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office said Monday that the state health

From the Associated Press — A newly published report says powerful wind gusts linked to global warming are harming water quality in Lake Erie and perhaps elsewhere in the Great Lakes. The study by scientists at Canada’s

This is Sunshine Week, a time to promote access to public information in government. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson calls it “disgraceful” that Michigan is ranked 50th of 50 states in government transparency. “That’s why two years

The Michigan Department of Transportation resumes work this week on connecting US-31 to I-94. On Saturday, crews will begin rebuilding the Main Street or the I-94 Business Loop between Crystal Avenue and I-94 in Benton Township. The