The CEO of Sturgis Hospital, who executed dramatic cutbacks including the elimination of their birthing and hospice centers, has now also gotten the ax. The hospital board relieved CEO Rob LaBarge of his duties when they met
Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke is stopping short of issuing a travel ban, but is telling people to stay home and off the roads if at all possible today. The county is experiencing near-blizzard conditions with frequent
The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties will host a forum on Berrien County transportation problems next month. League President Marilyn Klawiter tells WSJM News public transportation is sorely lacking in the area. “It’s
Congressman Fred Upton is hopeful another government shutdown can be averted. The deal last week that re-opened the federal government following its more than 30-day partial shutdown was intended to give Congress and the president three weeks
Bridgman Public Schools has gotten in on the craze of turning snow days into viral celebrations. F.C. Reed Middle School Principal John Truesdell passed along a video to us this week featuring a Bridgman Bee mascot engaging
The city of Niles has announced it has closed for Wednesday due to the extremely frigid weather. All non-essential city services, including Dial A Ride, are shut down through at least Thursday. The city manager will decide
The city of Benton Harbor is asking residents to let their water drip until the current round of frigid weather passes. With sub-zero temperatures over the next few days, the possibility of freezing water lines is increased.
A Benton Harbor woman is dead following a weekend crash in Allegan County. The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department tells us it happened around 6:30 p.m. on M-89 at Second Street in Gun Plains Township. Deputies say 25-year-old
Home sales in southwest Michigan were slightly down in December. The Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors tells us December of 2018 sales were down 4% from December of 2017. Also, looking at 2018 as a whole, the
With the dangerously frigid temperatures this week, several warming stations are being announced in the Benton Harbor area, many of them at churches. Among the places where someone can go to warm up are Keep It Real
As of now, one of the highest-profile murder cases in Berrien County’s history is due to get underway next week. It’s the double murder trial of Antwan “Tank” Mims, who was caught in suburban Atlanta, Georgia on
We have a new date for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State address. It had been scheduled for next Tuesday, February 5, but that’s the same night that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President
Schools around southwest Michigan are already calling off classes through Thursday. It’s due to the blowing snow and life-threatening wind chills and frigid air heading in. Along with schools, some businesses are also closing down because of
The woman charged with murder for allegedly plotting the death of her Army sergeant husband on New Year’s Eve is scheduled to be in court today. That, however, is weather-dependent as all Berrien County offices including the
From the Associated Press — Scientists are rushing to salvage a study of wolves and moose at Isle Royale National Park now that the government shutdown is over. Biologists and support personnel typically spend seven weeks every
Normally, we take the time to write news stories and re-work what happens to come in from a press release. This is not going to be one of those times. Here is Governor Whitmer’s press release concerning
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan has received a service dog. “Pawnee” is a 15-month-old female chocolate lab who came to the agency through the Canine Advocacy Program in collaboration with Leader Dogs for the Blind
Income tax filing season is officially underway. The Michigan Department of Treasury tells us starting this week, Michiganders can start filing their 2018 state individual income tax returns online, or they can submit paper forms through the
A Lawton man is facing charges after a weekend arson. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department tells us firefighters were sent to a home in the 29,000 block of 62nd Avenue in Antwerp Township around 7:40 p.m.
From the Associated Press — A Van Buren County police officer who fired five shots at a stolen car has been acquitted of reckless discharge of a gun. A jury returned the verdict on Friday. Chelsey Omilian
She was elected on a promise to “fix the damn roads,” but how that will be done by Governor Whitmer is still up in the air. There have been several reports, notably from the Michigan News Network’s
With temperatures expected to drop below zero in the middle of this week, several warming centers will be opening in Niles. The city tells us UltraCamp on East Main Street will make soup and water available from
A huge fire at a furniture factory in Dowagiac Sunday night remains under investigation. Deputy Fire Chief Robert Smith says six fire departments battled the fire at Ameriwood Industries. Smith says the fire was caused by an explosion
The Chemical Bank name is going away. The Detroit-based financial institution is merging with Minnesota-based TCF Bank, which will keep its name. The new bank will be headquartered in Detroit, and Chemical Financial CEO David Provost says
Due to the winter storm, the city of St. Joseph is postponing tonight’s city commission meeting. The meeting will now be held next Monday night, February 4, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. City manager John Hodgson
All county offices in Berrien and Van Buren counties are closed for the day due to the weather. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says all non-essential workers in that county were sent home at noon. As for
Berrien County Animal Control is urging people to get their pets inside during this storm and the coming extreme cold. Tiffany Peterson is the director of the agency and reminds people dogs can suffer severe health effects
If you have any business that needs to get done at a Secretary of State branch office, you’re out of luck until tomorrow at the earliest. All state government offices, including those branches, are closed for the
Set for this coming week is a breakfast intended to acquaint members of the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce with their representatives in Lansing and Washington. The “Meet Your Elected Officials” breakfast will be Monday at The Hilton
Several fire departments were called to the scene of a fire at Ameriwood Industries in Dowagiac Sunday night. The blaze caused the third and first shifts at the furniture maker to be canceled, according to Moody on the
