The federal Office of Management and Budget has decided not to change the definition of a metropolitan statistical area, meaning several communities in Michigan are no longer in danger of losing out on some funding. That includes
The National Weather Service is warning of dangerous conditions on Lake Michigan on Thursday, with waves that could reach three to six feet. The forecast comes as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is considering issuing fines
Think you’re getting bitten by more mosquitoes lately? You’re not imagining it. Michigan State entomology professor Ned Walker told Michigan News Network we have had a surge in the mosquito population in the state. “It’s a result
From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed off on a $17.1 billion K-12 budget Tuesday in Grand Rapids, a 10% increase in overall funding that aims to close a decades-long funding gap among school districts
From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is asking the White House for a disaster declaration to secure federal aid to deal with damage from last month’s flooding in southeast Michigan. Parts of the region
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education will work with the Michigan Association of School Boards to create a strategic plan for the district. During a Tuesday meeting, Superintendent Andrae Townsel asked trustees to select a
From the Associated Press — Forced by a court order, a state board has certified a petition drive to repeal a Michigan law that was used to set major restrictions during the early months of the coronavirus
The St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education has outlined for the community its return to learn plan for the fall. Reading a statement during this week’s meeting, board President Barry Conybeare said the plan is to
The 47th annual Steve’s Run at Southwestern Michigan College will be back in person this year, and moved to a new location. Last year, Steve’s Run was virtual. This year, it will be in downtown Dowagiac. SMC
Utility work starts this week along part of Napier Avenue in the Benton Township area. The Berrien County Road Department says the water system work will mean lane closures and traffic could be delayed at times. The
Michigan Works of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties has been awarded a $2 million grant for workforce training. The money comes from the Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program within the Michigan Department of Labor and
A new study shows that since Michigan relaxed their fireworks laws, the number of serious accidents has doubled. The research comes from the University of Michigan and was lead by Dr. Kevin Chung, a hand surgeon. “I
Christmas lights in the city of St. Joseph will be paid for this year by the city instead of the Downtown Development Authority. The city commission gave unanimous approval to spending the $27,000 through the capital improvement
Some normalcy is back in the city of St. Joseph, as the city commission has held its first in-person meeting since March 2020. Mayor Mike Garey opened the meeting with a thank you. “I would just like
It was a packed house at Monday’s meeting of the St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education as residents came out to learn more about the district’s new strategic plan. There has been commentary on social media
From the Associated Press — Michigan Republicans’ attempts to add an ID component to absentee ballot applications and to institute signature verification at polling places have died in the GOP-led Legislature. Representative Ann Bollin says she and
South Haven Rotary President Dan Thompson has been named Rotarian of the Year by the organization. The Rotary says Thompson was picked for the honor due to the work he did throughout the worst of the pandemic.
The city of Coloma will be celebrating Christmas in July this coming Saturday. Mayor Marsha Hammond tells WSJM News with the Glad Peach Festival canceled for the summer, the city wanted to give people other reasons to
There will be an Adopt a Highway cleanup event this Saturday. The Michigan Department of Transportation says its volunteers will be on the sides of highways picking up trash throughout southwest Michigan, and drivers should watch out
From the Associated Press — Scientists say wolf pups have been spotted again at Isle Royale National Park. And that’s a hopeful sign for efforts to rebuild a gray wolf population that had nearly died out. Crews
A health expert from the University of Michigan says getting more people vaccinated against the coronavirus is more important than adding a booster shot. Dr. Arnold Monto, who sits on the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory council,
To keep the Mackinac Bridge in tip-top shape, the Bridge Authority is preparing a major deck replacement project that would begin in the year 2033 and finish in 2050, just before the existing deck reaches the end
If you like to play the Michigan Lottery’s Powerball game, you’ll have another day to play soon. “The Multistate Lottery Association oversees Powerball and made the decision to go to a third drawing to differentiate the game
Andrews University is planning a Congress on Social Justice for this fall. Chair of the planning committee Willie Hucks tells WSJM News they’re going to welcome guest speakers to explore several areas in which society is broken,
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has announced some new changes in branch offices intended to eliminate a backlog of appointments that built up during the pandemic. Benson said Wednesday her office is hiring additional staff and
Three teenagers are hospitalized after a rollover crash in Porter Township in Cass County. Deputies from the sheriff’s office say 17-year-old Emily Avery of Three Rivers went off southbound M-40, overcorrected, and hit the embankment and caused
Police have a 36-year-old Hartford man in the Berrien County Jail for several outstanding warrants after being pulled over by Watervliet police. Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies asked for their help after Dane Webster drover into Berrien
A 54-year-old Benton Harbor man has died after being hit by a vehicle when he was in his wheelchair on East Empire in Benton Township. Michael Swanigan was in the westbound lane of Empire, traveling east, in
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has announced more than $14 million in grants around west Michigan to bolster mental health programs, including a grant of $3.8 million for Berrien County. The grant to the Berrien County Mental Health
Benton Township police are investigating the shooting death of 27-year-old Demarco Scales of Benton Harbor. He was shot at a large party just after 3 a.m. Sunday and died at Spectrum Health Lakeland. Police were called to
