A non-discrimination ordinance will take effect next Thursday in St. Joseph to specifically protect the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. The city commission unanimously passed the change on Monday after a few months of discussion. Mayor
A $275,000 renovation project is underway at the historic Chapin Mansion in Niles. Niles History Center Director Christina Arseneau tells WSJM News a crowdfunding effort to secure a state matching grant for part of the work has
State Representative Beth Griffin says there’s zero chance the Michigan House will approve the 45 cent gas tax increase proposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. We asked the Republican lawmaker from Mattawan what should be done to raise
Registrations are now being taken for Skywarn training in Berrien County. The Berrien County Office of Emergency Management says Skywarn is a program that teaches anyone how to spot signs of severe weather. The volunteers then become
From the Associated Press — A newspaper reports the Michigan State Police’s Statewide Network of Agency Photos has grown to nearly 50 million facial images. The Detroit Free Press reports the Secretary of State’s Office has been
From the Associated Press — Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents potentially affected by a health care data breach are being urged to take extra precautions about their personal information. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Department
Indiana Michigan Power is launching a new program for the owners of electric cars to save money on charging them. It says those customers can now get lower rates by charging their vehicles during off-peak hours using
For the third straight year, President Trump’s proposed budget includes steep cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The funding was zeroed out in his first two budgets, only to be restored by Michigan’s congressional delegation. Senator
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash of a semi in Newberg Township. Deputies say the driver, 50-year-old Katherine Aris of Ypsilanti, fell asleep behind the wheel just before 6 Sunday morning on M-60 and
A non-discrimination ordinance with specific protections for the LGBTQ community is on the agenda for final approval tonight by the St. Joseph City Commission. Slight changes have been made since the first reading of the NDO two
A three-bill legislative package has been introduced in the Michigan House aimed at allowing high school students more flexibility to pursue career and technical training. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News her piece of the
Benton Harbor City Commissioners have agreed to grant easements to the Berrien County Drain Commissioner for city-owned properties along Ox Creek. At Monday’s meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats said the move was the first step toward
More than 500,000 elderly Americans experience abuse each year, and that’s why Michigan State Police are reminding everyone of the warning signs. MSP Trooper Holly Higgs of the Niles post tells WSJM News the abuse isn’t always
The Berrien County Health Department says it will continue to provide water filters to residents of Benton Harbor as the city works to rid itself of lead issues. Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News they’ve
Former state Senator John Proos is ready to talk about what he’s doing next. Proos left office last year after 14 years in Michigan government. He told WSJM News on Monday he’s started a consulting firm intended
The Insurance Alliance of Michigan says now is the time for auto insurance reform. Director Tricia Kinley tells us the issue has attracted support from state lawmakers of both parties, and she’s optimistic this time. Kinley says
A citizen-led initiative has meant the donation of 22 kits for treating serious bleeding emergencies to South Haven Area Emergency Services and the South Haven Police Department. South Haven Area Emergency Services tells us the kits will
Plans are underway in South Haven for the city’s sesquicentennial. It was 150 years ago in 1869 that South Haven became a village. Groups of community leaders have been meeting in recent months to discuss celebration possibilities.
A Dowagiac man has been honored by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Elders Council for his efforts to help the community. Brian Antisdel, a Pokagon citizen, received an eagle feather at a recent ceremony led by a
The Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant has received a $42,000 rebate from Indiana Michigan Power for its efforts to increase energy efficiency. Plant Manager Tim Lynch tells WSJM News the plant in November completed the
A program that connects Michigan students with job skills and employment could be on the chopping block. State Representative Beth Griffin tells WSJM News when she got a look at Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget for the
Due to daylight saving time this weekend, police and other safety agencies are reminding all drivers to be extra careful about pedestrians with the start of a new week. Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning spokesperson Kari
A consulting firm out of Southfield that has helped Detroit Public Schools Community District reduce student losses could soon be helping Benton Harbor Area Schools do the same. Eric Foster with Banks and Company told school board
The new three-year asset management plan of the Berrien County Road Department is now online. The plan covers all aspects of the road agency’s resources and lays out improvement plans for the roads over the next three
From the Associated Press — Advocacy groups are lobbying Congress to pump more money into programs to protect Great Lakes water quality. More than 100 representatives of organizations in the region are in Washington, D.C., this week
Michigan would stay on Eastern Standard Time year round and ditch the twice-annual time change under a bill from a northern Michigan lawmaker. Representative Michele Hoitenga is proposing the change, which would make the state the third
No specific reasons were laid out for the resolution, but the Benton Harbor City Commission has voted “no confidence” in City Manager Darwin Watson. At a hastily-called special meeting Thursday which was unable to be attended by
When Berrien County communities seek grants to improve parks, they’ll have support from the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. At this week’s meeting, the board approved a resolution stating its backing for those projects on the grounds
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education is looking to turn the school district around, and it took the first step at a meeting on Thursday. Last week, the board was told it’s facing a possible
A Stevensville woman who has been seeking to avoid tax foreclosure while being treated for breast cancer is getting some of the help she needs. Shannon O’Brien came to Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski in December when
