Local News Archives

From the Associated Press — Ford is telling the owners of 33,428 additional Ranger pickups in North America not to drive them because their Takata air bag inflators may present an extreme danger. The company says its investigation has found test results showing that
inflators in the 2006 trucks have a higher risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel than other recalled Takata inflators. Takata uses ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags. But the chemical can deteriorate and burn to fast, blowing apart metal
canisters. Dealers will pick up the Rangers from owners and take them in for repairs. The additional Rangers were built between Aug. 5 and Dec. 15, 2005. Last month Ford told 2,900 Ranger owners not to drive them after finding out that a West Virginia man was killed by an exploding inflator.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A group is launching a ballot drive to boost the use of renewable sources of energy in Michigan. The initiative announced Monday would raise the renewable energy standard to 30 percent by 2030. Michigan now requires electric providers to produce 15 percent of their power from wind or other renewable sources by the end of 2021. Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan needs nearly 253,000 valid signatures. If the Republican-controlled Legislature did not pass the bill, it would go to a statewide vote in November. Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer’s NextGen America group is backing the measure. The Board of State Canvassers will consider the petition’s form Tuesday. Michigan voters in 2012 rejected a ballot initiative that would have ordered utilities to produce 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Strategic Fund has decided to extend Grow Michigan’s funding for two years. Grow Michigan CEO Patrick O’Keefe tells told Michigan News Network this week the organization can step in when banks are unable to offer additional money for a business to grow.. ...Read Full Story

The city of St. Joseph could add life rings to its north pier. At Monday’s meeting, city commissioners heard from U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Lazaro Lopez, who told them it is the Coast Guard’s safety recommendation rings be added at 150 foot intervals starting at the call box. Lopez said an increasing number of people walk the pier since recent lighthouse renovations.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is asking all state residents to keep their fire hydrants clear of snow so they can be seen and reached by firefighters. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News the large amount of snow we had over the weekend has made fire hydrant access a concern.. ...Read Full Story

Now running for the Michigan Senate in the 21st District is state Representative Kim LaSata. She tells WSJM News although she’s still on her first term in the House, she’s ready to move on up. She also thinks her time in the House has prepared her to get work done in the Senate.. ...Read Full Story

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow is once again blasting President Donald Trump on the issue of the Great Lakes. Her office says Trump’s 2019 budget request from Congress almost entirely eliminates funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Stabenow has issued a statement, saying “we can’t take it for granted that others understand how important our water is” and calling the possible move “outrageous.” The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was established in 2010 and provides $300 million per year for the purposes of fighting invasive species, clean-up, and shoreline management. Stabenow’s office says President Trump’s budget only calls for $30 million in funding. She promised to fight the proposed cut, something she and other members of Michigan’s congressional delegation did last year.. ...Read Full Story

You may be tired of the cold and snow in Michigan, but some are loving it. Travel Michigan Vice President Dave Lorenz told Michigan News Network this week snowmobiling, skiing, and ice climbing are all big in Michigan. He says there are cool things to see in many areas, like ice caves.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Archie Van Elslander, the founder of Art Van Furniture and a major Detroit-area philanthropist, has died. He was 87. A statement released by his family says Van Elslander, who was known as Art Van, died Monday. Company spokeswoman Diane Charles says he had cancer. Van Elslander opened his first furniture store in 1959 in East Detroit, now called Eastpointe. There are more than 120 Art Van stores in the Midwest, although most are in Michigan. The business was sold last year to Thomas H. Lee Partners, a Boston private equity firm. Van Elslander is credited with saving Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade. In December, he said he was donating $20 million to expand the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, named for a Roman Catholic priest who is on a path to sainthood.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Kim LaSata is running for the Michigan Senate. The 79th District Republican from Bainbridge Township tells WSJM News she plans to make auto insurance reform, tax relief, and attracting business her priorities if elected. LaSata is still in her first term in the state House, but with state Senator John Proos being term-limited out of office at the end of the year, this is her chance to seek the 21st District position. LaSata already has the endorsements of Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, former state Senator Cameron Brown, and Southwestern Michigan College President David Mathews, all of whom will also serve as co-chairs of the LaSata for Senate Campaign. Also running for state Senate in the 21st District is Democrat and former Hagar Township Clerk Ian Haight.. ...Read Full Story

The deadline to apply for a Frederick S. Upton Foundation grant through the Berrien Community Foundation is quickly approaching. The foundation tells us the date is March 15 for those wishing to receive a grant in during the spring cycle. The Frederick S. Upton Foundation considers grant requests from a wide variety of non-profit organizations but focuses its efforts in Berrien County. This is the first year the Berrien Community Foundation is holding two grant cycles per year. The other will end in the summer. Any organization looking for more information can go to BerrienCommunity.org.. ...Read Full Story

The United Way of Southwest Michigan is taking over the job of connecting people with opportunities to volunteer. The United Way’s Rachel Wade tells WSJM News that means a big change for Volunteer Southwest Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph is planning to reopen to the public next month. Curator Tracy Gierada tells WSJM News repair work is coming along nicely since the museum had to close in December due to flooding caused by the HVAC system. Since then, a crowdfunding campaign to get a new HVAC system has raised $53,000, more than the $50,000 needed to get a match from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hoping fishermen and anyone else who enjoys the great outdoors will act as its eyes when out and about this winter and coming spring. Spokesperson Elyse Walter tells WSJM News the DNR specifically wants to know about fish kills.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Budget Director Al Pscholka is not going to get into the race for the 21st District state Senate seat currently held by John Proos.. ...Read Full Story

Cassopolis vs St. Joseph on Academic Challenge. Watch each Match Live on Thursdays starting at 6pm on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM’s Facebook page from the Signature Community Room.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this month will be some events at Lake Michigan College to help students who are looking to navigate the financial aid system. LMC Financial Aid Director Kemmoree Duncomb tells WSJM News Help Night events will be held at the campuses in Benton Harbor, Niles, and South Haven on Thursday, February 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. The LMC financial aid staff will be on hand to help students fill out applications. Duncomb tells us many students have questions about aid.. ...Read Full Story

The city of Benton Harbor will be working with the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency to administer a home rehabilitation program. That’s following action this past week by the Benton Harbor City Commission. The home rehab program uses HUD money, and it’s been non-functional in Benton Harbor since 2011. City Commissioners previously tabled working with the community action agency on it, but the organization satisfied most with a recent committee presentation. Mayor Marcus Muhammad said at Monday’s meeting the task of helping residents fix housing problems can’t be further delayed, adding the city’s community development director will oversee the program.. ...Read Full Story

A Democrat has joined in the race for Michigan Senate in the 21st District. Ian Haight is a former Hagar Township Clerk and current RESA technology specialist who tells WSJM News he senses the time is right for a Democratic win in southwest Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven City Council has given their approval to a music festival called Rhythm on the River to be held this July at Riverfront Park. Spokesman Ben Holt from Foundry Hall spoke with WSJM News about what’s planned.. ...Read Full Story

The pool belonging to Benton Harbor Area Schools may be cheaper to reopen that previously thought. That’s the message from Trustee Steven Mitchell, who said at this past week’s school board work session he has sought a second opinion on the cost of fixing up the pool at the Charles Gray Community Center. The board was previously told it could cost up to $300,000. Mitchell said he’s been told it could cost less than $50,000.. ...Read Full Story

Another Democrat has jumped into a southwest Michigan political race. Now running for Michigan House in Van Buren County’s 66th District is Dan Seibert, an IT engineer with Perrigo in Allegan. Seibert lives in Paw Paw, and tells WSJM News he wanted to run because he thinks there’s not enough transparency and accountability in state government.. ...Read Full Story

A bill being proposed in Lansing would expand upon the law established in 1976 to pay a reimbursable ten cent deposit on pop and beer cans and bottles. Under the proposal from Kalamazoo Representative Jon Hoadley, the law would be expanded to non-carbonated beverages, such as water and juice bottles that often do not get recycled.. ...Read Full Story

Lory’s Place has a new director. With the recent retirement of Lisa Bartoszek comes the naming of Stephanie Kohler as the new director of Lory’s Place. The organization provides grief counseling for families with loved ones who have been treated at Lakeland. Kohler has served as a family services coordinator at Lory’s Place beginning in 2005 before transitioning to family services coordinator leader in 2016. Kohler says Lory’s Place has “walked alongside thousands of children, teens, and adults since the doors opened in November of 2004,” adding she, too, has gotten help from the organization.. ...Read Full Story

Phase two in the construction of a new park in the South Haven area is now underway. The South Haven Recreation Authority tells us work at the Pilgrim Haven Natural Area throughout this year will include a fence installed along the northern property line, as well as a control gate for the site’s parking area. Once that work is done, the park can be opened to the public. The Pilgrim Haven Natural Area is just north of the Van Buren State Park, and is 27 acres of woods, dune grass prairies, and shoreline along Lake Michigan. It’s to be maintained through a partnership of the recreation authority, South Haven Township, the city of South Haven, and South Haven Public Schools. The current phase should be done this year, allowing for the park to be opened to the public. After that, they’ll start phase three, which is set to include new walkways, pit toilets, benches, and a place to pull out and secure kayaks and canoes.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan State University says it is turning over 45,000 pages of material to a special independent counsel investigating if the school mishandled sexual assault allegations against former doctor Larry Nassar. Pat Fitzgerald, a former Chicago federal prosecutor hired by the university, sent a letter to investigators Friday – the deadline imposed by the state attorney general’s office.
He says the school this week produced about 25,000 pages constituting Dr. William Strampel’s electronic calendar entries. The university on Friday announced its plan to revoke the tenure of Strampel. The former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine told police he never followed up after ordering Nassar to have a third person present during certain treatments. The university says it is producing  approximately 20,000 additional pages of material Friday and will submit more on a rolling basis. Michigan State also faces inquiries from the Legislature, Congress and the NCAA.. ...Read Full Story

Darwin Watson remains the city manager of Benton Harbor. However, at a meeting Wednesday, city commissioners voted down a resolution to renew his contract for one year. At the meeting called by Commissioners Juanita Henry and Mary Alice Adams, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said he thinks Watson has done a good job.. ...Read Full Story

Some state lawmakers want to shift control of environmental rules from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to state-appointed boards, a move environmentalists say would put the fox in charge of the henhouse. Senate Bill 652 would create an 11 member committee, mostly from industry groups like manufacturing, small business, oil and gas, and agriculture, to oversee all DEQ rule-making. And SB 653 would form another board with the ability to modify or reverse DEQ decisions. Peggy Case with Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation tells us there’s a very good reason those industries are regulated by the state.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department wants everyone to know about the risks of hepatitis A as an outbreak of the disease continues in part of Michigan. Health department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the situation is slowly spreading.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker has been named the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Legislator of the Year. The Lawton Republican tells WSJM News she was selected for the honor due to her work on several fronts, including the fight against opioids. She pointed to recent legislation requiring prescriptions for opioids to be checked against medical records in the state.. ...Read Full Story

A program that works with at-risk young people in southwest Michigan has received a $250,000 grant to expand its operations. Youth Solutions, Incorporated is part of Kinexus and an extension of the Jobs for America’s Graduates program. Director Kristin Harrington tells WSJM News Youth Solutions pairs at-risk kids with mentors, working in Benton Harbor, Hartford, and Dowagiac schools to make sure those kids graduate.. ...Read Full Story

It’s Warm Your Heart Month in South Haven with the 18th annual Island Sit at the Phoenix Street Welcome Island set for February 24. We Care’s church partners, community organizations, and area businesses are joining forces to raise funds for people in need of heating bill help, food, medical supplies and more. Rosalie Plechaty of We Care told WSJM News about some ways you can help raise funds.. ...Read Full Story

Friday’s winter storm sweeping through southern Michigan is expected to dump six to eight inches in some areas by the time it’s all done. Mlive Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa told Michigan News Network there are two more waves of snow coming this weekend.. ...Read Full Story

Niles-area job seekers looking for a little extra help in their search for new employment can now stop by the Niles District Library every other Wednesday for sessions with Kinexus. The organization’s Sonya Blanzy tells WSJM News Kinexus sends experts down to the Niles library between 1 and 4 p.m. She says a major thing many job seekers need is help improving their resumes.. ...Read Full Story

The new master plan for the village of Stevensville is now online and available for all residents to review. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Associate Planner Ryan Fellows helped work on the document and tells WSJM News the master plan is designed to guide development within the village for several years to come. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission sent out more than 800 survey postcards to Stevensville residents to ask what they wanted to see in the plan.. ...Read Full Story

The city of Benton Harbor is headed toward the implementation of its new income tax. At a meeting this week, commissioners approved the purchase of computer software to administer the tax at a cost of $65,000. They also approved hiring Secant Technologies to do a security assessment for the city so it can protect the personal information of the people who pay that tax. The cost of the contract is $14,000. City Manager Darwin Watson said there has to be very tight security for handling an income tax.. ...Read Full Story

Across lower Michigan, road crews have prepared for a major snowfall expected throughout Friday. Van Buren County Road Commission Engineer Manager Larry Hummel spoke with Michigan News Network about what they were doing there.. ...Read Full Story

A Niles man is recovering after a single-vehicle crash on Leet Road north of US-12 in Cass County. Deputies say Walter Langheinrich had to be freed from his vehicle by first responders after he lost control, hit a mailbox, and rolled the car. The man had not been drinking and was buckled up. Road conditions, however, are blamed for the wreck. The extent of his injuries hasn’t been released, and authorities did not say which hospital he was taken to by ambulance.. ...Read Full Story

While speaking in Metro Detroit’s Oakland County this week, Governor Rick Snyder continued his call for more road funding. That’s what he’s proposed in his budget plan.. ...Read Full Story

Legislation from state Representative Beth Griffin would establish a grant program in Michigan for counties to maintain veterans service offices. She tells us county veteran officers can connect veterans with the often-confusing benefits system.. ...Read Full Story

Know someone under 40 who is making a difference in their community? Why not nominate them to be one of the 40 Under 40? It’s a new recognition program set up by Moody on the Market. The United Way’s Charlotte Becker, the head of the judging committee, tells WSJM News they’re looking to salute the real go-getters.. ...Read Full Story

State agencies with authority over Benton Harbor Area Schools are reviewing the suspension this week of Superintendent Shelly Walker. The Departments of Treasury and Education have consent and partnership agreements with the school district, respectively. Treasury’s Ron Leix tells WSJM News the agency is aware of the superintendent’s suspension.. ...Read Full Story

With snow expected to slam southwest Michigan for the next day, state police are reminding everyone to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destinations when driving. Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division spokesperson Dale George tells WSJM News there are a few ways to be on top of road conditions.. ...Read Full Story

Another Democrat has jumped into a southwest Michigan political race. Now running for Michigan House in Van Buren County’s 66th District is Dan Seibert, an IT engineer with Perrigo in Allegan. Seibert lives in Paw Paw, and tells WSJM News he wanted to run because he thinks there’s not enough transparency and accountability in state government.. ...Read Full Story

The OutCenter in Benton Harbor is stepping up security following an online threat this week. Director Mary Jo Schnell tells WSJM News one person threw a barrage of hate speech the OutCenter’s way, and then suggested violence. She says the organization takes it seriously, but also wants supporters to show they’re not afraid.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Mary Whiteford is hailing House passage this week of a resolution designed to help get a handle of a form of chemical contamination in Michigan. She says the resolution calls for the state’s PFAS Action Response Team to create a scientific advisory committee to evaluate the Environmental Protection Agency’s current drinking water health advisory level for PFAS chemicals. Whiteford says logic should be applied when it comes to regulating the chemicals.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton wants the federal government to do more to help fight shoreline erosion along the Great Lakes. He’s signed on to a letter sent this week to the Office of Management and Budget and to the assistant secretary of the U.S. Army asking for funding in the 2019 budget for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study. Upton’s office tells us the Army Corps of Engineers has proposed the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study to coordinate a strategy across the Great Lakes states to manage and protect coastlines. Upton says it could lead to better protections for communities like New Buffalo and St. Joseph, where erosion is a concern. In October, Upton sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers asking for it to take action to stop severe erosion in the New Buffalo area. You can find the letter Upton signed right here.. ...Read Full Story

A winter storm bearing down on parts of the Midwest is expected to dump up to a foot of snow on us before it leaves the state Friday night. WNDU NewsCenter 16 meteorologist David Harker says this is not lake effect snow and is coming down from western Canada.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this month will be some events at Lake Michigan College to help students who are looking to navigate the financial aid system. LMC Financial Aid Director Kemmoree Duncomb tells WSJM News Help Night events will be held at the campuses in Benton Harbor, Niles, and South Haven on Thursday, February 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. The LMC financial aid staff will be on hand to help students fill out applications. Duncomb tells us many students have questions about aid.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A new quarter commemorates Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Mint and the National Park Service on Wednesday are holding an event to launch the “America the Beautiful Quarters Program” coin.
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore quarter is the 41st release in the program, a 12-year initiative that honors national parks and other national sites. Each year, five new national sites are being depicted on the tail sides of America the Beautiful quarters. The Pictured Rocks coin shows Chapel Rock and a pine tree that grows atop it. The U.S. Mint is issuing quarters in the order in which the national sites were
officially established.. ...Read Full Story

The pool belonging to Benton Harbor Area Schools may be cheaper to reopen than previously thought. That’s the message from Trustee Steven Mitchell, who said at this week’s school board work session he has sought a second opinion on the cost of fixing up the pool at the Charles Gray Community Center. The board was previously told it could cost up to $300,000. Mitchell said he’s been told it could cost less than $50,000.. ...Read Full Story

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph is planning to reopen to the public next month. Curator Tracy Gierada tells WSJM News repair work is coming along nicely since the museum had to close in December due to flooding caused by the HVAC system. Since then, a crowdfunding campaign to get a new HVAC system has raised $53,000, more than the $50,000 needed to get a match from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.. ...Read Full Story

Following a discussion last week at a community meeting about student discipline and safety, Benton Harbor Area School Trustees heard Tuesday the creation of a Citizens’ Advisory Committee will be placed on their agenda for next week. The talk has been about improving student behavior and ensuring the schools are a safe learning environment following recent fights. School Board President Marletta Seats said at Tuesday’s work session it’s time to bring in other minds.. ...Read Full Story

Darwin Watson remains the city manager of Benton Harbor. However, at a meeting Wednesday, city commissioners voted down a resolution to renew his contract for one year. At the meeting called by Commissioners Juanita Henry and Mary Alice Adams, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said he thinks Watson has done a good job.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven City Council has given their approval to a music festival called Rhythm on the River to be held this July at Riverfront Park. Spokesman Ben Holt from Foundry Hall spoke with WSJM News about what’s planned.. ...Read Full Story

The United Way of Southwest Michigan is taking over the job of connecting people with opportunities to volunteer. The United Way’s Rachel Wade tells WSJM News that means a big change for Volunteer Southwest Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — One of the largest funding increases included in Governor Rick Snyder’s budget proposal would go toward improving court-provided legal defense for poor people accused of crimes. Snyder said Wednesday the $46 million in proposed spending is needed to comply with a law he signed more than four years ago. He told legislators that if people are accused of crimes and don’t have money to hire a lawyer, “they should have a reasonable defense.” The spending would help meet four initial standards approved last year. Those include ensuring that defense counsel is at the defendant’s first court appearance and other critical stages, and that the public defender has resources to retain experts.. ...Read Full Story

The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a flasher who exposed himself to some underage girls last month. It says the indecent exposure incident happened on the afternoon of January 26 at a business near Allegan High School. The suspect, a white male, was driving a red Ford Mustang with black stripes on the hood. The sheriff’s department has released some surveillance photos of the suspect, and ask anyone with information on who that might be to contact them.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hoping fishermen and anyone else who enjoys the great outdoors will act as its eyes when out and about this winter and coming spring. Spokesperson Elyse Walter tells WSJM News the DNR specifically wants to know about fish kills.. ...Read Full Story