Local News Archives

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident that killed an Elkhart man. The Sheriff’s Office received a call of a subject on the roadway on M51 near Pokagon Highway in Pokagon Township last night. A few minutes later they received another call that a person had been hit by a car. Deputies responded and found that 53 year old Howard Payton, had been fatally struck by a vehicle. The driver, who’s name is not being released at this time due to the fact that she is a minor, was traveling on M51 when this collision happened. She was treated and released by the ambulance on scene. She was wearing her seat belt. At this time, it is unknown if drugs or alcohol may have been a factor. This case remains under investigation.. ...Read Full Story

If you’re thinking about enrolling at Lake Michigan College and would like to know more about living on campus and having the full college experience, then a couple of tours that ought to help you are being planned. LMC’s Doug Schaffer tells us they’re going to take attendees around campus on Saturdays.. ...Read Full Story

Consumers Energy is reminding everyone there’s no need to struggle with heating bills this winter. The utility’s Whitney Skeans tells us there are a variety of places to turn for home heating help. Also, the utility offers payment plans in the winter. Skeans tells WSJM News another way to deal with heating your home in the winter is to take steps to reduce usage.. ...Read Full Story

The new Republican tax proposal has benefits and drawbacks, but it’s mostly a positive. That’s the take of Andrews University Professor Lucile Sabas. She teaches accounting and economics, and tells WSJM News what the House GOP has proposed would make a big difference for businesses.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator John Proos is hailing news that the Michigan organ donor registry now includes more than 60% of adult state residents. Proos tells WSJM News an effort by Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson to increase the number of people signed up has made a big difference.. ...Read Full Story

There were some surprises in this week’s St. Joseph city elections. Two incumbents — Fran Chickering and Mary Goff — lost out to two newcomers, Peggy Getty and Laura Goos. Mayor Mike Garey tells WSJM News that kind of change doesn’t happen often, but he looks forward to working with the new commissioners.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien Springs 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

Now that we’ve changed our clocks for the season, many people will be driving home from work in the dark. That’s why AAA of Michigan wants drivers to be extra alert. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz tells WSJM News 3 in 10 drivers report having driven when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open in the past 30 days. She says now is a time to use common sense. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is hoping everyone in need of health insurance will use this open enrollment period to apply for coverage. Health department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the Affordable Care Act is still in place, along with its subsidies and mandate. The health department will help you.. ...Read Full Story

President Trump’s declaration of the opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency is a good first step, but more needs to be done. That’s according to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who told WSJM News this week Trump’s action left out something needed to fight the problem.. ...Read Full Story

Consumers Energy is reminding everyone there’s no need to struggle with heating bills this winter. The utility’s Whitney Skeans tells us there are a variety of places to turn for home heating help. Also, the utility offers payment plans in the winter. Skeans tells WSJM News another way to deal with heating your home in the winter is to take steps to reduce usage.. ...Read Full Story

The South Haven Police Department wants to help those that are buying or selling items on the internet feel more secure when meeting people they don’t know. It’s working on setting up an E-Commerce Exchange Zone at the police department and Chief Natalie Thompson tells WSJM News what to expect.. ...Read Full Story

The new Republican House tax reform proposal is not getting praise from everyone. Michigan League for Public Policy Legislative Coordinator Rachel Richards tells WSJM News it will benefit high wage earners while leaving low and middle income families in the dust.. ...Read Full Story

Celebration Cinema is now taking votes in its annual Celebrated Service awards. Spokesperson Emily Loeks tells WSJM News the theater chain each year salutes businesses in its service areas that go out of their way to make customers feel special.. ...Read Full Story

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is relaxing one of the rules for its deputies and dispatchers this month. Sheriff Richard Behnke tells WSJM News the office is taking part in No Shave November. They’re doing it to raise money for Domestic Assault and Sexual Abuse Services, which helps local victims.. ...Read Full Story

Now that Benton Harbor is getting its own city income tax, we thought we would check in with a couple of other Michigan cities that have municipal income taxes to see how it’s worked for them. James Freed is the city manager in Port Huron, where the income tax is also 1% for residents and 0.5% for non-residents who work in the city. He tells WSJM News collecting the tax is a simple process.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan House this week voted to allow a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran to continue to use their disabled veteran license plate. Under current law, Michigan residents with a 100% disability rating and an honorable discharge from the military are entitled to a disabled veteran plate. However, their spouses aren’t allowed to keep those plates when the veteran passes away. The new House bill would change that so the surviving spouse will be able to register the disabled veteran license plate in their name and receive one year free registration. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells us the new bill “recognizes veterans for their courage and heroism, and the families that supported them.” The House bill now goes on to the Michigan Senate. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 3.8 million veterans in the United States had a service-connected disability in 2014.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan lawmakers heard testimony this week on bills that will allow CPL holders to carry concealed weapons in schools. State Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof is the sponsor of the legislation and opened the hearing with a statement.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan residents will be able to set up a savings account to help cover the costs of a first-time home purchase under legislation introduced in the Michigan Senate. Co-sponsor state Senator John Proos tells WSJM News the package of legislation would provide a state income tax deduction of up to $5,000 for a single return and $10,000 for a joint return for contributions made into a first-time homebuyer savings account for up to 20 years.. ...Read Full Story

The American Electric Power Foundation has given a $50,000 grant to Lake Michigan College for the renovation of its Grand Upton Hall. LMC tells us the hall, located in The Mendel Center on the Napier Avenue campus, is the largest indoor venue in the region, with more than 50,000 visitors each year. The new renovation will include an updated design and improved functionality to the 14,440 square foot hall and its lobby. The project will also mean new lighting and technology for events and trade shows. AEP tells us it’s helping to support the project because it enhances education and overall quality of life in the community. Construction on the new Upton Hall renovation is slated to start in the summer of 2019. More than $800,000 is going into the work, which is the first large-scale upgrade to the Grand Upton Hall since the 1970s.. ...Read Full Story

Consumers Energy has received a perfect score from the Human Rights Coalition on its 2018 Corporate Equality Index. Consumers spokesperson Roger Morgenstern tells WSJM News the index ranks businesses all across the country on how they treat LGBTQ workers. He says Consumers has many equality programs.. ...Read Full Story

The state of Michigan has been able to collect more than 791,000 pounds of food and $320,000 with its latest Harvest Gathering food drive. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office works with the Michigan Attorney General on the drive each year. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson told Michigan News Network the items go to food pantries.. ...Read Full Story

The Insurance Alliance of Michigan is reminding drivers of the danger that deer pose out on the road. The alliance’s Lori Conarton tells WSJM News deer are a major hazard this time of year with both mating season and hunting season overlapping. That leads to a lot of crashes.. ...Read Full Story

The Silver Beach Hotel in St. Joseph is in hot water with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. It’s going to have its liquor license suspended for nearly three weeks this month after four violations last year. The suspension started this Thursday and runs through November 27.  Liquor Control Commission spokesperson David Harns tells WSJM News the body can either revoke or suspend licenses in these cases.. ...Read Full Story

Police say a 4-year-old boy has died after being wounded in a shooting that left his estranged parents dead. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley said the shooting Thursday morning outside a home killed Julina G. Gibson and Nicholas A. Mitchell and left the child in critical condition. Authorities in Kalamazoo have put out a statement saying the boy, Nicholas J. Mitchell, died Thursday night at a hospital. Police haven’t released details, but described the shooting as a murder-suicide. Gibson’s mother, Linda Newkirk, told reporters the shooting occurred while Nicholas A. Mitchell was dropping off the child after an overnight visit. Newkirk said he shot the boy and Gibson before shooting himself. Newkirk said her daughter and Mitchell had been arguing about visitation of the boy.. ...Read Full Story

Although he’s said he would not run for governor, according to a new poll, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan would beat Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Attorney General Bill Schuette, if he entered the race. Michigan News Network Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick tells us Duggan has some strengths over current Democratic frontrunnmer Gretchen Whitmer.. ...Read Full Story

A man suspected of murdering his mother in Alabama has been sentenced in Van Buren County for a gunfight with police just before his surrender, but he probably won’t do much time in Michigan. Landon Harbin surrendered as soon as he ran out of bullets. Michigan State Police troopers and Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies had executed a felony stop along I-94 near Lawrence because the car he was driving was listed as stolen. No one was hurt in the shootout. Harbin pled guilty to two counts of attempted murder and was given 15 to 50-years for those crimes yesterday, with two more years tacked on for using a gun. The prosecutor in Madison County, Alabama was waiting until the charges in Michigan were dealt with before pursuing extradition. Landon will likely soon be headed back to Alabama, where he has been sought since September 8th for the shooting death of Jana Harbin.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A southwestern Michigan woman and her ex-boyfriend both have been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the deaths of her two young children in an apartment fire nearly 25 years ago. Krysta McFadden and Clint Dunning were sentenced Thursday after being found guilty of two counts each of first-degree murder in the November 29, 1992, deaths of McFadden’s children, 5-year old Amber Rainey and 3-year old Robert Rainey. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports a prosecutor argued McFadden and Dunning set the fire the night before she was expected to lose custody of the children. McFadden and Dunning were tried together during a nearly month-long trial before separate juries in Van Buren County Circuit Court. Defense attorneys said a fire investigator reported there was no proof the fire was arson.. ...Read Full Story

A distinguished Vietnam veteran will be coming to Berrien County next month to share his experience. The Buchanan American Legion’s Larry Money tells WSJM News Captain William Robinson will speak at Michigan Lutheran High School and American Legion in Buchanan. Robinson is the longest-held enlisted American Prisoner of War in history.. ...Read Full Story

A panel created by the governor to reduce the number of mentally ill individuals being locked up in prisons is evaluating information it gathered at a summit in Lansing this week. Michigan Department of Health and Humane Services spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells us several Michigan counties have pilot programs to that very end.. ...Read Full Story

If you’re thinking about enrolling at Lake Michigan College and would like to know more about living on campus and having the full college experience, then a couple of tours that ought to help you are being planned. LMC’s Doug Schaffer tells us they’re going to take attendees around campus on Saturdays.. ...Read Full Story

Cornerstone Alliance has had a chance to show off its new home. At an event this week, Cornerstone unveiled its new headquarters at 80 West Main Street in downtown Benton Harbor. The HQ is possible after a restoration project on the 100 year old building. Cornerstone President Rob Cleveland tells us the facility “will be a catalyst for development throughout Michigan’s Great Southwest.” It features 5,700 square feet of office space that, before construction, were two separate businesses divided by a common wall. There are 12 individual offices, a conference room, a resource center for entrepreneurs on the main floor, and a second conference room. In March of this year, Cornerstone Alliance sold the building at 38 West Wall Street to Mosaic CCDA. In April, it moved to its temporary offices at 53 West Wall Street during the renovation. More than 200 guests were invited this week to the restoration reveal party.. ...Read Full Story

President Trump’s declaration of the opioid epidemic as a national public health emergency is a good first step, but more needs to be done. That’s according to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, who told WSJM News this week Trump’s action left out something needed to fight the problem.. ...Read Full Story

More than 700 volunteers have helped to prepare seniors in Berrien and Cass counties for the winter thanks to the United Way of Southwest Michigan’s annual Rake a Difference Day of Action for Seniors. It happened Thursday. The United Way’s Julee Laurent tells WSJM News the groups raked leaves and cleaned out gutters. That helps seniors stay in their homes for the winter.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Police say a man and woman have died in a murder-suicide and their 4-year-old child is in critical condition. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief Vernon Coakley said the shootings Thursday morning killed Julina G. Gibson and Nicholas A. Mitchell. He said during a news conference that the couple was estranged. Gibson’s mother, Linda Newkirk, told WOOD-TV the shooting occurred while Mitchell was dropping off the child after an overnight visit. She said her daughter and Mitchell had been arguing about visitation of the boy.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan lawmakers have voted to weaken a policy that prohibits oceangoing cargo ships from releasing ballast water at state ports until it has been treated to kill invasive species, despite Governor Rick Snyder’s opposition to the legislation. The Republican-led Senate gave final approval to the bill Thursday, on a mostly party-line 25-11 vote. The legislation would revise a 2005 law requiring saltwater vessels to use state-approved cleansing technology before discharging ballast water, which provides stability in rough seas. Scientists believe invasive species in the Great Lakes arrived in ballast water. Michigan would adopt federal treatment standards under the bill heading toward Snyder’s desk. Supporters say Michigan’s law makes the shipping industry less competitive and hurts state ports. Detractors say the measure would provide less protection for the Great Lakes.. ...Read Full Story

Due to the seasonal surge in ridership, Amtrak is adding extra trains in Michigan for the holidays. Marc Magliari is the rail line’s spokesman and says their trains that go between Chicago and Detroit typically have about 200 people on them.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is back to work after a weekend in Italy attending the wedding of his niece. He says the wedding of supermodel Kate Upton and former Detroit Tigers and now Houston Astros’ pitcher Justin Verlander was quite an affair, held on a private estate in Tuscany.. ...Read Full Story

The state of Michigan has been able to collect more than 791,000 pounds of food and $320,000 with its latest Harvest Gathering food drive. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office works with the Michigan Attorney General on the drive each year. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson told Michigan News Network the items go to food pantries.. ...Read Full Story

There is now a text to 911 program in place in Cass County. The sheriff’s department tells us you can reach 911 with a text message of up to 256 characters, no video or pictures. Texting has become a more popular way of communicating, and Cass County Dispatch says sending a text could be someone’s only option if they can’t speak or are hearing impaired. The sheriff’s department still notes it is a bad idea to send a text message while driving. The text to 911 service now in place in Cass County depends on whether your carrier can support it, and if your text has not gone through, you will get an automatic bounce back message. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department tells us calling, however, is still the preferred method of reaching 911.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is hoping everyone in need of health insurance will use this open enrollment period to apply for coverage. Health department spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News the Affordable Care Act is still in place, along with its subsidies and mandate. The health department will help you.. ...Read Full Story

Now that Benton Harbor is getting its own city income tax, we thought we would check in with a couple of other Michigan cities that have municipal income taxes to see how it’s worked for them. James Freed is the city manager in Port Huron, where the income tax is also 1% for residents and 0.5% for non-residents who work in the city. He tells WSJM News collecting the tax is a simple process.. ...Read Full Story

There were some surprises in this week’s St. Joseph city elections. Two incumbents — Fran Chickering and Mary Goff — lost out to two newcomers, Peggy Getty and Laura Goos. Mayor Mike Garey tells WSJM News that kind of change doesn’t happen often, but he looks forward to working with the new commissioners.. ...Read Full Story

Lincoln Elementary School in St. Joseph has received its National Blue Ribbon Award. Lincoln School is one of just 342 schools nationwide to be recognized this year by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos as a National Blue Ribbon School. Those are schools which the U.S. Education Department says have above average overall academic performance or make progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. St. Joseph Schools Superintendent Ann Cardon, Lincoln School Principal Craig Hubble and Lincoln Kindergarten teacher Heather Bartz this week accepted the award in Washington, D.C. Cardon tells us the award for Lincoln School “represents the efforts of the entire Lincoln School staff and families.”. ...Read Full Story

Celebration Cinema is now taking votes in its annual Celebrated Service awards. Spokesperson Emily Loeks tells WSJM News the theater chain each year salutes businesses in its service areas that go out of their way to make customers feel special.. ...Read Full Story

Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters calling for a federal investigation into the maintenance of the Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge is now asking for state authorization to install 22 new anchors on the pipeline. Liz Kirkwood is with the environmental group FLOW. She spoke with Michigan News Network about Line 5.. ...Read Full Story

A Roaring 20s-themed series of events will be held next weekend in South Haven. The visitors bureau’s Scott Reinert tells WSJM News it’s time for Women’s Only Weekend from Thursday the 9th through Sunday the 12th. That’s when a variety of local businesses hold special events and sales to attract moms, daughters, and grandmas.. ...Read Full Story

A ribbon cutting is planned for tomorrow on a dune restoration project in South Haven. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Chris Martin tells WSJM News they’re celebrating the completion of work at the Syndicate Park Dune.. ...Read Full Story

The South Haven Police Department wants to help those that are buying or selling items on the internet feel more secure when meeting people they don’t know. It’s working on setting up an E-Commerce Exchange Zone at the police department and Chief Natalie Thompson tells WSJM News what to expect.. ...Read Full Story

The people have spoken. After a lively campaign over a city income tax proposal in Benton Harbor, the tax has been approved by voters. The numbers late on Tuesday were very close, with 511 voting yes and 490 voting no. Bryan Joseph with the opposition group Citizens for a Strong Benton Harbor tells WSJM News it was a tough fight, but the the vote is on the books.. ...Read Full Story

Another round of local elections in Berrien County has come and gone, and we have the results from the Berrien County Clerk’s office. Aside from the Benton Harbor income tax proposal on Tuesday, which passed, voters in Benton Harbor also chose one city commissioner. It was an at-large seat currently occupied by Edward Isom, and he will remain in that post, having defeated Jerry Price. In St. Joseph, voters picked three city commissioners. Coming out on top were Michael Garey, Laura Goos, and Peggy Getty. That means incumbents Fran Chickering and Mary Goff have been defeated. In the Lakeshore school district the results were mixed. Voters said yes to a millage renewal, but no to a bond proposal. The vote for the bond was 1,714 no to 1,622 yes. The $21 million bond would have been improve facilities districtwide. Finally in Berrien County, Chikaming Township said yes to a road millage by a strong margin.. ...Read Full Story

The new mayor of South Haven will be Scott Smith. Voters in the city headed to the polls Tuesday, selecting Smith to be the mayor over opponent Paul VandenBosch on a vote of 703 to 389. The next mayor told WSJM News he knows what his priorities are.. ...Read Full Story

The new Republican tax proposal has benefits and drawbacks, but it’s mostly a positive. That’s the take of Andrews University Professor Lucile Sabas. She teaches accounting and economics, and tells WSJM News what the House GOP has proposed would make a big difference for businesses.. ...Read Full Story

Ownership of a piece of road in South Haven has been transferred from the Van Buren County Road Commission to the city. The South Haven City Council on Monday approved a resolution, making it official. The road in question is Phoenix Road from the 73rd Street traffic signal to 71 ½ Street. The city tells WSJM News the transfer of the road should improve coordination of maintenance activities, including snow removal and pavement maintenance. It also says the transfer of the section of roadway will allow the South Haven Department of Public Works greater control of curb cut planning. Any property owners along that stretch of road should now contact the city of South Haven with maintenance questions, and not the road commission.. ...Read Full Story

Consumers Energy is reminding everyone there’s no need to struggle with heating bills this winter. The utility’s Whitney Skeans tells us there are a variety of places to turn for home heating help. Also, the utility offers payment plans in the winter. Skeans tells WSJM News another way to deal with heating your home in the winter is to take steps to reduce usage.. ...Read Full Story

Target has issued a statement on the upcoming closure of the Benton Township store. A spokesperson tells WSJM News the decision to close the Target at 960 Fairplain Drive was not made lightly. She writes Target has a “rigorous process” in place to evaluate each location’s performance on an annual basis. She adds, typically, a Target will be closed “as a result of seeing several years of decreasing profitability.” Target goes on to say eligible employees at the Benton Township location will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other Target locations. Target does have stores in Mishawaka and South Bend. The Benton Township Target will close for good on Saturday, February 3, 2018.. ...Read Full Story