Local News Archives

This weekend will bring the annual Andrews University International Food Fair. The Berrien Springs university tells us it usually gets around 8,000 visitors for the event. This time around, they’ll offer samplings from nearly two dozen ethnic clubs, including the Korean Club, Peruvian Club, Brazilian Club, Indian Club and Haitian Club, among others. Everyone’s invited, and there’s a small fee to get in. The proceeds will go to the clubs organizing the event. The International Food Fair is set for Sunday, April 9 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Johnson Gym on campus.. ...Read Full Story

The Benton Harbor area is losing a couple of retailers. The closures come as a result of cuts at the national level for the two chains. First up, Moody on the Market reports the Family Dollar on M-139 in the Benton Square Shopping Center is shutting down. Its corporate owner is shuttering 20 locations around the country, and six people at the Benton Township location will lose their jobs as a result. There are still several other Family Dollar locations around Berrien county. The other local retailed closing is the Payless Shoes in the Orchards Mall. It’s among nearly 400 Payless locations closing as a result of the parent company’s bankruptcy.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has its eyes peeled this month for drivers who text while behind the wheel. Lieutenant Jim Charon tells WSJM News there’s a nationwide crackdown going on. He reminds everyone about the penalties for texting while driving.. ...Read Full Story

Deputies with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department will be getting some special training next week. Chief Deputy Robert Boyce tells WSJM News they’ll have the Humane Society of the United States on hand to talk about animal cruelty.. ...Read Full Story

Utilities are gearing up to deal with possible power outages as a result of high winds on Thursday. Consumers Energy spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells WSJM News the company brings in hundreds of extra workers when outage situations arise.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of involuntary patients at a Michigan mental health hospital says mandatory overtime for employees is endangering patients. The Detroit News reports the federal complaint argues that the rules lead to exhausted employees who are unable to control some patients’ violent behavior. The lead plaintiff is Alan Teasel, a patient at the Caro Center psychiatric
hospital in Tuscola County. The suit alleges Teasel has observed “increased violence among patients” as residential care aides have been forced to work more overtime shifts. Lawyers are seeking class-action status to cover the center’s more than 600 patients. The lawsuit says changes would also protect employees. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services runs the center. A spokesman says the agency can’t comment on pending litigation.. ...Read Full Story

High winds are expected around southwest Michigan for the next day or so. WNDU Meteorologist Mike Hoffman tells WSJM News they’ll be the kind that usually arrive with a severe storm, although he’s not expecting rain or thunder.. ...Read Full Story

Four people have been arrested over the break-in to a business in Niles. Local police tell us officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at Schrader Metal on Tuesday when a neighboring business owner spotted four people trying to force their way in. When officers arrived, they found the suspects. They are one adult, identified as Branden Himminger, and three juveniles. All four confessed to breaking into the business and doing significant damage in the process. Some of them also admitted to breaking into Simplicity Pattern on two different occasions in March. Police say thousands of dollars of damage was done in those break-ins. Charges are being sought against all four.. ...Read Full Story

Tuesday marked Equal Pay Day, the day that symbolizes how far into the new year a woman must work to equal a man’s wages from the previous year. According to a new report, the goal of pay equity still is decades away in Michigan. Julie Anderson, with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, tells us in addition to a shift in policies, the state and the country will need a cultural shift in order to really make a dent in the wage gap.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor Area Schools will see a reduction in Title II grant funding next year. Due to changes in the federal program, Curriculum Director Patricia Robinson tells WSJM News the district will get a significant hit.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The Lansing City Council has voted to designate Lansing as a sanctuary city for immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. The resolution was approved unanimously Monday night. Lansing had already deemed itself a “welcoming city” and doesn’t have its police department ask people for their immigration status except as required by federal or state law or court decision. Mayor Virg Bernero before the meeting released a related executive order spelling out the city’s policies. President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw federal funding from sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Bernero said he is confident that Lansing’s policies don’t violate federal law, but “we are also prepared to take legal action to protect the prerogatives and powers of local government and local law enforcement.”. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a property destruction spree in Niles. It says there were about 32 incidents reported between February 27 and March 31 around the Niles Township Fulkerson Park area. They involved damage to mailboxes, smashed vehicle windshields, slashed tires, and damage to satellite dishes. Crimestoppers is offering to pay up to $1,000 for information leading to whoever is responsible. You can reach Crimestoppers at 1-800-342-STOP.. ...Read Full Story

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Berrien County Health Department is working to spread the message about the dangers of its abuse. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells WSJM News alcohol use among young people is the particular concern. She says it leads to all sorts of problems.. ...Read Full Story

Southwestern Michigan College is planning to offer classes in the Potawatomi language this fall. This is the first time the college has ever taught Pottawatomi, and the move is in response to some local requests to help keep the language alive. The SMC class will be taught by Tribal Elder Kevin Daughtery, who also taught two trial classes this year. The classes will be open to anyone, and they will fulfill a humanities requirement and also used to satisfy part of the world languages requirement at local high schools. SMC says the decline of Potawatomi started in the 1830 when bands except the Pokagons were removed to Oklahoma and Kansas. The Potawatomi language is a subgroup of the Algonquin family, related to Ojibwe and Odawa.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor School Trustees continue to hammer out their partnership agreement with the state. The district wants to seal the deal by the end of April to keep three previously-targeted buildings open, and School Board President Joseph Taylor tells WSJM News there’s a back and forth going on over the final draft of the partnership.. ...Read Full Story

A fire truck has been donated to the Van Buren County ISD firefighting program, thanks to South Haven Area Emergency Services. Director Ron Wise tells WSJM News the 1980 Ford truck can help the students train in several ways. Local fire departments are big supporters of the tech center program.. ...Read Full Story

The race is down to 8 in state Senator John Proo’s annual Southwest Michigan Spirit Tournament. He tells WSJM News, each year, his office takes photo submissions from different schools throughout his district to find out who’s the most proud.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Public Service Commission is planning a couple of sessions for next month to hear the public’s thoughts on the proposed closure of the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert. Spokesperson Judy Palnau tells WSJM News all three public service commissioners and an administrative judge will be on hand.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is calling on the director of the Office of Management and Budget to express opposition to large cuts proposed for the National Institutes of Health. Upton has co-authored a letter with Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette praising the NIH for the work it does to research diseases. They write the NIH “saves millions of lives every year making the basic discoveries that allow businesses to develop new treatments, medications, and cures for patients.” They also cite the economic benefits of having a well-funded NIH. Just last year, Upton and DeGette worked together on securing passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which boosted funding to the NIH. President Trump’s proposed federal budget would slash the NIH’s funding by $5.8 billion, or 20%.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — An Upper Peninsula prosecutor says he won’t file charges following an investigation into the exchange of sexually explicit images among hundreds of high school students. Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese announced Tuesday that
exchanging the images via social media could be considered criminal but did not warrant the filing of charges. Wiese says he’s confident that “parents and school officials will give this matter the attention it deserves.” He says school officials, students and parents have cooperated in the investigation by surrendering phones and other electronic devices so the explicit material could be removed. Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Jay Peterson tells The Marquette Mining Journal  the investigation grew to include hundreds of students from six Marquette County school districts.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Snyder and M-DOT Director Kirk Steudle are introducing a pilot program that he hopes will help the state get better at fixing infrastructure. The plan is to coordinate all the departments that works on roads, sewers, broadband and energy. Snyder says the program will help in areas like the flooding last September.. ...Read Full Story

This July will bring the 20th anniversary of the Old School Blues and R&B Fest at Jean Klock Park, and city commissioners have saluted its organizers. On Monday, they heard from festival promoter Lee Kirsky, who updated them on the plans for this year. Kirsky told WSJM News the spirit of the blues fest has always been the same.. ...Read Full Story

A tweet from White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino, Jr. is urging the primary defeat of Congressman Justin Amash, who is a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus criticized by the president. Oakland University Political Science Department Chair Dave Dulio tells Michigan News Network this latest situation doesn’t help the president.. ...Read Full Story

If you are looking for a fun way to spend your summer, Cedar Point amusement park is hiring 5,000 people. On top of getting paid for the experience, associates receive free admission to both Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Water Park, along with free tickets for friends and family. Spokesperson Kristy Bacni tells Michigan News Network the amusement park is a great place to work.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office is raising awareness this week about the needs of crime victims and all of the organizations that work to help them. Victim Services Coordinator Carolyn Groen tells WSJM News serving those who are directly hurt by crime is a major part of the court system’s job.. ...Read Full Story

A list of goals for the city manager this year has been approved by Benton Harbor City Commissioners. On Monday night, they identified the most pressing priorities as potholes, the sewer and drain lines, and dead trees. They want an immediate plan for dealing with those problems. Mayor Marcus Muhammad told WSJM News he aims for 2017 to be a year of action.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is using the month of April to spread awareness to drivers about the dangers of being distracted behind the wheel. Spokesperson Anne Readett tells WSJM News the numbers for distracted driving crashes are probably grossly underreported because people are reluctant to volunteer such information to police. However, she warns everyone that when you’re driving, your focus should be on the road.. ...Read Full Story

A push is being made to get a hotel for the Bridgman area. Calli Berg, with the Greater Bridgman Area Chamber of Commerce, tells WSJM News they’ve conducted a study and found the area could support a hotel with up to 85 rooms. Not only could tourists use it, but the Cook plant would be well-served, as it routinely brings in thousands of contractors. Berg is now hoping to court developers.. ...Read Full Story

You should have a carbon monoxide detector in your home and make sure your furnace is operating properly. That’s what Debra Dodd, of Consumers Energy, says following the death of a 13-year-old boy over the weekend from carbon monoxide poisoning in Niles. Several others were injured when a fire inspector says a pool heater at the Quality Inn and Suites had improper ventilation. Dodd tells Michigan News Network there are several symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.. ...Read Full Story

A 16-year-old boy from Benton Harbor is charged with kidnapping in the sexual assault of a postal worker on Friday. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells WSJM News the female letter carrier was delivering mail in the area of McAllister Street around noon when the teen allegedly dragged her off to the side of his home and assaulted her. He then went back inside. Benton Harbor Public Safety officers found him there not long after. The teen is now in the Berrien County Juvenile Detention Center with bond set at $150,000. In addition to kidnapping, he’s charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct. If charged as an adult, kidnapping comes with a penalty of up to life in prison.. ...Read Full Story

One man is dead following a fiery crash in Allegan County Sunday. The sheriff’s department tells us deputies were called out to an area near 138th Avenue and 24th Street in Dorr Township shortly after midnight. Initially, the report was about a loud bonfire, but while deputies were still on their way, they got another call telling them it was, in fact, a vehicle on fire. Once firefighters put out the blaze, the victim was found inside. He’s been identified as Robert Miklusicak. Police determined he failed to stop for a stop sign at the T-intersection of 138th Avenue. The vehicle then left the road, hit a tree, and flipped several times. Police are still investigating other circumstances of the crash.. ...Read Full Story

Gas prices have risen to start out the week. AAA estimates the average price around Michigan is $2.45 per gallon, an increase over last week of 15 cents. Gas Buddy’s Patrick DeHaan tells WKZO News crude prices have been rising.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is entering into construction season, and the department of transportation is reminding everyone to drive safely in construction zones. The agency’s John Richard tells Michigan News Network people need to consider the risks of not paying attention in work zones.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Officials in northern Indiana are working to raise money to pave a gap in a recreational trail extending to the Michigan state line. The South Bend Tribune reports that the public can donate on May 9 as part of Give Local, where local charities are vying for dollars. The Bike Michiana Coalition has pledged to match up to $15,000 of whatever is donated to a St. Joseph County, Indiana, parks fund on that day. The newspaper says county officials also could give up to $225,000 in tourism funding to extend the trail. Both efforts would fill some of the final gaps in the 34-mile-long Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail that follows the St. Joseph River from Mishawaka, Indiana, to Niles, Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

It’s the time of year when construction crews and orange barrels spring into action, and that means driving through work zones. Last year in Michigan, there were 4,908 work zone crashes and 17 people lost their lives. Most of those crashes were preventable. Today kicks off National Work Zone Awareness Week, where safety agencies across the nation join forces in an effort to increase awareness about the importance of work zone safety. This year’s theme for National Work Zone Awareness Week is “Work zone safety is in your hands.” They are asking you to show your support by wearing orange this Wednesday, April 5.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan motorists are reminded that One Text or Call Could Wreck It All during national Distracted Driving Awareness Month. For the first time, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is supporting distracted driving enforcement activity for more than 170 law enforcement agencies receiving federal traffic safety funds. Nationally, officers will be stepping up enforcement April 6-10. Director Michael Prince tells our newsroom that many law enforcement agencies recognize that distracted driving is a serious concern in their communities and that it is vital that drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. According to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center, there were 7,516 crashes in Michigan during 2015 involving distracted driving, resulting in 28 fatalities and 3,472 injuries. Cell phones were involved in 753 crashes, with three fatalities and 377 injuries.. ...Read Full Story

It’s been a busy first quarter for St. Joseph Today. This past week, Executive Director Amy Zapal gave her quarterly report to city commissioners, saying the St. Joe Welcome Center has had nearly 3,000 visitors this year. She also went over the events the organization’s had the past three months. Zapal tells WSJM News as more activities are held downtown, even in the winter, the area sees more visitors overall.. ...Read Full Story

The new president at Lake Michigan College will start on April 10. That’s according to LMC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Michael Lindley. He tells us Dr. Trevor Kubatzke, who’s coming to southwest Michigan from Milwaukee Area Technical College, has already moved to buy a house in the area. Lindley says Kubatzke is a good fit and has experience with a lot of the things LMC is doing.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan State Police Cyber Command Center has a few pointers for parents when it comes to their kids and cell phones. First Lieutenant Jim Ellis tells our newsroom you’ve got to know which apps your kids are using. He tells WSJM News predators use messenger services to meet up with young people.. ...Read Full Story

A mentorship program started by the Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor has been such a success that it’s become a model for chapters all around the world. Jackie Huie, the CEO of Johnson Rauhoff, tells us she helped get the program rolling around 2007, when the Rotary started reaching out to professionals in all sorts fields to ask if they’d chat with high school students from St. Joseph. Since then, they’ve expanded to districts all over the area, and about 400 kids have taken part.. ...Read Full Story

Gas prices are expected to be up in Michigan this summer, according to AAA. Spokesperson Susan Hiltz tells WSJM News there are several reasons why they auto club predicts the average price will be up 40 cents.. ...Read Full Story

The Brewer’s Association, a group that promotes the interests of craft brewers around the country, has released new numbers showing continued growth for the industry. It says craft brewers increased production by 6% over the last year and now represent about 12% of the overall beer market. The news is being hailed by Paw Paw Beverage Distributors, which distributes Bell’s, Paw Paw Brewing, and Dark Horse, among others. Brand manager Tom McDonald says he thinks the state’s industry is well-poised for further growth. Michigan boasts more than 200 breweries and brewpubs, making it the fifth largest beer producer in the country.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College will be holding an organ donor registration drive next week. LMC Director of Registered Dental Assisting Julie Uribe tells WSJM News the dental assisting program wanted to get more people signed up to donate in honor of Brenda L. Dickey, of Buchanan. She was an instructor at the dental assisting department who died this year when her body rejected an organ transplant.. ...Read Full Story

Consumers Energy is working to donate as many as 150,000 high-efficiency LED light bulbs to west Michigan food banks throughout the month of April. Spokesperson Brian Wheeler tells WSJM News they’ll donate a bulb every time someone buys one at major retailers around the region.. ...Read Full Story

UPDATE!. ...Read Full Story

Drivers are being warned that I-94 near Hartford will be closed for a couple of hours this weekend. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News MDOT, police, and Indiana Michigan Power will be on hand for a utility project between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University is planning a special 5K run to raise awareness and funds for an organization that works with autistic children. The Autism Speaks 5K is set for Sunday, April 16, and they’re taking registrations now. Autism Speaks is a group founded in 2005 by grandparents of a child with autism. It’s dedicated to finding autism solutions and sponsoring research. It also does outreach on behalf of autistic kids. Proceeds from ticket sales to the run at Andrews will go to the non-profit. Anyone interested in signing up can do so right here. It’s $10 for students and $15 for everyone else.. ...Read Full Story

With the failure last week of the GOP’s American Health Care Act, the debate over how to fix the healthcare system rages on. A national day of action calling for an end to for-profit solutions, including Obamacare, is set for April 8 when Congress goes on recess. Glenn Pearson, former president of Physicians for a National Health Program, says a single payer, not-for-profit healthcare system would be focused on care.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is hoping to spread a message about alcohol abuse throughout the month of April. It’s working with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to make April Alcohol Awareness Month. The theme this year is “Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery.” The goal is to raise awareness about the causes of alcoholism and the ways it can be treated. The health department wants to focus much of the education effort on young people, teaching them about the dangers of excessive drinking. The health department also wants to kick the whole thing off with an Alcohol Free Weekend this weekend. It asks parents and other adults to not drink from March 31 to April 2 to show young people you don’t need booze to have a good time.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Rick Snyder has signed a sweeping package of criminal justice reforms championed by state Senator John Proos. The legislation includes programs to help ex-cons find jobs when they’re released, new partnerships between the corrections department and outside groups to train prisoners, and more ways to help probationers avoid getting locked up. Senator Proos tells WSJM News the plan will make a big difference with several reforms.. ...Read Full Story

Set for Saturday at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center is the first annual Fandom Fest. It’s an event for geeks, kind of like Comic Con, organized by seven local libraries. Bridgman Public Library Director Gretchen Evans tells WSJM News they thought of it at a recent meeting while discussing a similar program done in Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

The owners of the Orchards Mall have bought themselves another year. The 2014 property taxes on the mall in Benton Township were due on Friday, and Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells us they paid them. His office received a check for a little more than $141,000. Witkowski tells us the mall has paid for 2014, but still owes its 2015 and 2016 taxes. Still, the mall won’t be foreclosed this year.. ...Read Full Story

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has announced legislation designed to help the manufacturing industry by requiring the federal government to buy American. She stopped at a military antenna manufacturer in Grand Haven Friday, and told WKZO News U.S. workers are hurt when the feds buy too many goods overseas.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Senate has passed a bill to create a “Choose Life” specialty license plate. The bills sponsor, Republican Senator Patrick Colbeck, says the plate will cost 35-dollars.. ...Read Full Story

For the first time in 60 years the Mackinaw Bridge will get a make-over. James Lake, spokesperson for the Bridge Authority, says one of the iconic ivory towers will be stripped down to bare metal to remove the lead-based paint and then re-painted.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police are warning people to stay clear of crash scenes. First Lt. Michael Shaw says with traffic cameras and the news, many people see their vehicles or what they think is their vehicles in an accident, and rush to the scene.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A driver accused of killing five bicyclists and injuring four others in Kalamazoo County will stand trial on second-degree murder charges. A judge has denied Charles Pickett Jr.’s motion to reverse an earlier ruling that allowed the murder charges. The judge also denied Pickett’s efforts to suppress statements he made to police about the crash. The nine bicyclists were struck June 7, 2016, by a pickup along a rural road in Cooper Township. Pickett also is charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death and causing serious injury.A state police scientist has said Pickett’s blood tests after the crash revealed drugs, including painkillers and methamphetamine.
An April 24 trial is scheduled.The Associated Press left messages Thursday seeking comment from Pickett’s attorneys.. ...Read Full Story

A couple of Michigan cities are in the running for the title of USA Today’s Best Small Midwestern Town. We’ve told you Saugatuck is one of them, but let’s not forget Charlevoix. The town way up along the Lake Michigan coast north of Traverse City is known for its scenic views of the water, says Amanda Wilkin, with the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Charlevoix.. ...Read Full Story