Local News Archives

From the Associated Press — Scientists say grass carp have invaded three of the Great Lakes and pose a significant environmental risk. However, they add there’s still time to prevent them from becoming established. Grass carp are among four Asian carp species threatening to reach the lakes, where they could upend ecological systems and compete with native fish for food. A U.S. and Canadian assessment released Friday says grass carp have been found in Lakes Erie, Michigan, and Ontario. At least some are reproducing, although most are believed to be sterile. It’s uncertain how many are in the lakes or how far they’ve spread. Grass carp eat huge amounts of aquatic plants that provide habitat and spawning grounds for other fish. Study leaders say both nations should quickly develop strategies for halting the invasion.. ...Read Full Story

The state attorney general’s office is reminding everyone of the importance of online privacy this Saturday. It is Data Privacy Day, and attorney general spokesperson Megan Hawthorn tells WSJM News there are several things people need to do to protect their personal info.. ...Read Full Story

Canadian auto workers are shocked at a General Motors decision to cut 600 jobs at a plant near London, Ontario. GM recently invested $600 million to retool the plant to build the new Chevy equinox. However, at the same time, it’s moving production of the GMC Terrain to Mexico. Jerry Dias, President of the Canadian auto workers union, told Michigan News Network he blames NAFTA.. ...Read Full Story

Nearly 500,000 Michigan residents are ineligible for a tax credit that is meant to help keep people out of poverty. Friday was National EITC Awareness Day, and some groups are hopeful congressional leaders will expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to include workers who aren’t raising children. Kyle DuBuc, with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, tells us the EITC helps families in need keep more of their earnings to pay for necessities, like food, housing, and transportation.. ...Read Full Story

Legislation from state Representative Dave Pagel designed to make Michigan’s parole system more fair has been signed by the governor. Pagel tells WSJM News under the current system, when someone sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole is up for a parole hearing, the original judge who sentenced them has the power to veto the hearing. However, so does any judge who succeeded that original sentencing judge, even if said second judge isn’t familiar with the case.. ...Read Full Story

On the 72nd anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation Day Friday, a Michigan World War Two veteran was honored for his role in helping defeat the Nazis. Dr. Guy Stern grew up in Germany, but his parents sent him to the United States  as a teen to avoid Jewish persecution. A few years later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and led a special unit that perfected interrogation techniques. Friday, the 95-year old received the French Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. He told Michigan News Network he does research there.. ...Read Full Story

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A man helping a friend who ran out of gas lost his life on I-94 in west Michigan Friday morning. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas tells WKZO the 49-year-old Battle Creek area man was putting gas into the car on eastbound I-94 near Galesburg when he was hit and killed by a semi-truck and the driver kept going. Now, police are asking for help finding its driver.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Customers can again conduct transactions online or in person at Michigan Secretary of State offices after a computer outage shut down the system for roughly six hours. State spokesman Fred Woodhams apologized for Friday’s inconvenience. People use the website and branch offices to renew their vehicle registration and driver’s license and to conduct other business. Late fees will be waived for expirations occurring Friday if customers complete their transaction on or
before Monday. Woodhams says the state is using an “outdated” mainframe computer system “that is not working.” The state in 2015 sued Hewlett-Packard, accusing it of failing to complete a multimillion-dollar overhaul of computers at Secretary
of State offices.. ...Read Full Story

A 53-year-old Bloomingdale Township man is hospitalized after being badly beaten by four men during a home invasion late Thursday night. The victim tells the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department that three black men and one white man in their late teens or early 20s knocked on his door on 41st Street around 10 p.m. and forced their way in by pistol-whipping him in the head. One pointed a gun at him and ordered him to open his safe. The suspects stole money, several hand guns and long guns and continued to beat the man so bad he was knocked out for about an hour. He drove to a neighbor’s house to call police. Deputies have not released descriptions of the suspects other than to say they are all between 18 and 23 with slim builds. The white suspect is about 5’6″, while the African-American suspects are 6’2″, 5’8″ and 5’6″. Anyone with information is urged to call the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.. ...Read Full Story

Legislation to let school districts hire energy conservation consultants in order to to save money has been introduced in Lansing by state Representative Beth Griffin. The Van Buren County Republican says her plan would free up more to be spent in the classroom.. ...Read Full Story

The time for action is now. That’s the message of a town hall held at Benton Harbor City Hall Thursday night. A packed house gathered to hear about how a coalition organized by Mayor Marcus Muhammad is going to save three public schools from closing. On hand were pastors, elected officials, and community advocates who all agreed Benton Harbor Area Schools needs to be kept alive. Mayor Muhammad said they’re taking part in a march in Lansing on February 24.. ...Read Full Story

With snow once again in the forecast, police remind drivers to slow down a little. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller tells us when there’s ice and snow, you’ve got to remember your limits and take caution.. ...Read Full Story

A Cass County woman has had her license to run a child care facility suspended by the state. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs tells our newsroom Julie Pellow, of Dowagiac, has run the facility out of her home since 1995. A recent inspection found violations related to caregiver suitability, appropriate care and supervision, responsibilities, outdoor play area maintenance, and children’s records. As a result, her license is suspended, and she has to tell all of the parents of children she’s been watching. Pellow does have the right to appeal and get a hearing.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police are now taking applications from young people around Benton Harbor and Benton Township for the next Michigan Youth Leadership Academy. Young men who sign up for the academy will spend five days this summer at the state police training facility in Lansing learning about police work and responsibility. That’s according to Trooper DuWayne Robinson.. ...Read Full Story

The 79th District’s new state representative now has her House committee assignments. Representative Kim LaSata tells us she’ll be serving on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, and she’ll also be the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. She’s looking forward to helping reduce the cost of college.. ...Read Full Story

Gravel roads around southwest Michigan are in bad shape right now because of the recent warm weather. Van Buren County Road Commission Superintendent Brian Cornish tells WSJM News the weather has thawed some of the underground frost, leading to a muddy mess up above. There’s not much crews can do to help right now.. ...Read Full Story

About $2 million will be saved by Southwestern Michigan College’s refinancing of a 2008 bond this week. SMC tells us it’s gotten the interest rate on the $14 million bond down about 2% with the move. As a result, the college will save about $85,000 a year. SMC took out the bond to pay for the construction of McKenzie Residence Hall. Its bond underwriter says the leadership should be commended for taking action to refinance.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A Saginaw doctor and political novice running to be Michigan’s next governor says he’s prepared to spend “millions” of his own money on the 2018 race. Republican Jim Hines embarked Thursday on a three-day introductory tour in seven cities around Michigan. In Lansing, the 61-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist said he’s cutting back his hours at a job he loves because he feels “called to take care of the people of Michigan.” He lists priorities as jobs, education and infrastructure. Hines filed campaign paperwork in February 2016 and is largely unknown. But he’s loaned his campaign about $140,000 and says he’s been spreading his name by running 5-kilometer races around Michigan. Governor Rick Snyder can’t run under term limits. Other likely Republican candidates include Attorney General Bill Schuette and Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says he doesn’t think a primary function of state and local police is to act as immigration officers. President Donald Trump’s executive action on immigration instructs the Homeland Security secretary to engage with governors and local officials about agreements under which local law enforcement officials could investigate, apprehend and detain people in the country illegally. Snyder told reporters Thursday he doesn’t view immigration enforcement as one of the “primary” functions for state and local police. The president is also expected to soon take steps to restrict the flow of refugees into the United States. Snyder says Trump “has to make those decisions” because it’s not a state
responsibility, but regardless of national immigration policies, he will “continue to promote Michigan as a welcoming place for immigrants.”. ...Read Full Story

(Lansing, MI – AP) – Michigan has suspended the medical license of a doctor accused of sexually abusing gymnasts and other athletes during medical treatments. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs announced Wednesday that it served an order Tuesday to immediately suspend Dr. Larry Nassar’s license to practice as an osteopathic physician. The complaint alleges Nassar sexually abused a minor.. ...Read Full Story

(Lansing, MI – AP) – Happy 180th birthday to Michigan. A birthday celebration takes place on Thursday, the anniversary of Michigan’s admission into the Union on January 26, 1837. Governor Rick Snyder, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, Attorney General Bill Schuette and other top elected state officials are holding a ceremony in the Capitol building in Lansing.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — You know it’s an unusual winter when a polar bear plunge is canceled in the Upper Peninsula. Police tell The Daily Mining Gazette that the ice is too thin for the dip Saturday on Portage Lake in Hancock. The plunge typically attracts hundreds of people as part of an annual Finnish-American winter festival. There will be a parade in downtown Hancock, followed by a wife-carrying contest, sled races and other community events. Hancock is in Houghton County, 260 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker isn’t going to give up on three district schools targeted for possible closure this year by the state. At a town hall Wednesday night, Walker told a crowd of about 50 the Michigan School Reform Office will be in town soon doing an academic audit of the Dream Academy, the STEAM Academy, and the International Academy to decide their fate. She’s going to show the SRO what has been done in the past year to improve the facilities.. ...Read Full Story

A health advisory issued in Oakland County after an increase in cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, has been seen. Children who have not been fully vaccinated are at high risk. Vaccinations against pertussis are also recommended for adults who are in contact with infants and for pregnant women. That’s according to Angela Minicuci, with the Michigan Department of Health, who spoke to Michigan News Network.. ...Read Full Story

This is National School Choice Week. That’s when events are held around the country to celebrate programs and policies that let parents pick where their kids get an education. School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella tells WSJM News there are more than 21,000 things going on to that end all week.. ...Read Full Story

The Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team is back in Michigan after riding in President Trump’s inaugural parade last week. The outfit based out of Three Oaks brought 16 horses to Washington to march past the president. Captain Debbie Dunphy told WSJM News us what that was like.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven Area Emergency Services has been busy. The agency that provides fire and EMS service to South Haven and the surrounding townships tells us it had a record 2016, with more than 2,200 calls. Not only that, but Executive Director Ron Wise says they’re making efforts to grow the department.. ...Read Full Story

Gas prices are expected to jump sharply in the next day. GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan tells WSJM News that’s because wholesale prices have drifted upward, despite three weeks of declining prices at the pump. He says that means gas stations really aren’t making money on the gas they sell.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The Michigan Supreme Court says it will settle whether juries – not judges – have the sole power to decide whether someone under 18 gets life in prison without parole. In an order released Wednesday, the court will take the case of Tia Skinner, who was a 17-year-old honors student in St. Clair County when she plotted to have her father killed in 2010. Skinner is serving a no-parole sentence. Lawyers representing teens convicted of murder have argued that Michigan
juries needed to make a specific determination that someone had no hope of being rehabilitated and deserved a no-parole sentence. There have been conflicting opinions on that point at the state appeals court. The court in 2016 created a special panel, which said the sentencing duty rests with trial judges.. ...Read Full Story

President Trump’s pick to head up the U.S. Department of Education is not getting any support from Michigan’s U.S. senators. Senator Gary Peters says West Michigan Republican powerbroker Betsy DeVos is not qualified to serve as education secretary.. ...Read Full Story

A couple of town hall meetings are planned for residents of Benton Harbor to come and express their concerns about the possible closure of the Dream Academy, the STEAM Academy, and the International Hull Academy. The first meeting is slated for Wednesday at the high school starting at 7 p.m. Anyone can come and ask Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker about the threat to the schools. They’re being reviewed by the Michigan School Reform Office for possible closure, but Walker says the test scores which put them in that position were generated by students who no longer attend those schools. Following Wednesday’s meeting will be another with all the same points made next Wednesday at the MLK STEAM Academy. It’s also set for 7 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

The housing market in Southwest Michigan has started 2017 in a strong position. The Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors tells our newsroom it posted the highest numbers across the board in the year-over-year comparison since 2006 last year. Association Executive Philip Amodeo says the number of homes sold in 2016 versus 2015 was up 9%. December alone was up by 16% over December of 2015. Total dollar volume is also up for the year by 12%, and the average selling price is up 3%. Amodeo notes the region’s real estate market has been improving since 2012, when the slide that started in 2006 finally ended. Nationally, the housing market closed out 2016 having had its best year in a decade.. ...Read Full Story

The director of the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport has pleaded guilty to drunk driving. 30-year-old Vincent Desjardins was in Berrien County Court Monday to enter the plea. Prosecutors say his blood alcohol content was about twice the legal limit when he hit a mailbox in Royalton Township on the night of November 19. Desjardins didn’t stop but was picked up by police not long after. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells WSJM News he was originally charged with the state’s high blood alcohol content law, but the charge has been reduced to standard driving while intoxicated. A charge of having an open alcohol container in the vehicle has also been dismissed. Desjardins could get up to 93 days in jail when sentenced on February 15.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor and South Haven High Schools are on the list of schools to be selected for this year’s Strive for a Safer Drive program. The program is a partnership between Ford Motor Company and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, and office spokesperson Kristin Allen tells us the students at each building decide how to preach safe driving to their classmates.. ...Read Full Story

Four St. Joseph schools have been named Reward Schools by the Michigan Department of Education. EP Clarke Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Upton Middle School, and St. Joseph High School got the designation. St. Joseph Public Schools Curriculum Director Kelly Gaideski tells WSJM News it’s all based on the student test scores.. ...Read Full Story

A 15-year-old St. Joseph High School student is in the running to be named the Military Child of the Year by Operation Homefront. The non-profit provides assistance to military families, and tells us Janelle Gehrke was among 400 kids to be nominated by parents, teachers, and coaches. She’s now one of 20 semifinalists for the Coast Guard category. Her dad, Jeffrey Gehrke, works at the St. Joe Coast Guard station, and tells WSJM News his daughter has done all sorts of things to be helpful on the bases where they’ve lived.. ...Read Full Story

The Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees has narrowed down its search for a new college president to two candidates. At a quick meeting Tuesday, the board picked Dr. Jon Mandrell and Dr. Trevor Kubatzke to be its finalists for the job. Board of Trustees Chair Mary Jo Tomasini tells WSJM News they’ve heard plenty from the public as the search has continued.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Preliminary state statistics show that 2016 was the deadliest year since 2007 for drivers in Michigan. The Detroit Free Press reports that at least 1,021 people were killed in Michigan vehicle accidents last year. The number of total crashes was 301,525. Ann Readett, with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, says the number
could increase as more reports come in. Experts say the recent increase in road deaths could be due to an improving
economy, lower gas prices and possible increased texting and driving. National traffic-crash data shows a 21 percent decline in U.S. traffic fatalities between 2007 and 2011. In 2007, there were 1,084 traffic fatalities in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan environmental officials say Flint’s water system no longer has levels of lead exceeding the federal limit. The finding by the Department of Environmental Quality is good news for a city whose 100,000 residents have grappled with the water crisis for two years. Mayor Karen Weaver says they could still use help, though.. ...Read Full Story

President Trump wants more automotive factories built in the U.S. He met this morning with the CEOs of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler at the White House to discuss ways to do it.. ...Read Full Story

(Lansing, MI – AP) – Beware, snowmobilers: The winter warmup is creating poor trail conditions in some parts of Michigan. The state Department of Natural Resources says low-lying areas and places exposed to the sun are especially vulnerable. Forecasts indicate temperatures will remain unseasonably mild and snowfall will be minimal for the next few days at least.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph City Manager John Hodgson is meeting next week with CSX Railroad to talk about a section of the bluff along Old Lakeshore Road that some fear is in danger of collapsing. Hodgson tells WSJM News he had a little trouble getting the railroad to talk until the office of Congressman Fred Upton reached out to them.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad will hold a town hall this week for anyone concerned about the possible closure of three areas schools to come and air their thoughts. Word came last week that the state may soon target the International Academy at Hull, the STEAM Academy at MLK, and the Dream Academy to be shut down. Muhammad is inviting all parents, students, community leaders, and others to come to Benton Harbor City Hall this Thursday to talk about the impact and ask questions. The forum will be at 6 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A judge has told Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to butt out of an ongoing dispute over home delivery of water in Flint. Schuette and his special counsel, Noah Hall, are seeking to join a lawsuit against Governor Rick Snyder’s administration by filing a brief that supports Flint residents. Schuette wants federal Judge David Lawson to keep an injunction in place, which calls for home-delivered water if lead filters haven’t been properly installed. The judge on Monday rejected the filing. Lawson says there’s nothing new in Schuette’s arguments. He also says Schuette has injected a “troubling ethical issue.” Lawson notes that lawyers in Schuette’s office are on the other side of the case, arguing that the injunction should be scratched. Schuette says there’s a wall between his views on the case and the work of
department lawyers who must defend state agencies.. ...Read Full Story

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed against the city of St. Joseph by its former deputy public safety director. Al DiBrito was fired from the post in 2014 by former City Manager Richard Lewis after a conflict with former Public Safety Director Mark Clapp. Lewis, Clapp, and the city were then sued by the former deputy director who alleged wrongful termination. On Monday, city commissioners agreed to pay $150,000 in exchange for DiBrito’s dismissal of the suit. DiBrito also waives further appeals in federal court and agrees not to reapply for employment with the city. City Manager John Hodgson said there will be no further comment on the matter.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan business executives who were part of a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday came away encouraged. Dow CEO Andrew Liveress told Michigan News Network their message was heard.. ...Read Full Story

It’s time once again to think about filing your taxes. Ron Leix, with the Michigan Department of Treasury, tells WSJM News you could start filing on Monday. Treasury has one main recommendation for doing your taxes these days.. ...Read Full Story

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency have jointly released new advice on which and how much fish is safe to eat. The guidelines are aimed mostly at women who are pregnant. Elizabeth Southerland, Director of Science and Technology at the EPA’s Office of Water, tells our newsroom it’s not necessarily unhealthy for pregnant women to eat fish. ...Read Full Story

Coming up next week will be a chance for supporters of Lakeshore Schools to help out the district while bidding on some choice prizes. The Lakeshore Excellence Foundation is going to hold an online auction, raising money for the district to implement is new STEM curriculum. Chair J.C. Anderson tells WSJM News STEM at Lakeshore will have long-term benefits.. ...Read Full Story

An hour after Donald Trump assumed the presidency Friday, his administration indefinitely suspended a pending rate cut for mortgage insurance required for FHA backed loans, which are popular with first-time home buyers and those with poor credit. Marla Thomas, a mortgage loan officer for Inland Home Mortgage, told Michigan News Network the action will affect millions of homeowners. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Officials from the state and a utility say a six-month partnership to improve lighting on Michigan roadways is cutting costs and reducing energy use. The Michigan Department of Transportation last year participated in DTE
Energy’s Energy Efficiency Business Program. The department installed nearly 13,000 energy efficient LEDs on a number of Detroit-area freeways and reported a reduction in energy use. Detroit-based DTE and the state say Monday the lighting upgrade is expected to save an estimated $2 million in energy costs in 2017. In a statement, Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley says he looks forward to “additional partnership and savings in the future.” DTE is giving MDOT a $1 million rebate check to help offset the cost of the department’s investment in energy efficiency improvements.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — About 80 acres in western Michigan are being added to North Ottawa Dunes park in Ottawa County. The land in Spring Lake Township was acquired through a property exchange. Ottawa County Parks says it contributed $400,000 from a millage. The parcel will increase the size of the park to 593 acres. It is along the eastern edge of the dunes and is surrounded by park on three sides. It is primarily back dune forest dominated by sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock and red oak. Ottawa County Parks will survey the new property early this year and then mark trails during spring and summer. The park is part of a freshwater dune system along the Lake Michigan shoreline.. ...Read Full Story

AAA Michigan says gas prices statewide have fallen by about 11¢ per gallon in the past week. The Dearborn-based auto club says Monday the average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline was about $2.29 per gallon. That’s about 66 cents more than it was at the same point last year. The lowest average price was about $2.16 per gallon in the Flint area, while the highest average was about $2.48 in the Marquette area. It was the third week in a row Flint had the lowest average and the second consecutive week that Marquette had the highest. In Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, we’re averaging $2.19 a gallon, down 12¢. AAA Michigan surveys daily fuel prices at 2,800 gas stations across the state. The auto club is warning the recent downturn in prices may just be temporary with OPEC’s December monthly output report awaiting release.. ...Read Full Story

Several dozen men and women took to the streets of downtown St. Joseph on Saturday as one of many Women’s Marches held nationwide. About 60 took part locally, while crowds were much larger in big cities. The crowd in Chicago is estimated at around a quarter-million people, and around 500,000 marched in Washington, DC. That rally included a few busloads of people from here in southwest Michigan. Organizers of the marches say the rhetoric of the November election cycle “insulted, demonized, and threatened” women nationwide. A focus was placed on LGBT rights along with women’s and voting rights, and climate change.. ...Read Full Story

Roads around Michigan have been hammed by the weather this winter. The Van Buren County Road Commission’s Larry Hummel tells WSJM News frequent thaws and freezes mean more potholes that are difficult to patch.. ...Read Full Story

A case of suspected animal abuse is under investigation in Lawrence. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department was tipped off to a situation at a home in the 200 block of South Exchange Street Sunday morning and found three dogs with no heat, water, or electricity in the vacant home. Animal feces, urine, and trash was found scattered throughout. Deputies say the dogs were confined to the basement without any care, and have been sent to Van Buren County Animal Control. Charges are being pursued against a 32-year-old Hartford woman in the case. Her name has not been released. The Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office will review the report from deputies.. ...Read Full Story