Local News Archives

BH School Board Votes Confidence In Superintendent

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The Benton Harbor School Board has reaffirmed its support for Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker. At Thursday’s meeting, Treasurer James Turner proposed a vote of confidence in Walker and it passed. The move came after last week’s vote by the board not to fire suspended High School Principal Rodger Tripplett. Turner told us the suspension of Tripplett has been a controversy, and it’s unfortunate Walker has been blamed by some for it.. ...Read Full Story

Search For Suspect Causes Delay Of Classes At Watervliet Schools

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Parents have nothing to worry about following a delay of the start of classes Thursday at Watervliet Schools. Around 6:20 a.m., Superintendent Kevin Schooley says he got a call from police about the search for a domestic violence suspect in the area. He decided to delay classes by two hours due to the search being near the school and its bus stops. However, Schooley got a call back from police around 6:40 telling him they found their suspect. It was too late at that point to rescind the delay, so it remained in effect. In any event, Schooley says parents need not worry. No one was in any danger.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Today Director Steps Down

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The search will soon begin for a new executive director for St. Joseph Today. That’s after Whitney Behnke resigned the position this week following less than a year on the job. Behnke cited the difficulty of attending the organization’s many events while also caring for a toddler as the reason for stepping down. The St. Joe Today Board accepted Behnke’s resignation on Wednesday, and vice president Mike Patel tells us they wish Behnke well. In place as interim director for St. Joseph Today is Brian Smith, the organization’s event manager. He’s served as interim director before, and St. Joe Today remains fully functional. No timetable has yet been announced for finding Behnke’s permanent replacement.. ...Read Full Story

Snyder Vetoes Medicaid Tax Changes

Governor Rick Snyder has vetoed legislation that would have changed how health insurers are taxed and Medicaid is funded. Snyder said Thursday he rejected the bills because he was “very concerned” that the federal government would not recognize the tax structure, putting at
risk federal matching funds and “leaving our state budget out of balance.” The veto comes a week after the Republican-led Senate voted overwhelmingly to continue a 6 percent “use” tax on Medicaid managed care organizations, more quickly end a broader health insurance tax that the business lobby dislikes and change the pot of state money that is used to draw federal matching dollars. Snyder says he looks forward to continued discussions with lawmakers.. ...Read Full Story

MI Board Allows Flint To Sue The State

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A state board overseeing Flint as it transitions from state emergency management has reversed course and lifted the city’s ability to sue without first getting approval from the board. The Receivership Transition Advisory Board on Wednesday amended a resolution it passed in March just days after Flint served notice it might file a lawsuit against Michigan over its lead-contaminated water supply. State Department of Treasury spokeswoman Danelle Gittus says the change clarifies the earlier order, and it was never the board’s intent to block Flint from suing “but rather to provide oversight of settlements related to litigation and labor disputes.” Also Wednesday, the board OK’d an agreement for Republic Services to continue hauling trash in Flint for one year, with an option to extend the contract for an additional year.. ...Read Full Story

Website: MI Cops The Most Overworked

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Michigan has the hardest working men and women in blue, according to one website. Security site SafeWise.com took a look at FBI statistics, and found Michigan has about 23,200 law enforcement employees, leaving one cop for about every 350 civilians. SafeWise’s Sarah Brown tells WSJM News if you combine that with another stat, MI cops are a busy lot.. ...Read Full Story

Millions Of Toyotas Being Recalled

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Millions of Toyota vehicles are being recalled due to problems with Takata airbags. 5.8 million overseas vehicles are being sought after most U.S. models have already been taken back. Auto analyst John McElroy says it’s going to take several years for Takata to make enough airbags to go into those recalls.. ...Read Full Story

Van Buren Adult Recovery Court Celebrates First Graduate

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The first graduate of Van Buren County’s Adult Recovery Court has been celebrated. Last week, local judges and others gathered to observe as the first offender to make it through the recovery court’s rigorous program was passed through. The Adult Recovery Court was set up in 2015 as a way to help non-violent offenders stay out of prison while addressing the root cause of their troubles, which are often mental health-related. The Van Buren County court system has several specialty courts along those lines intended to reduce recidivism. Since they were created, the specialty courts have been exclusively state and federal funded.. ...Read Full Story

Bridgman’s Getaway Hopping This Week

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If you’re looking for a hopping place to hang out for a World Series game, you might want to consider the Getaway in Bridgman. The Chicago Cubs-themed bar and grill has been a favored haunt of Cubs fans since 1983, and for the first time, they actually get to see their team in the World Series. Owner Tom Ackerman tells WSJM News the vibe is incredible.. ...Read Full Story

SWM Clerks To Open Offices Next Saturday

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Clerk’s offices across Michigan will be open next Saturday for everyone to have one last chance to get an absentee ballot ahead of the November 8 election. The office in Benton Harbor will be open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and many other Berrien County community clerk’s offices will be open 9 to 2 for the day. Under state law, they have to be open that Saturday. Anyone still interested in voting absentee can show up, sign up, and then leave with their ballot. To find out details, call your local clerk.. ...Read Full Story

Drunk Driver Leads Police On High-Speed Chase

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A 42-year-old Laporte man is facing several charges after police say he led them on a high-speed chase that started in Michigan and ended in Indiana this week. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us it all started about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when someone reported their vehicle being hit by a reckless driver in the area of Red Arrow Highway and US-12 near New Buffalo. A sheriff’s deputy found the the Jeep Liberty in question, but it wouldn’t stop, and the chase continued across the state line to Indiana. It eventually ended when the suspect crashed while trying to exit I-94 at Michigan City. He was taken to a hospital in Indiana and is facing charges in that state. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is also asking he be charged here with drunk driving, fleeing and eluding, and leaving the scene of an accident.. ...Read Full Story

Judge Won’t Budge On Blocking “Ballot Selfies”

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A judge has refused to suspend her order that allows Michigan voters to take photos of their completed ballot in the November 8 election. Citing the First Amendment, Grand Rapids federal Judge Janet Neff blocked Michigan’s ban on taking so-called ballot selfies. The secretary of state is
appealing. The judge said Wednesday that she won’t freeze her decision while the legal process moves to a higher court. Joel Crookston of Portage filed a lawsuit in September. In 2012, he took a photo of his ballot while voting for a write-in candidate for Michigan State University trustee. He didn’t know it was illegal. Lawyers for the secretary of state are predicting “chaos” if voters take photos. They say it’ll lead to longer lines at polling places and other problems.. ...Read Full Story

Snyder Signs Bill Requiring More Reporting At Veterans Homes

A new law will require the state of Michigan to report staffing levels, patient complaints and other information about state-run veterans homes four times a year. Legislation signed Wednesday by Governor Rick Snyder outlines quarterly reporting requirements for state agencies that evaluate conditions at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. In February, Snyder replaced the director of Michigan’s veterans agency after an audit uncovered insufficient care and inadequate staffing levels at the Grand
Rapids facility. Snyder says veterans “deserve the highest standards of care available,” and the law helps ensure that conditions at the two homes are evaluated and reported more consistently and effectively. The bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Holly Hughes of Montague.. ...Read Full Story

Former Democratic Party Chair Blasts Snyder Court Decision

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An Ingham County court judge has blocked a request for a one-person grand jury to investigate Governor Rick Snyder’s use of taxpayer money to handle legal matters connected to the Flint water crisis. The request was made by former Michigan Democratic Partyt Chair Mark Brewer, who says the state attorney general and the legislature have refused to act on the matter.. ...Read Full Story

General Motors Reports Record Earnings

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General Motors reported a record third-quarter profit that doubled the same period a year ago, despite falling sales and market share in the U.S. The Detroit automaker earned $2.77 billion, or $1.76 per share, compared with $1.36 billion, or 84 cents per share a year ago. Sales in the U.S., GM’s most lucrative market, fell nearly 4 percent in the quarter. But GM said its strategy to cut low-profit sales to rental car companies, a strong performance in China and cost cuts led to the record. Excluding a 4-cent benefit from an unspecified ignition-switch recall recovery, GM made $1.72 per share. That beat Wall Street estimates of $1.46 per share. Revenue hit a record $42.8 billion. U.S. auto sales have started to slow after hitting a record 17.5 million last year.. ...Read Full Story

Kalamazoo Accepts $70 Million In Donations

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The Kalamazoo City Commission has taken a step toward using roughly $70 million in private donations to help cover city costs. The commission voted 6-1 to approve the memorandum of understanding during a public meeting Monday. The document outlines the agreement between donors and the city as well as each party’s commitment to the Foundation for Excellence. The foundation, introduced in July, would help stabilize Kalamazoo’s budget, decrease property taxes and invest in infrastructure and neighborhood improvement projects. The $70 million would be donated over three years to endow the foundation. It’s expected to be created by the end of August 2017. City Commissioner Matt Milcarek gave the dissenting vote, saying he’d like to see an example of how the foundation will be a sustainable model for the city.. ...Read Full Story

MI Chamber Supporting Energy Reform Legislation

An influential business group’s decision to support energy legislation is being called a “breakthrough” in an attempt to update Michigan’s energy laws. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday new versions of the bills would guarantee a competitive bidding process for electricity generation and preserve competition. The Republican-led Senate is expected to approve the plan shortly after the November 8 election. Chamber President and CEO Rich Studley says the breakthrough means there is “no good reason” that the GOP-controlled House should not send the legislation to Governor Rick Snyder by year’s end. He says the organization would oppose the bills it if believed they killed the “customer choice” program that gives competitors to DTE Electric and Consumers Energy up to 10 percent of power sales in their regions.. ...Read Full Story

Judge Approves Volkswagen Emissions Settlement

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A federal judge in San Francisco has approved a $15 billion court settlement of most claims against Volkswagen for its emissions-cheating scandal. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer signed the order Tuesday approving the largest auto-scandal settlement in the nation’s history.
About 475,000 owners of VWs and Audis with 2-liter four-cylinder diesel engines now will be able to seek buybacks of their vehicles starting next
Tuesday. Most of the owners are expected to sell their cars back to VW after the company acknowledged cheating on emissions testing and putting dirty cars on the road. In addition to having their cars bought back, owners can each get payments of $5,100 to $10,000.. ...Read Full Story

SJ Officials Look To Crack Down On Blighted Properties

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The city of St. Joseph will soon hire a new code enforcement officer, and officials hope that will make it easier to address the matter of blighted homes. Several weeks ago, a group of residents complained, in particular, about the home at 907 Wayne Street. The owner has been ticketed, and the city’s building inspector says he’s fixed some of the problems there. Mayor Mike Garey tells us the city has to respect property rights while ensuring standards are met in the community.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien Springs Community Expo Friday

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Set for this Friday is the first every community expo at Berrien Springs High School. Anyone who’s interested in learning more about what the community of Berrien Springs has to offer is invited to stop by. Berrien Springs High School senior Daniel Chi is one of the organizers who tells us they want to better connect students with local businesses.. ...Read Full Story

September Home Sales Up In SWM

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Homes sales in southwest Michigan remain strong, as the latest numbers show a 14% jump for the month this year over last year. Southwest Michigan Association of Realtors Vice President Gary Walter tells us September’s unit sales were the highest the region has seen in the month for ten years. It’s a good time to buy.. ...Read Full Story

Court Denies Request For Probe Of Snyder’s Flint Legal Bills

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A Michigan court has rejected a request for a one-judge grand jury investigation of Governor Rick Snyder’s decision to use at least $2 million in state funds for his legal representation related to criminal probes of Flint’s water crisis. A city resident and her attorney said Tuesday that the Ingham County Circuit Court denied their petition. The judges did not state a reason in their ruling. The resident, Keri Webber, and lawyer Mark Brewer – former chairman of the state Democratic Party – filed a complaint Oct. 11 alleging the Republican governor broke the law by violating conflict-of-interest prohibitions and spending taxpayer money for personal benefit without proper authority. Snyder’s office has said the spending is “legally sound” because the fees are related to actions taken in his official capacity.. ...Read Full Story

Judge Blocks “Ballot Selfie” Ban

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A judge has blocked Michigan law and policies that would prevent voters from taking photos of their ballot in the November 8 election. Joel Crookston of Portage sued in Grand Rapids federal court, saying his First Amendment right to free speech was violated. Judge Janet Neff issued a preliminary injunction Monday. State election officials had argued that the rules are intended to protect the integrity of the election. But the judge said it could be done without a sweeping prohibition. The secretary of state asked Neff to freeze her order so it can file an appeal.  Crookston filed a lawsuit after learning that a picture of a ballot could get him in trouble. He took a “ballot selfie” in 2012 while voting for a write-in candidate for Michigan State University trustee. No action was taken.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Officials Seeking Action On Run-Down Homes

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The city of St. Joseph will soon hire a new code enforcement officer, and officials hope that will make it easier to address the matter of blighted homes. Several weeks ago, a group of residents complained, in particular, about the home at 907 Wayne Street. The owner has been ticketed, and the city’s building inspector says he’s fixed some of the problems there. Mayor Mike Garey tells us the city has to respect property rights while ensuring standards are met in the community.. ...Read Full Story

MI Companies Building Parts For Mars Ship

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Part of NASA’s first manned spaceship to Mars will be made in Michigan. The Detroit News reports the government agency’s new Space Launch System that’s being created to transport humans to Mars in the 2030s relies on dozens of Michigan suppliers that build everything from steering to components covers for harnesses and cables. Warren-based Futuramic Tool & Engineering is the most vital contributor from Michigan.
The company once made tooling that modeled metal for the body of every single car in Ford Motor Co.’s lineup. But the automaker outsourced that work to Mexico about 15 years ago, and the supplier was forced to diversify to the aerospace industry. Futuramic has manufacturing plants in Detroit and Warren that build the parts, which are shipped to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the rocket is being built.. ...Read Full Story

Feds Recommend Automakers Focus On Cybersecurity

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The government’s highway safety agency says automakers should make cybersecurity part of their product development process by assessing risks and designing in protections. Companies also should identify safety critical systems such as engine control computers and limit their exposure to attacks, under best practice guidelines released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency also wants automakers to limit access to car owners’ personal data. The guidelines aren’t requirements but will go into effect after a 30-day
public comment period. The agency also wants automakers to make plans to detect cyberattacks and respond rapidly to limit them. The guidelines suggest closing off software developer access to firmware that controls cars. The industry already is doing most of the recommendations and has set up its own best practices and information-sharing methods.. ...Read Full Story

$1.5 Million Gift For MSU College Of Nursing

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McLaren Greater Lansing has made a $1.5 million gift to Michigan State University to establish the College of Nursing’s first endowed
chair position. The East Lansing school said Monday that the donation to help create the Endowed Chair for Behavioral Mental Health Nursing Education is the second largest gift ever given to the nursing college. McLaren has been an active participant in the “Healthy! Capital Counties”
collaborative to conduct a community health needs assessment, which measures and prioritizes the region’s health care needs. Mental health care was identified as one of the area’s top priorities. The university notes that endowed chair and professorship positions provide scholars with stable support to actively engage in leading-edge work.. ...Read Full Story

Report Calls For Closing Youth Prisons

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A new report suggests a new direction for the juvenile justice system in the US. The findings from the Annie E. Casey Foundation report, “The Future of Youth Justice” say youth prisons are not fit for kids and are associated with high costs and negative outcomes. Patrick McCarthy CEO of the foundation, says states pay on average about 90 thousand dollars a year for every youth in a juvenile facility.. ...Read Full Story

BC Sheriff Elected To Statewide Board

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Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is about to get another distinction. He’s going to serve as the vice president of the board of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association next year. Bailey was elected VP of the group’s board at its fall conference. The sheriff’s association represents Michigan’s 83 sheriffs and is the oldest law enforcement organization in the state. Executive Director Terrence Jungel says that Sheriff Bailey has earned the respect of his fellow sheriffs. He takes his new post on January 1.. ...Read Full Story

State Offers Tips To Deer Hunters

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Archery deer hunting season is underway in Michigan, and the department of natural resources is reminding everyone of some ways they can find good locations. Deer Management Specialist Chad Stewart says the MI-Hunt app can help hunters identify more than 7 million acres of land that can be hunted in the state.. ...Read Full Story

2 Aides Settle Whistleblower Suit Against MI House

A settlement has been reached between the Michigan House of Representatives and aides to two former state representatives who alleged
they were wrongfully fired after reporting their bosses’ extramarital affair and other misconduct. The Detroit News reports that the deal was reached last week and that the settlement was confirmed by Gideon D’Assandro, spokesman for House Speaker Kevin Cotter. Details were not immediately available. Keith Allard and Ben Graham sued the state House of Representatives in December 2015 in federal court. They were joint staffers for ex-Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat until July 2015. Gamrat was expelled from office, while Courser resigned rather than be
kicked out. Courser is facing criminal charges related to the scandal. He denies wrongdoing. Charges against Gamrat were dismissed by a judge.. ...Read Full Story

Small Plane Crashes At Muskegon County Airport

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A small plane has crashed while landing at Muskegon County Airport in western Michigan. WOOD-TV reports that the four-seat plane was on a training flight from Purdue University in Indiana and was being flown by a student pilot when it crashed Sunday afternoon. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft’s nose was ripped off as it skidded after touching down at the airport in Norton Shores, northwest of Grand Rapids.
Only the pilot was aboard the plane. The cause of the crash is under investigation.. ...Read Full Story

MI College Students Investigating Cold Case

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Students in an Olivet College cold case homicide investigations class are searching for clues in the disappearance of a 21-year-old man who went missing more than a decade ago. The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that five members of the class helped search fields and woods Sunday in Augusta. Brandon Anderson of Battle Creek last was seen June 20, 2005 after a hit-and-run traffic accident on Interstate 94. He was a passenger in the vehicle and ran into nearby woods. The newspaper reports that police believe Anderson likely died in the woods. His body has not been found. Olivet associate professor Phil Reed said before Sunday’s search that Anderson’s family “never heard from him and he has to be here somewhere.” Community Emergency Response Team helped organize the search.. ...Read Full Story

Week Starts With Gas Prices Down

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AAA Michigan says gas prices statewide have fallen by about 12 cents per gallon in the past week. The Dearborn-based auto club says early Monday that the average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline was about $2.12 per gallon. That’s about 19 cents less than it was at the same point last year. It’s the second week in a row that the statewide average decreased. The lowest average price was about $1.98 per gallon in the Flint area, while the highest average was about $2.23 per gallon in the Marquette area. AAA Michigan surveys daily fuel prices at 2,800 gas stations across the state.. ...Read Full Story

Partners Stocking MI Lake With Sturgeon

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State officials continue to work with tribal and nonprofit partners on boosting Michigan’s lake sturgeon, an ancient and culturally significant fish species. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says together they released more than 7,800 juvenile lake sturgeon into public waters around the state this summer and fall. The young fish were collected from the wild last spring and reared in streamside facilities until they reached at least seven inches or larger. Most were tagged before being released, which will enable biologists to tell how well the stocking operations work. Among waterways stocked with juvenile sturgeon were Otsego Lake, Black Lake, the Lower Black River and Upper Black River, Burt Lake, Mullet Lake, the Cedar River, the Kalamazoo River, Whitefish River and Ontonagon River.. ...Read Full Story

Big Plans For Development In Downtown Bridgman

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There’s a big new development on the way for downtown Bridgman. The vacant buildings on the south side of Red Arrow Highway at Lake Street downtown will soon be the site of the Monogram Centre, a residential and commercial development planned by Marty and Chris Mason. Chris tells WSJM News his dad bought the property because he wants to see activity there.. ...Read Full Story

U Of M Research Complex Getting $78 Million Renovation

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The final two reusable empty buildings on the site of a former Pfizer campus in Ann Arbor are in line for a $78.5 million renovation project.
The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents on Thursday approved plans to overhaul the buildings, which are called 20 East and 25 and are on what the school calls its North Campus Research Complex. The University of Michigan Medical School will use the space to create more
than 50 modern research laboratories for its faculty scientists and their teams. The university also will repurpose lab benches, cabinets and other materials from parts of the North Campus Research Complex. Other buildings at the former Pfizer campus already have been updated and converted for use as laboratories, offices and other spaces.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien Court Worker Facing Felony Charges

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A coordinator for the Swift and Sure program of the Berrien County Trial Court is facing felony charges for allegedly having an affair with a probationer, providing him with drugs, and obstructing investigators. 35-year-old Jessica Holmes, of Eau Claire, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, second degree criminal sexual conduct, and obstruction of justice. The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office tells us Holmes is a 16-year veteran of the court who was recently promoted to be a Swift and Sure coordinator. Swift and Sure is an intensive probation program designed to help keep felons out of prison. The prosecutor’s office says Holmes developed a relationship with a probationer following the July 11 shootings at the courthouse in St. Joseph. It alleges she delivered a drug, Norco, to him to sell on her behalf, had a sexual relationship with him, and gave him information about when he was going to be tested for drugs and alcohol. Holmes will be arraigned on November 4, and could get up to 20 years in prison.. ...Read Full Story

State Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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The Michigan Department of Community Health is reminding all women of the importance of getting screened for breast cancer. It’s estimated that, this year alone, there will be more than 8,100 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed, and more than 1,400 deaths from the disease. The state health department says the best way to avoid breast cancer is healthy living and frequent screenings. It also notes African American women are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can find out more about cancer prevention at the Michigan Department of Health and Human services website. . ...Read Full Story

Drug Drop-Off Day Today

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If you have a bunch of old, unneeded medications sitting around in your medicine cabinet, the DEA is giving you a chance to get rid of them today. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Mike Dawson tells WSJM News the posts in Niles and Paw Paw will be drop off sites. All you do is show up, and they’ll take pills, no questions asked.. ...Read Full Story

Detroit Free Press Sports Columnist Dies

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The Detroit Free Press says sports columnist Drew Sharp has died. He was 56. The newspaper says Sharp died at his home Friday in Bloomfield Hills, a Detroit suburb. The cause was hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Sharp spent decades at the Free Press, joining the paper as a sports writer in 1983. His wife, Karen Sharp says her husband “loved his job more than anything.” When he was named a columnist in 1999, Sharp told readers that his job wasn’t to “blindly lead cheers” or simply “slam” people from his perch. He said he had a responsibility to “raise questions and express doubts.” His last column this week was about Michigan State’s basketball team. Sharp covered the Detroit Pistons for years before becoming a columnist. The team expressed its condolences.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Declares Disaster In Upper Peninsula

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Governor Rick Snyder has declared a state of disaster for Marquette County after heavy rains led to flooding that damaged several roads.
With the declaration Friday, Snyder has made available all state resources to assist local recovery efforts and allows the state to request emergency federal highway funding to repair damages. The governor’s office says the storms and flooding earlier this week caused  widespread damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure.The National Weather Service says more than 3 inches of rainfall fell in some
areas Monday and Tuesday. Michigan Route 94 west of U.S. 41 was among the affected roads with a washout.. ...Read Full Story

Statewide Pet Adoption Event Saturday

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The Bissell Pet Foundation is planning to hold yet another Empty the Shelters event this Saturday. The Grand Rapids-based animal welfare group will pay for the cost of adopting an animal at more than 50 shelters around Michigan. Spokesperson Holly Kroeze tells WSJM News that’s after a successful date back in May.. ...Read Full Story