Local News Archives

The South Haven City Council is pleased with City Manager Brian Dissette. City Human Resources Director Kim Wise tells us the council filled out Dissette’s annual performance evaluation last month, extending his contract another year. On a scale of one to five, Dissette’s overall score was a 4.67. Council members rated him on categories including communications with the council, in which he got a 4.43 out of 5, professionalism, in which he got a 4.86, and delivery of services, in which he got a 4.71. Council members saluted Dissette for being dedicated, having a wealth of knowledge, and rising to the occasion in a crisis. He was granted a 3% pay increase, bringing his salary up to $113,000, and was also given a performance bonus of $6,000. Dissette has been the city manager of South Haven for 12 years.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Secretary of State’s Mobile Branch Office will return to Van Buren County later this week when it visits Lawrence. The mobile office offers most of the services available at a regular branch office. In addition to registering to vote, visitors can renew or replace their license plate, renew their driver’s license or state ID, change their address, and sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, among other things. The Mobile Branch Office will be parked outside of the Van Buren District Library’s Lawrence branch on 212 North Paw Paw Street on Monday, February 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those who stop by the mobile office can also learn about REAL IDs and how to sign up for one. Starting October 1 of this year, you will need a REAL ID to fly within the United States and enter certain federal facilities, military bases, and nuclear power plants.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this month will be a one-woman show focused on gun violence at the Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor. “The Gun Show” is being brought to the area by Interfaith Action of Southwest Michigan, a group representing around 30 churches and faith-based organizations. Co-lead Vicki Schroeder tells WSJM News Interfaith Action recently heard more about the threat to public health posed by gun violence at a meeting with health officials.. ...Read Full Story

With tax time here, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reminding those who are filling out their returns they’ll have a chance to make donations to helpful causes. Spokesperson Bob Wheaton tells WSJM News the Voluntary Contribution Schedule Form 4642 contains checkoff boxes for programs including the Fostering Futures Scholarship Fund.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is hailing news of a federal grant for Western Michigan University. He tells WSJM News he sent a letter to the Department of Energy in November in support of a Western project called “Enabling Advanced Electrode Architecture through Printing Technique.” It’s an effort of WMU to develop a manufacturing process to produce fast charging batteries with high energy and longer life cycles. Upton says the university has been approved for nearly $9.6 million.. ...Read Full Story

Going over the border in Indiana for Michigan drivers might bring a change regarding your cellphone in the near future. A proposal to ban drivers from using handheld cellphones on Indiana roads is advancing in that state’s Legislature. A state Senate committee voted 8-1 this week to endorse the bill that only permits cellphone use with hands-free or voice-operated technology, except in emergencies.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is taking submissions for his annual Congressional Art Competition. He tells WSJM News high school students from all over the Sixth District are invited to send in two dimensional art. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts will help to determine the winner.. ...Read Full Story

Mild winter weather has meant things are slow at Berrien County parks. The Berrien County Board of Commissioners learned this week there have only been four days of cross-country skiing at Love Creek County Park and three days of skiing at Madeline Bertrand. Berrien County Parks Director Brian Bailey tells WSJM News it’s unfortunate.. ...Read Full Story

A church in Oronoko Township is settling into its new home after it was told it could not continue holding services at its original location. The Barn Church is a non-denominational congregation that started about two years ago. Pastors Shane and Kara McLean tell us they felt the call to start their own ministry.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A federal judge has approved a settlement with a western Michigan footwear company that faced a lawsuit over groundwater tainted with potentially harmful “forever” chemicals that are turning up in drinking water across the industrial state. Wolverine Worldwide did not admit liability under the settlement approved Wednesday. It agreed to pay $69.5
million in a consent decree with the state of Michigan and Plainfield and Algoma townships that will go toward extending a municipal water system to about 1,000 homes with private wells that were affected by the contamination.. ...Read Full Story

An investigation is underway by St. Joseph Public Safety into allegations the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor site director at St. Joseph High School assaulted a student on campus on Thursday. St. Joseph Public Schools superintendent Dr. Thomas Bruce says both the club and the high school are “actively cooperating” with the investigation. Dr. Bruce adds in an email to parents that the site director was immediately fired by the Boys & Girls Club due to the organizations’ zero tolerance policy regarding violence, and says the number one priority for both organizations is the protection of the youth being served. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor have been at St. Joseph High School for the past four months, and that relationship is going to continue.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski is stepping down. He tells WSJM News after 16 years as the county treasurer, plus the years he served on the county commission, he’s decided it’s time to move on to the private sector.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College students can now earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Generalist degree from Ferris State University without having to leave southwest Michigan. The Board of Trustees at Ferris State has approved the partnerships with LMC and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and it will take effect with the Fall 2020 semester. FSU has worked with community colleges in such a manner since the late 1980s, and the university’s Extended and International Operations unit worked closely with the administrative teams at both KVCC and LMC to create the new degree programs through the new partnerships.. ...Read Full Story

{Lansing, MI – AP) – Organizers of a ballot drive to overhaul Michigan’s lobbying rules say they will begin gathering signatures right away after clearing a procedural step. The Board of State Canvassers on Wednesday approved a summary of the proposed constitutional amendment to appear on the heading of a petition sponsored by the Coalition to Close Lansing Loopholes. The panel also OK’d the petition form. The proposal would ban free food and drink for state elected officials and require former lawmakers to wait two years to become lobbyists. The group has until July to submit 425,000 voter signatures to qualify for the November ballot.. ...Read Full Story

State officials say a fourth person has now died of a lung illness related to vaping. Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin says the latest victim was an adult female, but she isn’t releasing any other details.. ...Read Full Story

An Olympic wrestler is the latest to go public, accusing a University of Michigan doctor of touching him inappropriately during medical exams at the school. Andy Hrovat says the physician’s reputation for such conduct was well known among his teammates in the 1990s. Hrovat competed for the U.S. in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He tells The Associated Press that the encounters with the late Dr. Robert E. Anderson happened during his freshman year in 1998. He is the first athlete to make public accusations against Anderson following public complaints this week from other former students that the doctor sexually abused them decades ago.. ...Read Full Story

A package of bills aimed at helping Michigan’s craft beer industry is headed to the state Senate. The House approved the bills, spearheaded by Representative Pauline Wendzel of Watervliet, on Thursday. She says it will double the amount of beer that breweries can self-distribute without having a distributor from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels a year and will exempt taproom sales.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have plenty of applications to sift through as they decide which businesses should be granted licenses to operate medical marijuana provisioning centers in the community. A provisioning center is a retail outlet for medical marijuana producers. The city commission heard from Nobo of Michigan, LLC on Tuesday, and then from four more applicants on Wednesday. First up was Redbud Roots out of Buchanan. They’re seeking to open a location at 241 East Main Street. The group’s Alexander Leonowicz told commissioners they have 82 employees in Buchanan, where they produce.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan is promoting cardiovascular health among women. This week, she introduced a resolution declaring February 19 as “Go Red for Women Day.” Griffin said on the Michigan House floor her sister died at 41 from an aortic dissection, a condition that causes an aorta to burst.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Marijuana sold in Michigan shops will have to have labels warning pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers about the health risks for their fetuses and infants under newly enacted laws. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist signed the two bills Wednesday because Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was out of the state. The labels must be placed on legal recreational and medical marijuana products. They will warn that use by pregnant or breastfeeding women may result in fetal injury, preterm birth, low birth weight or development problems for children. The laws also require that an informational pamphlet be made available at every point of sale.. ...Read Full Story

Indiana Michigan Power has received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to build a new solar facility in St. Joseph County, Indiana. I&M spokesperson Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News it will be located near Granger.. ...Read Full Story

The Kal Haven Trail is one of three Michigan trails to be recognized as Pure Michigan Trails this week by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The DNR says Pure Michigan Trails are highlighted as some of the best destinations in the state for hikers and others looking to experience nature. The announcement of three new Pure Michigan Trails was made at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Grand Rapids. In addition to the Kal Haven Trail, the Canada Lakes Pathway in Luce County and the Haywire Grade in Schoolcraft and Alger counties were added to the list. The DNR says the Kal-Haven Trail is 33 miles long, linking the cities of South Haven and Kalamazoo via numerous bridges and small towns. It adds the Kal-Haven Trail also is of historic interest, noting this past year, the Michigan History Center completed a project to install dozens of historic panels along the heritage trail. Now that it’s a Pure Michigan Trail, it will get extra promotion in state tourism materials.. ...Read Full Story

It will take the use of dental records and DNA to make a positive identification of a body found off the shore of Tiscornia Beach in St. Joseph Wednesday evening. An autopsy was done Thursday at Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker School of Medicine, and there were no signs of trauma on the woman’s body. St. Joseph Public Safety says the woman was Asian, around 55 years old, and was wearing a dark green jacket and sweatpants. The woman matches the description of a missing person out of Chicago, but her name won’t be released until a positive identification is made.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Township police are looking for two men who got into a shootout at the Blossom Acres Housing Complex. It happened Wednesday afternoon after somebody shot a dog in the 100 block of Concord. While several shots were fired between the suspects, police say it appears no one was hurt. The two managed to disappear before officers arrived on the scene. Berrien County Animal Control was called in to assist the dog, but it did not survive. Police have not released descriptions of the suspects.. ...Read Full Story

An investigation is underway after a body was found washed up along the shore of Lake Michigan at Tiscornia Park in St. Joseph Wednesday night. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is assisting in the investigation with Sheriff Paul Bailey confirming the discovery to WSBT. The medical examiner responded to the scene with plans for an autopsy to be done Thursday in Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

Kurdish immigrant and Berrien County restaurant owner Ibrahim Parlak says it’s time for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to drop its efforts to have him deported to Turkey. Parlak held a press conference Wednesday to announce his attorneys have field their latest brief in the ongoing struggle to keep him in the U.S. as Homeland Security appeals a 2018 ruling granting Parlak relief under the Convention Against Torture Act. Parlak says he would be in great danger if sent back to Turkey. He says he should know what it’s like there.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton and colleague Bill Huizenga are celebrating a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decision to include funding in the fiscal year 2020 budget to dredge Holland Harbor. The budget at first did not include the dredging funds, but Upton tells WSJM News he and Huizenga were able to convince the Corps the work is needed.. ...Read Full Story

The South Haven City Council is pleased with City Manager Brian Dissette. City Human Resources Director Kim Wise tells us the council filled out Dissette’s annual performance evaluation last month, extending his contract another year. On a scale of one to five, Dissette’s overall score was a 4.67. Council members rated him on categories including communications with the council, in which he got a 4.43 out of 5, professionalism, in which he got a 4.86, and delivery of services, in which he got a 4.71. Council members saluted Dissette for being dedicated, having a wealth of knowledge, and rising to the occasion in a crisis. He was granted a 3% pay increase, bringing his salary up to $113,000, and was also given a performance bonus of $6,000. Dissette has been the city manager of South Haven for 12 years.. ...Read Full Story

Nobo of Michigan, LLC, the company that bought the former Alreco Metals property in Benton Harbor with plans to grow medical marijuana there, is now seeking permission to operate a retail location. At a Tuesday meeting of the Benton Harbor City Commission, Nobo CEO Alan Bonsett told commissioners the company is looking to buy 107 Water Street for its provisioning center. They already have an office there. Bonsett said the retail operation will draw traffic into the community.. ...Read Full Story

First Michigan State, and now the University of Michigan is investigating allegations one of its former sports doctors sexually abused student athletes. U of M is looking for more potential victims of Robert Anderson. Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald says they know of a handful of cases so far involving Anderson, who examined young men playing for Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr from 1968 to 2003. Fitzgerald says there is a hotline to help those who may have been abused find resources to help.. ...Read Full Story

The Inn at Harbor Shores is one of two hotels to earn AAA of Michigan’s Four Diamond Designation this year. There are now 19 such hotels in the state. Along with the St. Joseph hotel, Detroit’s Shinola Hotel has been added to the list. The awards were presented today (Wednesday) in Grand Rapids during the Pure Michigan Governors Conference on Tourism. According to the auto club, a Four Diamond hotel is “refined and stylish, providing upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.”. ...Read Full Story

A Stevensville-area home is being torn down, with the erosion from Lake Michigan to blame. Bruce Smothers spoke to our partners at WSBT-22 as crews demolished his house today on Notre Dame Avenue, and was asked about not being too emotional about it.. ...Read Full Story

Efforts to figure out how to fix the chronic flooding problem on Main Street in Benton Harbor by the Whirlpool Riverview Campus will result in the street being closed Thursday starting at 9 a.m. The Michigan Department of Transportation is going to have the road closed between the Bicentennial Bridge and Riverview Drive for crews to perform surveying and inspection for a project design.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is backing legislation to require the Army Corps of Engineers gives consideration to recreational harbor maintenance projects when it plans for projects each year. Upton tells WSJM News the Safer Harbors for Our Recreational Economy Act would direct the Army Corps to make sure the economic benefits of recreational boating are considered as it allocates funding.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have heard about an excessive force complaint regarding a public safety officer. Gwen Swanigan of the anti-police abuse group, the SHARP Foundation, told commissioners at a Tuesday meeting that Public Safety Officer Drew Wagner punched a suspect who had run from him on December 28. Wagner pulled over 27-year-old Michael Thompson at May Street Market at 131 East May when the officer noticed Thompson didn’t have a registered plate. According to the police report, when Thompson ran from Officer Wagner, Wagner fired a taser at him twice and then tackled him. At Tuesday’s meeting, Swanigan said the way Thompson was treated was uncalled for.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is expanding his campaign’s operations in Michigan three weeks before the state’s Democratic primary. Sanders, who narrowly won Michigan over Hillary Clinton in 2016, announced Tuesday the hiring of nine additional staff and the opening of five offices. The offices will be opened in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and
Flint this week. The campaign says Sanders is the only candidate with the energy and enthusiasm to defeat President Donald Trump, who was the first Republican presidential nominee to win Michigan in 28 years.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up this month will be a one-woman show focused on gun violence at the Ghostlight Theater in Benton Harbor. “The Gun Show” is being brought to the area by Interfaith Action of Southwest Michigan, a group representing around 30 churches and faith-based organizations. Co-lead Vicki Schroeder tells WSJM News Interfaith Action recently heard more about the threat to public health posed by gun violence at a meeting with health officials.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren District Library will be marking March Madness this year in its own way. It’s going to pit books up against each other in a bracket-style competition, says spokesperson Kay McAdam.. ...Read Full Story

It was wiped off the books for this fiscal year with a line-item veto last fall, but Pure Michigan might be making a comeback. There are reports Governor Whitmer is in talks with legislative leaders for a supplemental budget bill to restore the ad campaign during the current fiscal year, which pleases lawmakers like state Representative Bronna Kahle of Adrian.. ...Read Full Story

A press conference is planned for Wednesday as Ibrahim Parlak gives an update on his efforts to remain in the United States. The Kurdish immigrant owns a restaurant in Berrien County’s Harbert, and has been fighting to remain in the country for nearly 20 years. The U.S. government has been trying to deport Parlak to his native Turkey, but he and his supporters say he would be in danger there. In March of 2018, there was a hearing in an immigration court Detroit with a federal judge ruling that Parlak could be granted relief under the Convention Against Torture Act. However, the Department of Homeland Security appealed, claiming Parlak would be safe in Turkey. Parlak spokesperson Martin Dzuris says it “is way past time for our government to leave this man in peace.” The latest update on Parlak’s plight will be given at his press conference at Cafe Gulistan on Wednesday afternoon.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Crossroads Council is responding to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America. In a YouTube video, the state’s scouting organization says the national decision does not impact local units.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan 2020 Census “Be Counted” Campaign has kicked off its statewide town hall tour with a stop in Oakland County. At a Pontiac church, Attorney General Dana Nessel says participation is safe and easy.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Public Schools will be moving their central administration office after this school year. The school board has approved the purchase of a United Federal Credit Union building at 2580 South Cleveland Avenue, and Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bruce expects to close on the deal on July 1. The move is due to the growth of the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center, which currently rents space in a former elementary school to the district for the admin offices. The senior center will soon need the entire building for its programs, and the school district has been looking for a new office building for the past seven months. United offered the building to the school district for 76% of fair market value, agreeing to a $630,000 sales price. Current office furniture and technology will be included in the sale. WSJM News has reached out to the superintendent’s office for more information.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — General Motors says it’s pulling out of Australia, New Zealand and Thailand as part of a strategy to exit markets that don’t produce adequate returns on investments, dismaying officials concerned over job losses. Australia’s minister for Industry, Science and Technology said Monday that it was “disappointing” that the company only advised the government about the
decision just before it’s announcement Sunday that it would wind down sales, engineering and design operations for its historic Holden brand in Australia and New Zealand in 2021. GM also plans to sell its Rayong factory in Thailand to China’s Great Wall Motors and withdraw the Chevrolet brand from Thailand by the end of this year. CEO Mary Barra says the company wants to focus on markets where it can drive strong returns.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A Michigan man sentenced to up to 60 years in prison in 1996 for a marijuana dealing conviction is hoping to cut his remaining time behind bars. WNEM-TV reports that 68-year-old Michael Thompson has served nearly 25 years of his sentence and won’t have a chance for parole until he’s in his late 80s. Thompson was denied clemency by then-Governor Rick Snyder two years ago, but now a movement called “Free Michael Thompson” has gained traction. There is a website dedicated to sending emails and letters as well as making calls to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. And a prosecutor says he’s willing to see what can be done.. ...Read Full Story

A town hall will be held this month to explore what everyone needs to know about voting since the passage of Proposal 3 by Michigan voters in 2018. The League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties is inviting everyone to “Making Democracy Work” on February 27 at the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center in Oronoko Township. League President Anita Rutlin tells WSJM News voters have questions now that Proposal 3 is in effect.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up in March and April will be the Krasl Art Center’s annual Elementary, Middle, and High School Art Exhibitions at the Box Factory for the Arts. Krasl’s Emily McKenna tells WSJM News the center works with Berrien RESA to find student art submissions from throughout Berrien and Cass counties to show off.. ...Read Full Story

The Avenue Family Network is opening up a brand new Cora Lamping Center to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the area. Executive director Joe Goepfrich joined WSJM’s Jonny Reinhardt on “Got Something To Say” to talk about the open house on Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the center’s new location at 777 Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is calling on employers to give workers a paid holiday on Election Day starting this fall. Wayne State University has recently declared November 3 a university holiday, and Benson is encouraging private companies to follow that example.. ...Read Full Story

A 35-year-old Gobles man is in the Van Buren County Jail after being arrested for an outstanding warrant when a sheriff’s deputy spotted him and another person walking around a store that was closed. The deputy knew the man was on probation, and found he had a warrant for his arrest. When the deputy tried to make the arrest late last night, the man took off running, resulting in the deputy sending K-9 Kuno to chase him down. The suspect was not hurt during the arrest, and the sheriff’s office is seeking additional charges for resisting and obstructing during the arrest.. ...Read Full Story

Lapeer Community Schools Superintendent Matthew Wandrie will be the next superintendent of Berrien RESA. The RESA Board of Education picked Wandrie for the job this past week following its interviews with the final two superintendent candidates. The other candidate had been RESA Assistant Superintendent Eric Hoppstock. Prior to serving as Lapeer’s superintendent, Wandrie was the human resources director at Dearborn Public Schools. He’s also been a high school teacher, a coach, an assistant principal, an athletic director, and a principal. Contract negotiations now begin with Wandrie. RESA says he’s due to start on July 1, the same day current RESA Superintendent Kevin Ivers will retire. Wandrie currently lives in Oakland County’s Oxford.. ...Read Full Story

With Michigan’s presidential primary on March 10, efforts are being made to promote civic engagement at Southwestern Michigan College. SMC political science professor Mary Young-Marcks tells WSJM News SMC Votes is a campaign designed to inform students and inspire them to action. She and other SMC staff started the campaign after attending some ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge events.. ...Read Full Story

The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education is taking applications from those interested in filling a vacancy. That’s after former Trustee Patricia Rush resigned late last month. Board President Joseph Taylor tells WSJM News he’s hoping to find someone who is diligent and dedicated.. ...Read Full Story

Market Van Buren is looking at ways local officials can work together to help address some key needs of Van Buren County. Market Van Buren Director Zachary Morris tells WSJM News that’s why the group held its annual Local Unit of Government Summit this month. The guest speakers included former state budget director Al Pscholka, staff from the offices of state Senator Aric Nesbitt and state Representative Beth Griffin, and a representative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.. ...Read Full Story

A Detroit woman is in critical condition after a chase with police that ended in a crash on Saturday morning. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says a report came in around 8:45 that police in Berrien County were chasing a vehicle that was headed toward Van Buren County. The suspect’s vehicle was a gray 2019 Chrysler 300, and was first seen speeding eastbound on I-94 near mile marker 17. Baroda Lake Township police had tried to stop the vehicle when it sped off. However, Berrien County Sheriff’s deputies caught sight of it a short time later. The vehicle entered Van Buren County on County Road 362 and then turned north on to County Road 687 in Hartford Township. That’s where the driver lost control and his vehicle hit an aluminum utility pole. The driver, a 24-year-old man from Detroit, suffered some broken ribs, while his 22-year-old female passenger suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. The driver was released into police custody after being treated at Spectrum Health Lakeland hospital in St. Joseph. Police say the driver faces several charges, including fleeing and eluding and driving on a suspended license.. ...Read Full Story

There has been plenty of interest in Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s new Robocall Crackdown Team. Nessel’s office says since the outfit was created in November, more than 1,700 people have signed up for it. During that time, more than 1,800 robocall complaints have been submitted. Attorney General spokesperson Ryan Jarvi tells WSJM News the team is providing the state with specific information about the calls members have been receiving.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has been able to help a Galien woman avoid losing her home as a result of possible title fraud. Deputy Kelly Laesch tells WSJM News the situation involving Joy came to her attention thanks to Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski. Witkowski had spoken to Joy at a show cause hearing this year as she was in danger of foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. Laesch says Joy had been in a land contract with the 91-year-old owner of the property in question when Joy met the contract’s terms and paid the place off in 2016.. ...Read Full Story

Filing tax returns can be tricky, and community organizations across the state are working to ensure Michigan taxpayers don’t lose out on the refunds they may be due. Ross Yednock with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan encourages anyone seeking assistance with their income tax returns to ensure their preparer is qualified. He explains that in Michigan, like many other states, there are no requirements or regulations for paid tax preparers.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan transportation officials are working to explain why Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s issuing of $3.5 billion in bonds to pay for road projects is a sensible option. On a recent episode of the MDOT podcast, Talking Transportation, MDOT finance director Patrick McCarthy said the projects being paid for with the bonds will last much longer than it will take to pay off the debt.. ...Read Full Story