Whirlpool and a British company are reacting to a lawsuit filed the victims and families of survivors in a high-rise fire in London two years ago. The Benton Harbor-based appliance maker says in a statement that its two investigations found “no evidence of any fault” with the refrigerator model that was in the unit where the Grenfell fire started. The blaze killed 72 people, and nearly 250 relatives of victims and survivors sued three companies, including Whirlpool, in U.S. federal court in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Whirlpool and U.K.-based Celotex say their “deepest sympathies” are with those impacted by the fire. Celotex says it remains committed to working with British authorities. Its parent company, Saint-Gobain, was surprised to see a lawsuit filed in the U.S. since the Celotex insulation referenced in the suit was manufactured and sold in the U.K.. ...Read Full Story
The glass ceiling in the Lincoln Township Fire Department is being shattered… by a high school student. Tatin Keyes is the first female to behired by the department. On Facebook, the Lincoln Charter Township Firefighters note Keyes is a Lakeshore High School student and will be taking firefighter classes next school year. She will continue to train with the department and will observe on calls for the time being.. ...Read Full Story
Benton Harbor city officials are pushing back against the Whitmer administration’s proposal to suspend operations of the city’s high school.. ...Read Full Story
Set for this Saturday will be a free community recycling event in Van Buren County. Organized by the Van Buren Conservation District, the event is a way for any county resident to dispose of household hazardous waste like cleaning products or batteries, paint, garden chemicals, and tires. Event coordinator Emilly Hickmott tells WSJM News the days always attract a strong response.. ...Read Full Story
Appraisals will be done by the city of St. Joseph and the federal government soon to determine how much the vacant Coast Guard duplex on North Pier Street is worth. St. Joseph City Manager John Hodgson says the city is interested in the property, but right now there aren’t any precise plans what would be done with it if the city is willing to spend the money.. ...Read Full Story
Decisions by the St. Joseph City Commission on a pair of Commercial Rehabilitation Exemption Certificates are on hold. The commission voted to table the votes on those tax breaks for both United Federal Credit Union’s proposed new headquarters at 150 Hilltop Road in a former Whirlpool building and for Fiskars in the Edgewater district. Commissioners Peggy Getty and Laura Goos both explained their reservations on taking a vote.. ...Read Full Story
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education will meet with Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday to talk about the future of Benton Harbor High School. At a Monday meeting, the board released what it calls a “third option,” as opposed to the state’s proposed two options — closure of the high school, or dissolution of the district. Board Vice President Joseph Taylor tells us the third option takes multiple approaches to turning the district around.. ...Read Full Story
Kent County Sheriff’s Department reserve deputy Matt Garbarino has completed his run across Michigan to honor fallen police officers. Garbarino started the Run Across Michigan for Fallen Officers on Friday in Detroit, and wrapped it up Monday at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial in St. Joseph. It’s the second year in a row the St. Joseph High School graduate completed the run to raise awareness about the men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Garbarino received police escorts through much of his run over the weekend and on Monday. A ceremony awaited him as he arrived in St. Joe Monday afternoon. Mayor Mike Garey saluted Garbarino .. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Officials say high Great Lakes water levels likely are to blame for damage to a seawall at a western Michigan park. The Holland Sentinel reports the damage at Kollen Park in Holland is on the east end of the boardwalk and west end at the boat launch where a section of sidewalk collapsed. The park is located along Lake Macatawa, which is connected to Lake Michigan by a channel. The newspaper says the damage likely happened during a late May storm. Brian White, the city’s transportation services director, says officials are putting together different options to make repairs and are hoping they will be completed by July 4. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said flooding and coastal erosion threats will continue along Great Lakes coasts, especially during storms.. ...Read Full Story
The Bridge Academy in Benton Harbor will hold a graduation ceremony on Tuesday for 36 youth and adult education students who completed their high school diplomas or GEDs with the help of the organization run by Kinexus. Bridge Academy Education Services Manager Allie Knapp tells WSJM News these are students who decided to look for another way to complete their high school level of education.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Google is committing to spend $17 million to upgrade and expand offices in Detroit and Ann Arbor, a move the tech giant says will give it the capacity to “significantly” increase its Michigan workforce in coming years. Google has more than 600 employees statewide. The company announced it plans Monday at a “Grow with Google” workshop in Taylor, while declining to say how many jobs it may add. Google says once the office expansions are done, its footprint will total more than 260,000 square feet across Michigan. The announcement was applauded by elected officials such as Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Sen. Gary Peters. Google’s workshops focus on improving small businesses’ online presence with digital skills. Additional workshops are being held in Grand Rapids and Jackson this week.. ...Read Full Story
Flooding has part of Dunkley Avenue closed in South Haven. Waves on Lake Michigan today are between four and six feet, and the National Weather Service has issued a lakeshore flood advisory from St. Joseph to Grand Haven. The city of South Haven has shut down Dunkley north of Dyckman Avenue to just past Black River Park, with a detour taking drivers along Broadway, Phoenix Street, Bailey Avenue, and Wells Street to get to Dunkley Avenue in order to go to the park. NWS forecasters are also cautioning beachgoers that swimming will be dangerous along the shore today, especially at South Haven’s North Beach and Holland State Park.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan State Police say a 28-year-old Wayland man is facing four charges connected to child pornography. The MSP Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force have announced the arrest of Matthew Bennett after getting a tip. That tip came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Exactly what evidence linked Bennett to any crimes hasn’t been revealed. He is facing charges including possessing child sexually abusive material and child sexually abusive activity. The Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit is encouraging parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The NCMEC provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at http://www.missingkids.org.. ...Read Full Story
There’s evidence of a looming economic slowdown in West Michigan according to economist Dr. Brian Long at Grand Valley State University. He says the local economic slowdown is tied to the trade war with China and the threat of tariffs on Mexican imports.. ...Read Full Story
AAA Michigan says average gas prices statewide have dropped about 15¢ from a week ago at about $2.75 per gallon. The auto club says the average price for regular unleaded is about 27¢ less than a year ago as higher stock levels of gasoline make up for higher demand. AAA says the state’s highest average was in Marquette at around $2.83. The lowest price was in the Lansing area at roughly $2.69 per gallon. The Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area has the state’s second-highest average price at $2.78. South Haven’s prices according to GasBuddy average $2.56. That part of our area is not included in AAA’s weekly survey.. ...Read Full Story
The Pokagon Fund has announced more than $300,000 in grants to organizations around southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana. In total, $313,000 was approved by the Pokagon Fund Board of Directors at the fund’s final quarterly meeting of the year. The grants are grouped into the categories of education, poverty reduction, and community vitality. They go to non-profits in Harbor Country as well as Dowagiac and Hartford, and South Bend. Among the grants are $100,000 in Pokagon Fund scholarships, $15,000 to Hartford Public Schools for second and third grade libraries, and $58,000 to the village of Grand Beach for the preservation of 42 acres of forest.. ...Read Full Story
State Senator Kim LaSata has introduced legislation designed to ensure students at Benton Harbor High School still receive their promise zone scholarships if circumstances cause them to graduate from another high school in the area. LaSata says “Benton Harbor students are facing an uncertain future in which their high school may close or the entire school district may be dissolved.” She adds regardless of what happens, it’s important to preserve the promise scholarship opportunity for eligible students in either scenario. Senate Bill 359 would ensure eligible Benton Harbor High School students get their scholarship through the Benton Harbor Promise regardless of which school in Berrien RESA’s service area they might graduate from. The plan is before the Senate Appropriations Committee.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office in Dowagiac is being moved to another location while renovations are done this summer. The office on Front Street will shut down at the end of Tuesday, June 11, and the new temporary office will open on June 17 at the administrative offices of Lewis Cass Intermediate School District on Dailey Road in Cassopolis. That temporary location will be open for customers while a roof replacement and work on the exterior of the Dowagiac office is done. While the Dowagiac office is moved to the temporary Cassopolis location, it will be closed completely. That will be from June 12 to June 17. During that time, customers are encouraged to use Secretary of State online services, or go to the offices in Benton Harbor, Niles, or Paw Paw.. ...Read Full Story
The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is conducting a water quality survey this summer in Berrien and Cass counties, and everyone’s asked to take a few minutes to respond. Associate planner Kris Martin tells WSJM News the overall goal is education.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced more road construction grants for communities around southwest Michigan. The money is going to Buchanan, Lawrence, and Cassopolis. MDOT’s Michael Leon tells WSJM News it comes from the Community Service Infrastructure Fund program, focused on road work in communities with less than 10,000 people.. ...Read Full Story
The PGA has issued a statement following controversial remarks made by Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad this week on social media. On Thursday, Muhammad wrote “No High School in the City of Benton Harbor, No Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Tournament in the City of Benton Harbor.” The post came a day after Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended her administration’s proposal to suspend operations at Benton Harbor High School. In response to the mayor’s comment, Senior PGA Championship Director Ryan Ogle has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story
Things are looking good for teenagers who want to find work this summer. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget has released its annual summer teen employment forecast, finding there will be significant opportunities this year for those teenagers who want to make some bucks. The agency estimates about 208,000 Michigan teens between 16 and 19 will find jobs this summer. In addition, another 38,000 teens will be actively seeking jobs but without success, making for a teen unemployment rate of 15%. The state advises teens who want to work this summer to start looking early, keep looking even if unsuccessful at first, visit local businesses, and tell friends and family about the search. The most common sectors of employment for teens are arts and entertainment, recreation, accommodations, and food services. Good Summer Employment Prospects For Teens This Year. ...Read Full Story
Set for today, June 8, is the second annual Makers Trail Festival at Weko Beach in Bridgman. Sarah Spoonholtz with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber tells us the event will feature products from southwest Michigan wineries, breweries, and more.. ...Read Full Story
The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors has announced its latest Placemaking Grant, and it’s going to the city of South Haven. The grant of $2,600 will be used to provide four ADA-compliant swings in four city parks. They are Kids’ Corner, Tot Lot Optimist Park, South Beach, and North Beach. The swings will accommodate children and young adults with special needs. They include armrests and footrests, and park staff will be working with local realtors to install them. South Haven grant writer Deb Davidson says the new swings will provide an activity for special needs children in the parks that they currently don’t have. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors Placemaking Grant program is designed to help communities transform unused spaces. Other Placemaking grants have allowed for a dog park in Baroda and a small park in St. Joseph Township.. ...Read Full Story
To raise awareness about police officers who have been killed in the line of duty, a Kent County reserve sheriff’s deputy is running all the way from Detroit to St. Joseph. Matt Garbarino started his run on Friday, and plans to wrap it up Monday at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial. He’s carrying a blue line flag representing fallen police. Updates on his progress are being posted online. Garbarino said Friday afternoon he was getting plenty of support from people waving at him. Garbarino is a St. Joseph High School graduate. He also did his Run Across Michigan for Fallen Officers last year. You can learn more at RunAcrossMI.com.. ...Read Full Story
St. Joseph Today is making preparations for this summer’s free concerts downtown. St. Joe Today Events Coordinator Daniele Crevier tells WSJM News there are two types of free summer concerts. They are the Wednesday afternoon Brown Bag Concerts at noon, and the Friday Night Concert Series at 7:30. All are held at the Howard Band Shell, and anyone can stop by to watch and listen.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Health Department wants everyone to be aware of the dangers of ticks, and how to avoid them this summer. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News ticks spread Lyme disease, which typically appears with a tell-tale “bull’s eye rash.” She says if you’re outdoors this summer, you should check yourself for ticks when you get home. Know where ticks are likely to grab on to you.. ...Read Full Story
The city of South Haven is stepping up enforcement of its smoking ban at city parks and beaches. The South Haven City Council approved the ban last July, and the city now says it’s installing signage this year, and also working to inform the public via social media and notices through other entities. The South Haven Parks Commission recommended the ban in October of 2017 after hearing too many complaints about smoking, which included butts littering the beaches. You can expect to hear more about the ban throughout the summer.. ...Read Full Story
A 27-year-old Paw Paw woman has died after crashing her car into a tree late Thursday night in Pine Grove Township. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says the crash happened shortly before midnight in the 27-thousand block of 20th Avenue. The woman died after being taken to the hospital, and it’s not known if she was wearing a seat belt. She was believed to have been drinking prior to the wreck. Police don’t know what caused her to go off the road and hit the tree, and her name has not been released.. ...Read Full Story
403 students were graduated from Southwestern Michigan College at its 52nd annual commencement last month. SMC says it awarded 158 associate in arts degrees, 35 associate in acience degrees, 171 associate in applied science degrees, and 39 certificates at the event at the Zollar Building. Additionally, Ferris State University conferred 42 bachelor’s degrees to students that day. SMC says among the grads were four students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. The latest class of graduates comes from all over Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.. ...Read Full Story
The West Michigan Regional Veterans Court will hold its 14th graduation ceremony on Monday, and presiding will be Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. The West Michigan Regional Veterans Court covers Allegan, Ottawa, and Van Buren counties, and was set up about four years ago. That’s according to Van Buren County District Judge William Baillargeon, who spoke with WSJM News.. ...Read Full Story
The Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education met on Thursday to take care of some housekeeping, but questions linger about what’s next for the school district. Speaking with us after the session where the board voted to seek its state aid anticipation note, Vice President Joseph Taylor couldn’t comment on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s offer of another week for the board to decide on a proposal to suspend operations at the high school in exchange for debt relief.. ...Read Full Story
The deputy chief and fire marshal for South Haven Area Emergency Services will serve his final day on duty this Friday. SHAES says Tony Marsala is retiring after 34 years with the department. His career has taken him from Covert to South Haven Township, and then to the South Haven Fire Department, which is now SHAES, starting in 1985. Marsala decided to become a first responder at a young age, starting out as an EMT and training to be a firefighter while he was still in high school. He was the South Haven Fire Department’s Firefighter of the Year in 1989, and promoted to captain in 2008. He’s been deputy chief and fire inspector since 2010.. ...Read Full Story
This month will bring a chance for anyone in Berrien County to rid themselves of unneeded pesticides. Berrien County Environmental Property Manager Jill Adams tells WSJM News a Clean Sweep pesticide collection day will be Wednesday, June 26. You have to register at least two weeks in advance. She says it’s a free way for anyone to get rid of old pesticides so they don’t wind up in the environment. Last year’s two summer events collected more than 27,000 pounds of pesticides.. ...Read Full Story
The employment rate is going up in Michigan for those suffering from a major mental illness and getting one form of state help. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Lynn Sutfin says the latest report shows in 2018 there was 30% employment among those who received Individual Placement and Support services, compared to an employment rate of 10% in 2016. Sutfin says Individual Placement and Support services, or IPS, is a state program that helps people living with behavioral health conditions find jobs.. ...Read Full Story
A day after Governor Gretchen Whitmer came to Benton Harbor and defended her administration’s plans to close Benton Harbor High School, Mayor Marcus Muhammad has made an apparent call for the Senior PGA Championship to be disrupted. The PGA event is slated to be held at Harbor Shores next May. On his Facebook page Thursday, Muhammad wrote “No High School in the City of Benton Harbor, No Kitchen Aid Senior PGA Tournament in the City of Benton Harbor.” He also posted the hashtags WhitmerGetUp, redistribute the pain, and education 1st. Muhammad told The Herald Palladium, “The Facebook post is exactly what it says. If there’s no support to keep Benton Harbor High School in the city of Benton Harbor, then there’s no support for the Senior PGA, a Steelhead Triathlon or any other grand excursion where people want to come and turn Benton Harbor into a haven for the rich and powerful while the children in the community wallow in hell.” The Herald Palladium posted the mayor’s response on its own Facebook page.. ...Read Full Story
Set for this Saturday is the second annual Makers Trail Festival at Weko Beach in Bridgman. Sarah Spoonholtz with the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber tells us the event will feature products from southwest Michigan wineries, breweries, and more.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Republicans who control Michigan’s House are proposing to boost road spending by dedicating the state’s 6 percent sales tax at the pump to the transportation budget. Much of that money now goes to schools and municipalities. A House plan
unveiled Thursday and given initial approval by a subcommittee would gradually earmark all of the sales tax on motor fuel to road construction. It is House Republicans’ response to Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s call to increase fuel taxes by 45-cents-a-gallon to raise roughly $2 billion more for roads. Republicans say the move would avoid a tax increase. They are pledging to not hurt schools and municipalities that depend on the sales tax revenue, but Democrats question how that is possible and say the plan would not raise nearly
enough for roads.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Republican businessman John James of Michigan says he will challenge first-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters in 2020 in a key state for President Donald Trump’s re-election chances. James is the 37-year-old African American combat veteran and CEO of an automotive logistics company in Detroit. He lost to longtime Senator Debbie Stabenow last year but did better than expected, considering he started as a political unknown and the race was never prioritized as a battleground by the national GOP in a successful year for Michigan Democrats. James announced his candidacy Thursday. He tells The Associated Press he wants to “help people” because there’s much work to be done healing the country and unifying Michigan. He says he will donate a nickel of every dollar his campaign raises to charity.. ...Read Full Story
With summer about here, Michigan State Police are reminding everyone of the dangers of leaving kids in cars, if even for just a few minutes. Police say 44 children died from heatstroke after being left in cars nationwide in 2013, noting the temperature in a parked vehicle can rise 20 degrees in as little as ten minutes. A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them more susceptible to heatstroke, and so police say you should never leave one in a parked car for any length of time. The MSP recommends parents leave themselves a note in the car reminding them of this, to keep a bag or other item in the backseat so they’ll look back before walking away, and to ask their daycare providers to call if their child doesn’t arrive on time. You can find out more right here.. ...Read Full Story
There is a slight reprieve for the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education regarding the future of Benton Harbor High School. During a two-plus hour town hall at the Brotherhood of All Nations Church Tuesday evening, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the board will get more time to either approve the state’s proposal to suspend the operation of Benton Harbor High School or deliver her a viable counter proposal.. ...Read Full Story
State Senator Kim LaSata has introduced legislation designed to ensure students at Benton Harbor High School still receive their promise zone scholarships if circumstances cause them to graduate from another high school in the area. LaSata says “Benton Harbor students are facing an uncertain future in which their high school may close or the entire school district may be dissolved.” She adds regardless of what happens, it’s important to preserve the promise scholarship opportunity for eligible students in either scenario. Senate Bill 359 would ensure eligible Benton Harbor High School students get their scholarship through the Benton Harbor Promise regardless of which school in Berrien RESA’s service area they might graduate from. The plan is before the Senate Appropriations Committee.. ...Read Full Story
The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission is conducting a water quality survey this summer in Berrien and Cass counties, and everyone’s asked to take a few minutes to respond. Associate planner Kris Martin tells the overall goal is education.. ...Read Full Story
LGBTQ state lawmakers and their supporters this week introduced an amendment to the state’s Civil Rights Act to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in Michigan. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, passed in 1976, makes it illegal to discriminate in matters of housing, public accommodation, and employment due to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age, height, weight or family status. Sam Inglot of the group Progress Michigan says LGBTQ Michiganders also should have legal recourse if they experience discrimination.. ...Read Full Story
The Pokagon Fund has announced more than $300,000 in grants to organizations around southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana. In total, $313,000 was approved by the Pokagon Fund Board of Directors at the fund’s final quarterly meeting of the year. The grants are grouped into the categories of education, poverty reduction, and community vitality. They go to non-profits in Harbor Country as well as Dowagiac and Hartford, and South Bend. Among the grants are $100,000 in Pokagon Fund scholarships, $15,000 to Hartford Public Schools for second and third grade libraries, and $58,000 to the village of Grand Beach for the preservation of 42 acres of forest.. ...Read Full Story
The city of South Haven is welcoming a new assistant finance director and a new human resources director. It says Carol Stricklin is now the assistant finance director. She’s currently the lead accountant for South Haven Public Schools, and has experience in bookkeeping and payroll. Stricklin has also done volunteer work around the community. She will start the job with the city on June 30. Also, the city recently announced Kim Wise has been hired as human resources director. She was previously employed by Bronson Healthcare Group as the system employment and leave of absence supervisor. Prior to that, she did HR for South Haven Health System. Wise took up her new position on June 3.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Wet spring weather has pushed Lake Erie’s water level to its highest point ever recorded. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday the shallowest of the Great Lakes hit the milestone in May, surpassing the previous peak set in 1986. Lake Superior also reached its highest known level for the month of May, although it has been even higher at other times of year. The Corps began measuring Great Lakes levels in 1918. Chief watershed hydrologist Keith Kompoltowicz of the Corps district office in Detroit says precipitation in the region last month was 21% above normal. He says Lakes Huron, Michigan and Ontario might also set records this summer. The Corps says flooding and coastal erosion threats will continue along Great Lakes coasts, especially during storms.. ...Read Full Story
St. Joseph’s Jordan Brewer is headed to the Houston Astros system. The University of Michigan baseball star was selected by Houston in the third round of the 2019 MLB amateur draft this week. Brewer graduated from St. Joseph High School in 2016 and played his first two years of college baseball at Lincoln Trails Community College in Illinois before transferring to Michigan. With the Wolverines, he was the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year. So far this season, he’s hitting .352 with 12 home runs, 52 runs batted in and 19 steals in 50 games. Michigan is still playing in the postseason and heads to UCLA on Friday for the Super Regionals, one step shy of the College World Series.. ...Read Full Story
A bill which would give as many as 2.5 million undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship is now headed to the U.S. Senate following passage this week by the House. The American Dream and Promise Act passed on a vote of 237-187, which included just seven Republicans joining Democrats to vote in favor. One of those being Congressman Fred Upton of St. Joseph. Upton has long been a supporter of the Dreamers as they’ve come to be called, who were brought to the U.S. as children and have lived here for almost all of their lives. In a statement, he says DACA recipients are contributing to their communities and deserve the chance to be able to stay. Upton adds the resolution isn’t perfect, but he’s hoping it prompts bipartisan talks on the best solutions possible.. ...Read Full Story
Just as things come to a head for Benton Harbor Area Schools, its superintendent and CEO is leaving. The Farmington Public Schools Board of Education has approved a three-year contract with Robert Herrera to take over the position of superintendent in that district. The Farmington district writes on its Facebook page the board unanimously approved the contract this week. Board President Pamela Green says the “vote illustrates the board’s confidence in and support of Dr. Herrera.” He was chosen from among 29 applicants for the superintendent job there, and he’s slated to start on July 1. Herrera stepped into the leadership role at Benton Harbor Area Schools last July, working under the state as the district’s CEO through the cooperative agreement. That agreement expires at the end of June 30.. ...Read Full Story
Indiana Michigan Power is going to use helicopters to conduct some routine maintenance on its transmission lines around southwest Michigan. I&M says the work will be done between Lakeville, Indiana and Bridgman starting this week and continuing around the summer. The helicopters help crews reach wires and equipment between transmission structures. I&M says the choppers being used are black MD-500s. They’ll travel along the transmission line and hover for periods of time while crews perform the work. If you see the helicopters, don’t be alarmed. I&M adds customers will not experience outages as a result of the work, but some landowners may be contacted and asked for permission for ground support crews to access equipment.. ...Read Full Story
Police are looking for a man who robbed the Chicken Coop restaurant on M-139 in Benton Township just after 8:30 Tuesday night. The Benton Township Police Department says the suspect is a black man, around five-feet-eight, who had his faced covered by a camouflage mask and pulled a gun after coming in through the back door. Employees say he ordered them to the front of the business and kept the gun pointed at them until all the cash was out of the registers and in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt. He got away through the back door, and investigators weren’t able to track him. No one was hurt, and no shots were fired.. ...Read Full Story
A Tuesday night meeting to talk about the fate of Benton Harbor High School took the form of a rally as the community did just that for its schools. Kicking things off was Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education President Steven Mitchell, who said the board is asking the state for a two-week extension to decide on a proposal to shut down the high school after the 2020-2021 academic year. The board currently has until this Friday to decide. The state has offered debt relief in exchange. Local Trustee Patricia Rush said at Tuesday’s meeting the district’s problems go back to Schools of Choice, telling the crowd it lost $22 million in funding this year to other districts. Other speakers included students who pushed the Fresh Start Resolution.. ...Read Full Story
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has heard the message coming out of Benton Harbor the past two weeks. At a Tuesday board of education meeting regarding the proposed closure of Benton Harbor High School, Whitmer spokesperson Poppy Hernandez read a message straight from the governor to the community.. ...Read Full Story
Local advocates for the LGBTQ community are questioning Congressman Fred Upton’s vote on the Equality Act, which passed the House last month. The OutCenter’s Mary Jo Schnell tells WSJM News the act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans in the public and private sectors.. ...Read Full Story
In town this week to show support to Benton Harbor Area Schools as the state offers to wipe out some of its debt in exchange for closure of the high school is Chicago-based activist Jitu Brown with the Journey for Justice Alliance. He tells WSJM News his own city has faced a round of school closures in primarily black communities, and sees similarities to Benton Harbor. Brown says the “land grab” claims have credibility.. ...Read Full Story
Two new members have been added to the Berrien RESA Board of Education. On Monday, Dr. Michael Lindley of Grand Beach and Jon R. Martin of Niles were selected for the board during RESA’s biennial election. They’ll both serve six year terms. Lindley and Martin will replace current RESA board President Sharon Kalling and board member Martha Momany. Kalling has been on the RESA board since 1977. Momany was appointed to fill a vacancy last year. Lindley and Martin will take their posts on July 1.. ...Read Full Story
There are renewed efforts at the state Capitol to expand LGBTQ rights. Lawmakers unveiled new bills Tuesday to amend the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes with the backing of Governor Gretchen Whitmer.. ...Read Full Story
Monday night’s meeting of the Benton Harbor City Commission nearly ended with the entire agenda being tabled due to an issue with a possible sale of city-owned property at 200 Paw Paw. Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats wanted to know why that matter wasn’t on the agenda when he said his committee last month approved the sale of the property to Justice Grown out of Chicago, a medical marijuana company.. ...Read Full Story
