Local News Archives

Bronson Healthcare has announced plans to invest up to $22 million in a new facility in South Haven. The health group says the new hospital will replace the old hospital and medical office buildings on South Bailey Avenue with a brand new building and medical offices in a health village setting. The new hospital and medical offices will be built on the east side of Bronson South Haven’s property near the entrance from Blue Star Highway. The plans include the new hospital, a 14-bed emergency department, lab and imaging services, a pharmacy, and medical offices. Construction could begin as early as the fall of 2019 with completion targeted for the end of 2020. The old hospital and medical office buildings will be demolished.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Democratic Party is upset by an email sent out by Lakeland Hospital to all medical staff on September 7 announcing a fundraiser for Congressman Fred Upton’s campaign to be held in Holland. Dr. Eric Lester is the party chairman.. ...Read Full Story

New information is out from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department regarding the deadly crash in Bainbridge Township Sunday between a Pokagon Tribal Patrol Vehicle and a car driven by a 69-year-old woman. Police say that woman was Sherry Temple of Stevensville, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the police SUV, 45-year-old Gustavo Pop-Monroy, is out of the hospital and recovering at home with a broken left forearm and a cut to his left hand. The other officer injured is 35-year-old Earl Holbrook, who is in stable condition at South Bend Memorial Hospital with a head injury, a partially severed left ear, and a broken bone behind his ear. The officers were headed to a domestic violence call with their lights and sirens on when Temple ran a stop sign at M-140 and Territorial Road.. ...Read Full Story

Poverty and lack of health insurance is bad for your health – and bad for public health.  The Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad says poverty and a range of other socio-economic factors impact public health in a big way.  She says health isn’t just something delivered by hospitals and doctors.. ...Read Full Story

The United Way of Southwest Michigan has kicked off its annual campaign. President Anna Murphy tells WSJM News they’re doing something a little different this year by not announcing a monetary goal, and instead using the campaign to push for more community involvement.. ...Read Full Story

A 69-year-old woman has died after a crash between her car and a Pokagon Tribal Police car in Bainbridge Township. The crash happened just before 3:30 Sunday afternoon on M-140 at Territorial Road when the woman went through a stop sign and was broadsided by the police car as officers were responding to a priority domestic violence call. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says she was pronounced dead at the scene, while her passenger was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital. Everyone was wearing seat belts, and the two officers involved were not hurt.. ...Read Full Story

“Stop the violence, stop the silence.” That’s the message from Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad as he and other community leaders spearhead a new initiative to reduce violent crime in the city. At a Thursday press conference, Muhammad stood with police and church leaders to appeal for unity in Benton Harbor.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator John Proos is pleased to see some STEM education legislation he sponsored received its final, ceremonial signing by the governor. Last week, Proos tells WSJM News he invited local students and educators to Lansing for the signing of bills that would create a special STEM certification on the transcripts of high school students.. ...Read Full Story

A new report sheds light on the dangers of payday loans, prompting consumer advocates to call for new regulations in Michigan. Community Economic Development Association of Michigan Senior Policy Specialist Jessica AcMoody tells us by charging annual percentage rates equivalent to 340%, payday lenders cost Michiganders more than $94 million in 2016 alone. She says these loans target the vulnerable.. ...Read Full Story

A Chicago-based consulting firm headed up by a St. Joseph native will tackle shaping the future of the city’s downtown. Houseal Lavigne Associates was hired by the city commission this week to begin the study. The firm is led by John Houseal, who says growing up here helps him fully understand the unique needs of the city when it comes to figuring out the best way to address the needs of the entire community.. ...Read Full Story