Local News Archives

If Royalton Township leaders get their way, the township could get some big park improvements next year. The township has applied for two state grants, totaling $300,000, to pay for work at Bicentennial Park and the nature trail off Bacon School Road. Township Manager Steve Tilly tells WSJM News they want to fix up the trail.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator John Proos is once again expecting the Michigan legislature to roundly approve a resolution calling on the federal government to do more to ensure the Asian carp doesn’t get into the Great Lakes. He tells WSJM News a resolution he’s sponsored asking for just that has been approved by a Senate committee.. ...Read Full Story

Individuals and businesses who helped the United Way of Southwest Michigan in the past year reach its fundraising goal have been saluted by the organization. It held its annual awards dinner Thursday at the Mendel Center, with President Anna Murphy noting the special work regional businesses each year to help.. ...Read Full Story

“Penny wise but pound foolish” is how Congressman Fred Upton describes the president’s new budget proposal. Upton has issued a brief statement on the plan. He writes that the budget “acknowledges our unsustainable national debt and does attempt to put us on the path to fiscal responsibility.” However, Upton then goes on to say he’s “deeply concerned” about cuts to the Great Lakes and the National Institutes of Health. He pledges to work with colleagues in Congress on the federal budget as the process moves forward.. ...Read Full Story

The Lake Michigan College Foundation is taking over the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan. As the club has faced increased costs in recent years, it sent a letter to members this week telling them that handing off all assets to the foundation will reduce overhead and strengthen its ability to continue its mission into the future. Mendel Center Executive Director Mike Nadolski will now take on the title of Director of The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan Speaker Series, and serve as the club’s leader. Members are not expected to notice many changes as a result, but this is a new era for the organization that has brought a variety of big name speakers to southwest Michigan over the years. They’ve included former U.S. presidents, foreign leaders, secretaries of state, senators, journalists, comedians, and scientists.. ...Read Full Story

President Donald Trump’s federal budget aims to eliminate the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and that’s expected to get some tough opposition from Michigan’s congressional delegation. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow told WKZO News she’s going to fight the cut.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Members of Michigan’s House of Representatives have passed bills that would make the governor, lieutenant governor and the legislature accountable under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. The package of bills was voted on Thursday and now moves to the GOP-controlled Senate. Lead sponsors of the bills are Republican Representative Lee Chatfield from Levering and Democrat Representative Jeremy Moss from Southfield. They say residents are demanding more transparency following the state’s involvement in events like the Flint water crisis and a sex scandal involving two now-former members of the state House. The bills could die in the Senate where Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof has opposed the legislation, citing security concerns over constituent emails.. ...Read Full Story

Firefighters say they managed to save a dog from a fire in Casco Township Thursday morning. It was reported in a home on Baseline Road near 70th Street shortly before 9 a.m. A passerby reported the place being on fire, as the homeowner was not there at the time. South Haven Area Emergency Services arrived to find a dog semi conscious on a bathroom floor. They pulled the dog out and gave it oxygen, then took it to a local veterinarian. The dog is expected to be OK. Firefighters contained the blaze to the living room. Two cats did die in the fire. Its cause remains under investigation.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — President Donald Trump wants to eliminate federal support of a program that addresses the Great Lakes’ most pressing environmental threats. Trump’s 2018 budget released Thursday would remove all funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has received strong support from members of Congress in both parties since President Barack Obama established it in 2009. The program has pumped more than $2.2 billion into the eight-state region for projects that have removed toxic wastes from industrial harbors, fought invasive species such as Asian carp, restored wildlife habitat and supported efforts to prevent harmful algal blooms. The initiative has generally received about $300 million a year. Congress voted last year to authorize the program for five more years. A Trump campaign representative said last fall the Republican nominee supported the program.. ...Read Full Story

State Superintendent Brian Whiston is waiting for word from the attorney general’s office on whether he can cut funding for school districts with offensive nicknames if they don’t change them. In particular, he wants to force Paw Paw and Saranac to drop the “Redskins” monikers, which boards from both districts have recently voted to retain. Whiston told reporters this week if the attorney general says he doesn’t have the authority under current law, he will start lobbying the Legislature for that power. He adds his office is working with Michigan’s Native American tribes on the issue.. ...Read Full Story

Cornerstone Alliance is moving to a new facility in Benton Harbor. President Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News they’ve found new digs on West Main, while Mosaic CCDA will take over Cornerstone’s current property on West Wall Street. He says the moves begin May first, when Cornerstone will go into a temporary location.. ...Read Full Story

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over spring campaign kicks off Thursday. Judge Geno Salomone stood in front of law enforcement officers talking about case after case of drunk drivers who went before him in court this week. He tells Michigan News Network he advised them to get help.. ...Read Full Story

The new partnership agreement between Benton Harbor Area Schools and the state of Michigan is starting to come together. Benton Harbor Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker tells WSJM News she’s learning new things each day about how the partnership allowing three struggling schools in the district to stay open will look. She says the deal won’t just be more state control.. ...Read Full Story

Everyone’s welcome to come out on March 31 to see the Michigan Army National Guard engage in some training in Dowagiac. Guard Captain Ryan Kimball tells WSJM News about 50 guardsmen will board a Chinook helicopter as though they’re really being mobilized.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Transportation has begun work on seven traffic signal replacements around St. Joseph. City Engineer Tim Zebell tells WSJM News the new signals going in around town are different in that they sit on mast arms that extend out over the intersection, rather than hanging from wires.. ...Read Full Story

Recent controversies surrounding Bangor Public Schools have led to the publication of an online petition seeking to oust the school board and the former superintendent, who is now the chief operations officer. The petition on Change.org as of Wednesday afternoon had about 140 signatures. It lists the recent internet posting of a video featuring teachers engaged in an inappropriate conversation as among the reasons there needs to be changes in the district. It also cites confusion over administrator qualifications, teacher pay, and academic rankings. The petition states, “We are tired of the good ol’ boy network.” The school board is not required to respond to the petition. Its next meeting is Monday, March 20 at 6 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

Stealing groceries has ended the law enforcement career of a man once named the Berrien County “Deputy of the Year.” Lieutenant Trent Babcock was fired this week for shoplifting nearly $200 in groceries from the Niles Walmart in February. He entered a guilty plea to retail fraud charges on March 3, and was ordered to pay $400 in court costs and fees. Sheriff Paul Bailey has told several media outlets that he fired Babcock on Monday, but did not give any further details. Babcock was the county’s “Deputy of the Year” in 2013, prior to his promotion to lieutenant.. ...Read Full Story

There’s no school in Lawrence today, but not because of the weather. It’s what has been happening inside the building, mainly the spread of a nasty virus between classmates and staff that prompted the administration to call for a time out. Health officials are working with school officials in Van Buren County to try and limit the spread of the contagious virus.. ...Read Full Story

Senators Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton and Rick Jones of Grand Ledge are introducing bills to require the Executive and Legislative branches of state government be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The package goes one step farther than the effort in the House, which has proposed a modified and limited version of the law be applied to the legislature. The act requires that upon request, that any citizen can ask for a copy of any public document, and with the advent of new technologies, that includes E-mail and other communications. Michigan is one of only two states where FOIA isn’t in place for the governor and Legislature. The move toward transparency was prompted in part by the Flint water crisis.. ...Read Full Story

With power now restored for most Michiganders from last week’s wind storms, many of those impacted are picking up the pieces. Experts say that means it’s a busy time for scammers. Lori Conarton, with the Insurance Institute of Michigan, tells us most wind damage will be covered by insurance policies, however those who are renting properties may find themselves in a tough spot.. ...Read Full Story

A Michigan Senate resolution seeking to establish the right to hunt and fish in the state constitution has the backing of Senator John Proos. He tells WSJM News hunting and fishing are traditions that deserve legal protection.. ...Read Full Story

The deficit at Benton Harbor Area Schools has gone down. The district says it’s been reduced by more than 39% in the last two years. That’s a statistic cited in a resolution the board of education approved Tuesday night to oppose the threatened closure of three district buildings by the state. Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker tells WSJM News the numbers show things are turning around.. ...Read Full Story

Blues guitarist Jonny Lang will headline this year’s BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival in St. Joseph. St. Joe Today’s Brian Smith tells WSJM News Lang had to cancel last year because of a family issue, but promised to come back this year. He’s made good on the promise. Smith’s looking forward to a successful BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass.. ...Read Full Story

Things have been going well for the Krasl Art Center as it seeks $1.7 million as part of a place-making initiative to reopen its grounds and offer an outdoor space. Executive Director Julia Gourley tells us the campaign is now approaching the $1 million mark, having raised $920,000. The money has come from local foundations, businesses, and individuals who want to support the arts. The outdoor area Krasl is planning would be available to the whole community and will feature a newly-commissioned sculpture from artist Richard Hunt as the centerpiece. It’ll be open to the public for use at any time. Anyone interested in finding out more can go to Krasl.org.. ...Read Full Story

Sheriff’s investigators in Cass County believe drugs and alcohol factored into a late Sunday rollover in Wayne Township. 34-year-old Lucas Black of Dowagiac swerved out of the way of a passing vehicle on Ruby Road before 10 p.m. Black was rushed by ambulance to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac. His current condition was not disclosed.. ...Read Full Story

No jail time for one of the first officials sentenced in connection to the Flint water crisis. Corrine Miller ordered staff to delete emails detailing Legionella in the Flint River water. She was ordered to complete community service and write an apology letter to the people of Flint. Todd Flood, with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, says Miller received the light sentence because she was one of the first officials to cooperate with investigators.. ...Read Full Story

Retired Lakeshore football coach Denny Dock will be inducted in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 25th in Ann Arbor. Dock coached the Lancers from 1988-2013 also spent time as head coach at Hartford from 1981 to 1983 and Dowagiac from 1984 to 1987. Over his career, Dock compiled a record of 263 wins and 76 losses, going and 209-64 at Lakeshore. Dock continues to serve as the Lakeshore softball coach, leading the Lancers to six state championships, the most recent in 2011.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s superintendent is dropping a plan to give a letter grade to every public school and instead will issue a report card showing indicators such as each school’s proficiency on the state exam. Superintendent Brian Whiston had intended to develop the A-F grading system as part of an effort to make Michigan a top state for education. But the concept, while supported by some Republicans in the GOP-led Legislature, is controversial and has been questioned by many in the education community. Two officials who were briefed by Whiston – State Board of Education member Tom McMillin and Michigan Association of School Administrators Executive Director Chris Wigent – told The Associated Press that the state Department of Education’s default accountability plan will be a “dashboard” format with no grades.. ...Read Full Story

Miss Blossomtime 2017 is Kaylee Chapin, of Watervliet. The annual pageant was held Monday night at the Mendel Center in Benton Township. Taking the position of first runner up was Miss Bridgman McKenna Smith, followed by Miss Edwardsburg Katelyn Boyer as second runner up. Miss Congeniality is Miss Lawrence Devin Gray. Hunter Ackerman, of Hartford, was named Mr. Blossomtime on Sunday night. The newly crowned Blossomtime royalty will be featured in the Blossomtime Grand Floral Parade through Benton Harbor and St. Joseph on May 6.. ...Read Full Story

Wayne State University is bringing more than 1,000 middle school students and teachers to campus Tuesday for the school’s first STEM Day. Wayne State’s Julie Hasse told Michigan News Network the students will have a chance to use science to pull off something that sounds miraculous.. ...Read Full Story

The question of what to do with Second Street near Lions Park Beach in St. Joseph appears to have been settled. At a Monday meeting, city commissioners voted to preserve Second Street as a public right of way, effectively rejecting a proposal from a local property owner to beautify the area and turn it into a walkway. Mayor Mike Garey told WSJM News he’s not comfortable taking private money to make changes to a public street.. ...Read Full Story

A new partnership called Trading Places will help Michigan inmates reintegrate into society. Heidi Washington, Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections, told Michigan News Network they’re working with two organizations to train prisoners.. ...Read Full Story

A Little Free Library is coming to Benton Harbor this weekend as part of National Reading Month. The Berrien County Democratic Party will hold an event on Sunday at the Wide Awake United Church of Christ at the corner of Bellview and Pipestone in Benton Harbor to put the finishing touches on the Little Free Library which will be installed in the city later this year.. ...Read Full Story

We are under a winter weather advisory until 11 tonight. The National Weather Service is predicting most areas will get two-to-three inches of snow today, with another inch tonight. Some more lake effect snow is possible tomorrow, and forecasters are predicting a total of 3 to 5 inches for the area by the time the system is done. Much more is expected along the East Coast, and that storm is going to impact anyone planning to fly today and tomorrow.. ...Read Full Story

Increased oil production in the U.S. is helping to put pressure on gas prices. We’re starting this week with prices averaging $2.32 in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph according to Triple-A Michigan, which is a drop of 8¢ a gallon. Statewide, we’re down 7¢ to $2.34. The auto club says the lowest average price is in Traverse City at $2.29, with the highest in Jackson at $2.41. Oil services company Baker Hughes tells AAA that seven oil rigs in the U.S. went into production last week, bringing the total to 609, which is the most since October 2015.. ...Read Full Story

Mr. Blossomtime for this year is Hunter Ackerman of Hartford. This year’s Miss Blossomtime will be crowned tonight at the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College starting at 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to LMC for the event, tune in to News/Talk 94.9 WSJM for coverage with Zack East, Sandie Lieberg, and Lindsay Kay Zvonar. Something new this year is a public vote for one of the queens in the top ten. The other nine will be selected by the judges.. ...Read Full Story

We all have things to do this weekend because of the switch from daylight savings this weekend, and an hour less to do them, because we will all be springing forward tonight.. ...Read Full Story

(Lansing, MI – AP) – Michigan should make community college free for all and give merit-based scholarships to high school graduates who attend the state’s public universities, says a commission formed by Governor Rick Snyder. The panel released a report Friday that calls for getting rid of grade levels and instead advancing students only once they master content.. ...Read Full Story

Mr. and Miss Blossomtime will be crowned Sunday and Monday night. The pageant has been running for over 110 years in southwest Michigan and the public gets a say for the first time. One of the Queens will be elected to the top ten based on votes on the Internet, and the other nine will be selected by the judges. The poll can be found here, and this year’s Queens can be found by following this link. Tickets are available for $15 for Sunday and $20 for Monday night. If you can’t be there in person, News/Talk 94.9 WSJM will again broadcast Monday night’s event with Zack East, Sandie Lieberg, and Lindsday Kay Zvonar.. ...Read Full Story

Evening tours of the Van Buren County Courthouse and Jail are now being offered starting next Thursday. Frank Hardester is the trial court administrator in Van Buren County and tells our newsroom the tours are being done to show people why they’re asking for a millage to pay for upgrades.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan House has approved legislation to prohibit a lawmaker who resigns or who has been expelled from office from running in the special election to fill the seat. The bill which passed 72-36 Thursday is a response to former Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat running in special elections to finish the remainder of their terms in 2015. Representative Aaron Miller of Sturgis sponsored the bill.. ...Read Full Story

Exactly what caused an Allegan County Sheriff’s deputy to lose control and crash on M-40 in Valley Township early Friday morning is under investigation. Extensive damage was done to the police car when it went into a ditch and hit several trees. The deputy was not hurt thanks to the airbags deploying and his seat belt. He was treated and released from a hospital, and the department is waiting to figure out just what happened before any action is taken. The crash happened just before 4 a.m.. ...Read Full Story

This weekend we’ll lose an hour with the start of Daylight Saving Time. An effort is underway in Lansing, however, to get rid of DST and keep Michigan on Eastern Standard Time year-round. State Representative Peter Lucido of Macomb County is the sponsor.. ...Read Full Story

President Trump has made revising or even repealing the Dodd-Frank Act a priority. The law was passed in response to the banking crisis that helped spark the Great Recession, and Congressman Bill Huizenga of Zeeland is on board. He says small banks are being hurt by the regulations.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is anticipating a good year for coho salmon fishing in Lake Michigan. The lake’s coho season is open year round, but the DNR says activity normally starts picking up in March. The fish have a consistent migration pattern, moving north into New Buffalo, St. Joseph, and South Haven before moving away from the shore for the summer. Coho harvest on Lake Michigan was up 25% last year compared to 2015, and the DNR expects this year to be just as good – if not better. More than 20,000 mature fish returned last year for spawning, indicating this year will be a good one. The DNR also plans to stock 1.5 million coho salmon in Lake Michigan this spring.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan attorney general’s anti-bullying tipline OK2SAY is gaining in popularity. Spokeswoman Andrea Bitely tells WSJM News that in 2016, the program received nearly 34-hundred tips, up nearly 55% from 2015.. ...Read Full Story

The state’s Emergency Operations Center is up and running, as Governor Rick Snyder lends a hand to those without power across Michigan. The governor says in addition to providing clear communication across many agencies, they also have to think ahead, especially as temperatures drop in areas already dealing with outages.. ...Read Full Story

The Lakeshore Sports Complex on Cleveland Road is going to get bigger. SWM Kickers and the Lakeshore Youth Soccer League are teaming up for the expansion, and LYSL president Mark Smith says it’s especially needed for soccer.. ...Read Full Story

A realtor from Buchanan is this year’s Realtor of the Year for the area. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors has honored Linda Johnson of Integrity Real Estate Professionals in Niles with the award this year. She has been licensed as a realtor for the past 14 years and serves on the association’s Standard Forms Committee and Finance Committee. Johnson has previously won several MLS Production Awards, winning Silver Awards in 2008, 2014 and 2014 and the Gold Award in 2013.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan lawmakers have approved legislation that aims to keep 100,000 criminals who are under state supervision from breaking the law again. The 20-bill package passed by the House Wednesday limits the length of incarceration for offenders who violate their probation and creates a more intensive parole program. Senator John Proos sponsored several of the bills.. ...Read Full Story

The high winds throughout Michigan are causing problems keeping the lights on in some areas. Indiana Michigan Power is reporting about 9,000 customers early this afternoon without electricity, most in an area north of Paw Paw. By 3:30, that number had been cut to just under 5,500. Consumers Energy says statewide, more than 180,000 of its customers have lost power. Consumers says some might not get it back until Sunday due to the widespread damage from the winds.. ...Read Full Story

Suspected mass murderer Jason Dalton is now scheduled to go on trial June 13 in Kalamazoo County. Dalton faces 16 charges, six of them murder counts, for a shooting spree around Kalamazoo last February. Among his victims were a father and son from Mattawan and a Baroda woman. Dalton is expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, and told police the app for his job with Uber took control of his mind that day. Two people survived the shootings, which happened in three different locations, hours apart. In between, he kept picking up people for Uber, with several police calls made about his reckless driving. Dalton had originally been set to go on trial last fall, but the court date was pushed back.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The head of Flint’s water pipe replacement program says the city hopes to finish the project in 2019. Retired National Guard Brigadier General Michael McDaniel coordinates the FAST Start initiative to replace lines that leached lead into homes and businesses. He made his comments during the first day of a three-day water infrastructure conference in Flint. He says they hope to replace pipes to 6,000 homes this year. The city has said at least 30,000 homes may have service lines that need replacement. Residents still are being urged to use water filters. Flint was under state control when it switched in 2014 from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River to save money. The river water was not properly treated to prevent pipe corrosion. Elevated levels of lead later were found in some children.. ...Read Full Story

A plan that would guarantee all Michigan workers paid sick time has been introduced in the state legislature. A bill in the Senate would mandate employers give an hour of sick pay for every 30 hours worked. Democratic State Representative Stephanie Chang has introduced a similar House measure, and says it would solve a big problem for low-income workers.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is among the Republican rank and file supporting the House GOP’s American Health Care Act, designed to replace the Affordable Care Act. The plan released this week would keep in place the ACA’s prohibition on insurers denying coverage to people because of pre-existing conditions. It would also keep in place a provision letting people to stay on their parents’ insurance through the age of 26. Upton in a statement Tuesday called the GOP plan responsible, adding it gives low income Americans who receive insurance through the ACA a “stable transition period” so “the rug won’t be pulled out from under them.” Below is Upton’s entire statement.. ...Read Full Story

Leaders from Benton Harbor Area Schools will soon learn details of the district’s new partnership agreement with the state, buying three buildings targeted for closure 18 months of extra time. Last week, the governor’s office announced it’s giving the opportunity to buildings on a School Reform Office list of the state’s lowest performing schools. Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker tells WSJM News stakeholders will meet with state officials on March 23 to establish how the district can use the new partnership to show the state that the three schools are improving.. ...Read Full Story

Part of the repackaging of the Affordable Care Act is now underway. Republicans released details of their ACA replacement this week, and Democrats like Congresswoman Debbie Dingell don’t like it. She spoke with Michigan News Network.. ...Read Full Story