Local News Archives

The city of St. Joseph does not currently have a plan to manage deer in the city limits, but it’s clear after a lengthy portion of Monday’s city commission meeting that people feel it’s necessary. The commission heard from Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer specialist Chad Stewart about the options some communities are undertaking to handle the problem, from using snipers in Ann Arbor to trying sterilization or other non-lethal methods. He had this response to a question from Commissioner Jeff Richards about how the city should start.. ...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

Are there any debates lined up between now and the November election in the 21st District Senate race or the two state House races in Berrien County? That depends on who you ask and your definition of a debate. Berrien County Democratic Party chairman Dr. Eric Lester says there are none, and noted Republican 79th District candidate Pauline Wendzel this week pulled out of a debate with Democrat Joey Andrews before the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University is marking another busy Change Day. Held for the second time ever on Thursday, September 13, Change Day 2018 was a chance for faculty, staff, and students to head out across Berrien and Cass counties to make a difference by working on community projects. This time around, about 1,400 people took part at 70 sites in seven neighborhoods. The volunteers spent the day at sites including the YMCA in Niles, the Curious Kids Museum, Habitat for Humanity, the Eau Claire District Library, Shamrock Park, and the Benton Harbor Public Library. Andrews University Diversity and Inclusion Vice President Michael Nixon says he led a team that worked on the Coloma-St. Joseph KOA Campground sites, telling us it was rewarding to see the difference the volunteers made to the grounds. Andrews University classes were canceled for the day to give the campus community an opportunity to join in service. Andrews started Change Day in 2017.. ...Read Full Story

A Niles woman is facing charges of operating while intoxicated causing death and failure to stop at a personal injury accident causing death in a crash that killed a Berrien Springs man this month. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us 32-year-old Todd Harrington of Berrien Springs was on his bicycle on Pokagon Road the afternoon of September 15 when he was hit by the woman’s SUV. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman allegedly failed to stop at the scene and was later arrested at her home thanks to a witness who provided the license plate number to police. 23-year-old Kyriea Jade Demorrow was taken to the Berrien County Jail and posted bond. The charges in the case were authorized this week by the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office following a review.. ...Read Full Story

A donation of land for a new storage space has been made to the Three Oaks American Legion by Horizon Bank. The bank tells us it owned about one acre of excess property in Three Oaks for some time, and when the American Legion told them it could make good use of the parcel, the donation was arranged. The property has two outbuildings, which the American Legion post will use for storage. The post also says the property gives it more space to hold events. Horizon Bank says the land donation is one way the bank could be supportive of the community.. ...Read Full Story

Coming up next month will be a nationwide test of emergency alert systems, and officials in Berrien County want the public to let them know how it goes. Set for Wednesday, October 3 at 2:20 p.m., the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission will conduct the nationwide test of the IPAWS system. It sends out alerts to smart phones automatically, and users don’t have to sign up it. To get those wireless emergency alerts, though, you may need to look at the system settings in your phone. Berrien County Emergency Management tells us the county also has an opt-in service called B-WARN that people can sign up for. B-WARN allows the Emergency Management Office to send out text messages, phone calls, and emergency emails to residents. The county will put up a survey on its website following the October 3 national test to find out how many people were contacted. You can find it right here.. ...Read Full Story

The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan is reminding consumers of a new law that could help them protect themselves from identity theft. It says the three nationwide credit reporting agencies in the U.S. — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — will be required by a new law to let people freeze or thaw their credit report for free. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act went into effect on Friday. Previously, credit freezes were governed by state laws, and could be cumbersome to enact or end. The BBB says, now, freezing and unfreezing your credit will be easier and free. A security freeze prevents the credit reporting agency from releasing someone’s credit report. If you have a freeze in place, you’re given a PIN or password that you have to use in order to unfreeze the report. The new law also allows any parent to freeze their child’s credit. Anyone with questions can call the Better Business Bureau.. ...Read Full Story

The group backing the initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan is disputing most of the claims made by law enforcement officials this week that passage of the measure in November would be bad for the state. John Truscott is the spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. He told Michigan News Network for every claim made by police and prosecutors this week, they can refute it with statistics.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Rick Snyder is considering activating the National Guard to finish road projects now that talks between his office and the two sides have collapsed. Operating Engineers Local 324’s Dan McKernan told Michigan News Network there was an agreement reached in separate talks with Snyder’s office between the union and the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, but MITA had a new list of demands after a handshake deal was reached.. ...Read Full Story