Local News Archives

From the Associated Press — Michigan municipalities would be prohibited from levying local taxes on food and beverages under a bill advancing to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk for his expected signature. No local government in Michigan is now considering such a tax. But lawmakers say it is possible, pointing to Philadelphia and Chicago as places with soda taxes. Similar taxes have been approved in San Francisco and Oakland, California. The Republican-led Michigan Senate voted 30-5 Thursday to send the fast-tracked legislation to the governor. The Chicago-area’s penny-per-ounce tax on soda and sweetened drinks was repealed Wednesday after a monthslong conflict that included a court battle and millions of dollars’ worth of television ads on both sides.. ...Read Full Story

A group of volunteers will spend this weekend sprucing a St. Joseph baseball field, and they could use your help. Lars Petzke with the St. Joseph Baseball Association tells WSJM News they’ll be fixing up Wells Field on South State Street. That’s where local Little Leaguers play, and it needs some work.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Two Michigan counties say they are suing about a dozen drug manufacturers and distributors for deceptive marketing and sale of opioids. The joint lawsuit was announced Thursday by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. It alleges that drug manufacturers are using a “concerted, coordinated strategy to shift the way in which doctors and patients think about pain and to encourage the widespread prescribing and use of opioids.” Officials say there were 817 opioid-related deaths in Wayne County last year, up from 506 the year before. Oakland County opioid-related deaths rose from nine in 2009 to 33 in 2015. Last week, Newark, New Jersey, announced it was suing several opioid manufacturers, saying they downplayed the risk of opioid addiction and overstated the drugs’ long-term benefits.. ...Read Full Story

The heatwave we had in the area recently was great for juice and wine grapes in southwest Michigan. Couple that with mostly favorable weather all summer, and St. Julian Winery vice president and winemaker Nancy Oxley says it means a terrific and early crop.. ...Read Full Story

The murder trial for Kalamazoo massacre suspect Jason Dalton appears to about to be delayed again. His defense attorney is appealing an appeals court ruling about the admissibility of statements Dalton made to police to the Michigan Supreme Court. The appeals court declined to hear a motion challenging a decision by Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Alexander Lipsey that some of what was told to investigators can be used at trial, but not all of it. Defense attorney Eusebio Solis wants all of the statements tossed, arguing the questioning should have stopped when Dalton asked to have an attorney. He’s accused of killing six people and injuring two others in a rampage over the course of several hours at three locations in Kalamazoo County in February 2016. Two of his victims were from Mattawan, and another was from Baroda. Dalton faces six murder charges among the 16 crimes for which he’s been charged. The trial is now likely to be pushed back to sometime in early 2018.. ...Read Full Story

A vacancy on the St. Joseph City Commission will remain just that until after the elections next month. City commissioners this week said a post left empty with the resignation of former member Chris Heugel should be filled by the new commission which will be seated after the election. Although that leaves more than a month with a vacancy, the sitting commission said the folks who wind up serving on the board next month should get to pick Heugel’s replacement. Applications will be taken at that time. Heugel resigned last month because he moved to the township. His term runs through 2019. The city commission election is November 7.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Prosecutors say a girl charged after a social media prank led an 11-year-old Michigan boy to take his own life has been placed in a juvenile court program. Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese said Wednesday that the placement came after a hearing Friday. He said the girl was charged with malicious use of telecommunications services for making a false death report and
using a computer to commit a misdemeanor. Details about the program weren’t released. Tysen Benz was found hanging in his room in March in Marquette after seeing posts and texts that his 13-year-old girlfriend killed herself. The posts were a prank. Tysen’s mother, Katrina Goss, has said he replied over social media that he was going to kill himself. On Wednesday, she said the girl charged in the case
should have gotten a harsher punishment.. ...Read Full Story

This Saturday will bring another Bissell Pet Foundation Empty the Shelter event. That’s when the Grand Rapids-based Bissell will pay the adoption fees for animals at shelters all over the state. Taking part is the Cass County Animal Shelter in Cassopolis. Director Ron Butts tells WSJM News they’ve got lots of critters who need homes.. ...Read Full Story

Coloma Community Schools Superintendent Pete Bush says this week’s lockdown situation caused by the reported sighting of a student with a gun was handled according to state protocols. He tells WSJM News as soon as a teacher realized what they were dealing with, a well-practiced plan of action went into effect. Bush credits teachers and other staff.. ...Read Full Story

Happening this Thursday through Saturday is an event organized by COSY radio, or SuperHits 103.7, to collect supplies for those in need around southwest Michigan. COSY’s Paul Layendecker tells WSJM News it’s Project Personal Care. COSY personalities will be at the Village Market in South Haven collecting personal items for the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency.. ...Read Full Story

Testimony was taken in Lansing Wednesday about bills to eliminate some driver responsibility fees in Michigan. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson told the joint Competitiveness Committee she supports eliminating the fees, which have been in effect since 2003.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is urging legislative leaders to do more to fight the nation’s opioid epidemic. He testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday as it held a proceeding for members to talk about the issue, share local and personal stories, and highlight solutions.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Public Safety Director Brian Uridge is pleased with how his department’s summer safety strategy worked. Now, he wants to improve it for next year. At Monday’s city commission meeting, Uridge said the plan for this past summer was mostly met with positive reviews. His department implemented it after a series of meetings ahead of the summer. Uridge told WSJM News folks liked the more than 50 new parking spaces at Lions Beach Park created by making the upper drive one-way.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Reaction has been running negative in public hearings toward Indiana Michigan Power’s request for a nearly 20 percent rate hike to improve its electric distribution system in Indiana. People living in the Fort Wayne area said during a public meeting Tuesday that they can’t afford the estimated $26 monthly increase, which could go into effect by July 2018. If the increase is approved, the utility would receive more than $260 million for electric infrastructure improvements. Those include replacing poles and
overhead and underground power lines, and trimming trees to decrease the chances of falling trees causing power outages. Another public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will rule later on the rate-hike request. The utility company has about 460,000 residential and business customers in northern and northeastern Indiana.. ...Read Full Story

With Berrien County experiencing an increase in opioid deaths in recent years, the health department is hoping more people will learn how to administer Naloxone, a drug that revives overdose victims. Berrien County Health Department Prevention Specialist Kerri Teachout tells WSJM News a class is being offered this week where anyone can learn to recognize an overdose and receive a free dose of Naloxone to keep around, just in case.. ...Read Full Story

A Grand Junction man who allegedly held police at bay for 15 hours at his barricaded home in June 2016 is on trial in Van Buren County. Jason Kohlhoff is charged with six counts of attempted murder. Investigators have testified he holds strong anti-government beliefs and had been writing threatening letters to a South Haven judge. A detective who tried to question him about it says Kohlhoff produced a shotgun and discharged it once as a warning. The standoff followed. Hundreds of rounds were exchanged but no one was hit. They had to assault the home with an armored vehicle to convince Kohlhoff to surrender. He was initially found to be incompetent to stand trial but with treatment, got better and day two of his trial will come today and the suspect may testify.. ...Read Full Story

Anyone interested in what it’s like to be a Michigan State Police trooper will have a chance to learn with a citizens academy set for the next few months. MSP Trooper Jesse Binns with the Niles post tells WSJM News those who sign up for the next session will learn about several aspects of being a state police trooper.. ...Read Full Story

The investigation continues into the Coloma Junior High School student who was possibly seen with a gun this week while at school. Coloma Township Police Chief Jason Roe tells WSJM News there were enough credible reports from other students that the 12-year-old had dropped a handgun that police are still looking for it. He says the student was in a gym area between the high school and the junior high when other students reported the handgun falling out of his pocket. The student suspected of having a gun then managed to run off for a brief period before being detained. Police searched the junior high for five hours Monday while the building was on lockdown and they did not find a weapon. Still, Roe says they’ll look again. In the meantime, the student in question is not attending the school. Once the police complete their investigation, the case will be turned over to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office.. ...Read Full Story

A ban on bump stocks could soon be in the works. Congressman Fred Upton told Michigan’s Big Show this week most members of Congress didn’t even know what bump stocks were before the Las Vegas massacre shooter used one when he killed more than 50 people this month. Now, Upton thinks either a legislative or an administrative ban is coming.. ...Read Full Story

He’s been the state consent agreement consultant for Benton Harbor Area Schools since February of 2016, and now, he’s retiring. Don Weatherspoon, who is also the state’s consent agreement consultant with Pontiac Schools, steps down at the end of this month. Weatherspoon has helped the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education stay in the state’s good graces with the district recently facing possible closure. Weatherspoon told WSJM News they’ve risen to the task.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien RESA and the Cook nuclear power plant near Bridgman are teaming up next week to teach local kids about nuclear power. The plant’s Irene Weaver tells WSJM News they’re holding an art contest, asking kids to make posters about what nuclear power means to them. There’s a reason for it.. ...Read Full Story

Set for Saturday in Bridgman is the 8th annual Weko Beach Brewers Festival. Calli Berg with the Greater Bridgman Chamber of Commerce tells WSJM News the event celebrates one of southwest Michigan’s fastest growing art forms and industries.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is looking for an 18-year-old woman in connection with a Friday morning home invasion and assault in Lawrence Township. It tells us 18-year-old Brittany Baham is known to have contacts in Hartford, Watervliet, and South Bend. She’s described as white, about 5 foot 6, and 160 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. The sheriff’s department tells us it believes she’s a person of interest while it investigates a home invasion Friday that led to the theft of a Cobra .380 semi-automatic handgun. Police believe the robbery also involved two males who they haven’t identified. Anyone with information on Baham’s location is asked to call the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Coaches and others involved in youth sports would have to complete concussion awareness training at least once every three years under legislation headed to Governor Rick Snyder for his signature. The bill cleared a final step in the Michigan Senate Tuesday. It would update 2012 concussion laws that required a concussion protocol for youth athletes and an awareness program for coaches, volunteers and others. The legislation would add a requirement that concussion training be completed once every three years, unless the state Department of Health and Human Services recommends more frequent training. The state would have to periodically review the training program. The bill would also clarify that universities and colleges do not need to secure parental waivers for students participating in intramural sports.. ...Read Full Story

A Holland man suspected of killing his girlfriend yesterday is in custody this morning and is expected to be charged with open murder later today. The report of the killer at large triggered a shelter in place alert at Hope College, and warnings that 56-year-old Keith Williams was armed and dangerous and driving around in a silver SUV. Around 7 p.m., he was spotted by Michigan State Police and followed until they could get other officers in the area to join them in a felony stop. Police Chief Matt Messer says he was captured after he pulled over into the parking lot of an Arby’s in Holland. Williams is suspected of stabbing his 37-year-old girlfriend to death on 14th Street near Washington Boulevard at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. Witnesses say they saw him leaving the murder scene, bloodied and with a knife. He has a long criminal history and is a registered sex offender.. ...Read Full Story

A special prosecutor says he’ll add a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Michigan’s chief medical executive in a criminal investigation of the Flint water crisis. Dr. Eden Wells was in court Monday for a key hearing on other charges. But the hearing was postponed after the announcement by special prosecutor Todd Flood. Five other people have been charged with involuntary manslaughter tied to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area in 2014-15. The attorney general’s office says key officials in the Snyder administration knew about a spike in Legionnaires’ but failed to tell the public until January 2016. Some experts have blamed the outbreak on Flint’s use of the Flint River. Legionnaires’ is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria that thrive in warm water.. ...Read Full Story

A Covert man says the shooting of his girlfriend last Friday was an accident. Jeffrey Howell was arraigned yesterday on a charge of assault with intent to murder. He told the judge during that proceeding he would never hurt his girlfriend, Guadalupe Hernandez. She considers their relationship over and admitted to grabbing the gun as it discharged into her midsection. The 50-year-old Howell has a criminal record and legally should not have been in possession of the weapon. Due to that, bond has been set at $1 million.. ...Read Full Story

A distinguished Vietnam veteran will be coming to Berrien County next month to share his experience. The Buchanan American Legion’s Larry Money tells WSJM News Captain William Robinson will speak at Michigan Lutheran High School and American Legion in Buchanan. Robinson is the longest-held enlisted American Prisoner of War in history.. ...Read Full Story

The Swift and Sure probation program in Berrien County is receiving a grant of $240,000 from the Michigan Supreme Court. The grant was announced Monday, and it’s part of a total of $3 million going to Swift and Sure programs in 24 counties. Swift and sure is an intensive probation program designed to help repeat offenders get back on track and turn their lives around. The Michigan Supreme Court tells WSJM News 67% of Swift and Sure enrolees are unemployed when they first sign up, but 14% are unemployed by the time they complete the program. Berrien County is one of 27 Michigan counties with a Swift and Sure program. It’s one of four specialty courts in the county. The others are the Drug Treatment Court, the Drug Court, and the Domestic Violence Court.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph City Commissioners are hoping residents make their voices heard to state lawmakers when it comes to new zoning legislation. A plan in the state House and Senate would strip a community’s ability to restrict short-term rentals. St. Joe Commissioners Monday night warned such a plan, if passed, would mean out of control summer vacation homes in town, something they’ve worked to avoid for years. City Commissioner Jeff Richards said neighborhoods sit empty for half the year when that happens, and schools suffer.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department recommends everyone start thinking about getting a flu shot. Deputy Health Officer Courtney Davis tells WSJM News now is the time to get the vaccine if you want to protect yourself from the influenza this coming winter.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Attorney General’s office has issued some recommendations to Michigan residents who are concerned their personal information may have been compromised in the recent Equifax hack. Attorney General Bill Schuette says Equifax has announced 2.5 million more consumers were impacted by the breach than originally thought, including almost 80,000 additional Michigan residents. In Michigan, the breach has now impacted the personal information of more than 4.6 million consumers. The website set up by Equifax for people to check whether they’ve been compromised was to be updated with the new information by the start of this week. Schuette’s office says the best way to protect yourself if you have been hacked is to order a credit freeze and sign up for credit monitoring. You can find more information right here.. ...Read Full Story

Over the last few months, a Michigan House task force dedicated to mental health has toured the state gathering input from residents. Now, lawmakers are coming together to write reform legislation. Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard spoke with Michigan News Network about the legislative effort about to begin.. ...Read Full Story

This week, fire departments all over Michigan are taking part in Fire Prevention Week. State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer tells Michigan News Network it’s important to plan with your family how to escape you home in the event of a fire.. ...Read Full Story

The Coloma Township Police Department continues to investigate after reports Monday morning of a student with a gun. Shortly before 10 a.m. officers were called out to the junior high on the report. The junior high school and the high school were both placed on lockdown. Police found the student in question and isolated him while the school and its surrounding grounds were searched. Coloma Township police were assisted by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, which brought in a K9 unit. The search turned up no weapon. The lockdown at the high school was over by about noon, while the junior high’s lockdown ended by the end of classes for the day. Police say the case remains under investigation and will be turned over the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office.. ...Read Full Story

WSJM News has confirmed that Coloma High School no longer on lockdown. However, the junior high remains on lockdown. The two buildings were placed on lockdown this morning when there was a report of a weapon on the property. There are no reports of anyone in custody, and police are searching the property.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Health officials say a child who visited a county fair in western Michigan last month is the first confirmed case of swine flu in the state this year. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Allegan County Health Department reported the child visited the Allegan County Fair that ran Sept. 8-16, 2017. They say that because the incubation period for the illness is
one to seven days, no new cases from exposure at the fair are expected. The flu is known as a variant of H3N2 and there’s currently no vaccine for it. Symptoms of swine flu in people can be similar to other flu viruses: fever, cough, runny nose, aches and nausea.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler and her staff will show off some of the county’s new voting machines at a couple of open houses this month. Tyler tells us the new equipment will greatly improve the voting experience. There are some key differences.. ...Read Full Story

A new crowdfunding effort has been launched by the Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph. The goal is to raise $50,000 by December 1 so Krasl can receive a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. On top of that, Krasl will get another match from the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and 1st Source Bank Foundation. The purpose of the crowdfunding effort is to pay for a new improvement project at Krasl that would include the installation of a winding sidewalk, a plaza, and gathering areas. A backer of the effort is state Representative Kim LaSata, who tells us the project will ensure “St. Joseph will remain a special place on the lake.” You can find the Krasl’s crowdfunding page right here.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren Conservation District is reaching out to duck hunters as the season approaches, hoping to stop the spread of an invasive plant species. The district’s Eleanor Serocki tells WSJM News there’s a European reed called phragmites that poses a threat to duck habitats because it’s too dense for ducks to movethrough. She hopes hunters will avoid the reed.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor City Commissioner Juanita Henry is hoping to hear more from the city’s department heads about local business. She started last week’s city commission meeting off with a proposal to suspend the rules and introduce a resolution calling for regular reports from staff.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The Michigan Senate has voted to prohibit local communities from regulating what information employers must request, require or exclude during a job interview. The state already prohibits local ordinances involving information related to
an employment application. But proponents of the bill approved 27-9 Thursday are worried that Michigan municipalities could follow the lead of Philadelphia and bar employers from asking for a prospective employee’s wage history in an interview. No local governments in Michigan are considering ordinances similar to Philadelphia’s. Opponents say the legislation would prevent local “fair chance” policies that
regulate when and to what extent employers can consider someone’s criminal record in making a hiring decision. Republicans voted for the bill in the GOP-led Senate. Democrats opposed it.The measure next goes to the Republican-led House for consideration.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Land Auction held on Tuesday raised more than $120,000 for the county’s foreclosure fund. Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News this week’s auction went smoothly.. ...Read Full Story

The recent data hack at credit firm Equifax could have broad implications for the economy. Jordan Goodman, a financial expert with MoneyAnswers.com tells WSJM News due to the breadth of the personal info credit reporting agencies have, you could be affected in severe ways if they’re breached. Scammers can open bank accounts and credit cards in your name.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The director of the Michigan State Police plans to stay in her job through 2018, likely collecting more than $150,000 in salary as well as a pension. A spokeswoman for Governor Rick Snyder says he’ll reappoint Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue to serve through the end of his term. The Detroit Free Press says Etue must retire next year, so she’ll get a salary and at least a portion of her pension while she’s still on the job. The newspaper says Etue’s annual pension is more than $80,000. In addition, Etue is eligible for other payments because she didn’t retire when she was first eligible in 2012. Etue recently has rejected calls to quit after she shared a Facebook post that called kneeling NFL players “anti-American degenerates.” She apologized.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski is pleased to learn legislation from state Representatives Dave Pagel and Kim LaSata cracking down on second homeowners who exploit a tax loophole has passed. The plan closes a loophole that allows for an out-of-state resident with a second home in Michigan to claim that second home is a homestead, lowering their property taxes. It also enables the owners of rental properties to claim those parcels as their homestead. Witkowski tells WSJM News his office is always tracking those people down and having to fight them at the tax tribunal level.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on Saturday. Troopers say they were called to the scene on Red Arrow Highway near Territorial Road in Paw Paw Township around 2:40 p.m. 76-year-old Richard Setty of Kalamazoo had been westbound when he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected. He was later pronounced dead at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

State Senator John Proos is hoping the latest effort to reform Michigan’s auto insurance system will be successful. He tells WSJM News testimony has been taken this week over in the House for a plan to remove a requirement that all auto policies in Michigan have unlimited coverage for catastrophic injuries.. ...Read Full Story

A grant of $25,000 is going to Niles High School for its greenhouse program. Heather Wolfe with Monsanto tells WSJM News the Monsanto Foundation gives out more than $2 million in grants each year to rural schools nationwide.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do something about shoreline erosion in the New Buffalo area. He’s sent a letter to the United States Secretary for Civil Works saying both the city and the township are struggling because of an Army Corps failure.. ...Read Full Story

The leaves are beginning to turn in Michigan and they’re at their peak in some spots and you may want to check them out. Pure Michigan spokeswoman Michelle Grinnell told Michigan News Network this week many places in Michigan are perfect for a fall weekend getaway.. ...Read Full Story

On Thursday, residents in South Haven were notified of the need to boil all tap water used for drinking and cooking. The City of South Haven, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, has determined it is no longer necessary to use bottled water or boil water before drinking or cooking.  Appropriate corrective measures have been taken and follow-up sampling has confirmed no coli form bacteria is present in the water supply.. ...Read Full Story

Van Buren County Deputies are blaming distracted driving for a van/pedestrian collision that left a Bangor woman with life threatening injuries. Deputies say a 16-year-old from Hartford was driving along in the 62000 block of Red Arrow Highway in Hartford Township at about 3:00 Friday afternoon when the van strayed over the fog line on the edge of the road, clipped a mailbox and then hit the 46-year-old victim as she was walking along the road. The victim was initially unresponsive and began CPR. By the time deputies arrived she was breathing but unconscious. She was taken to Bronson Methodist in Kalamazoo with multiple injuries, and is listed in critical condition. The crash report will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office and the driver may face criminal charges.. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor City Manager Darwin Watson is hoping residents will hear his message about garbage collection now that a new company has been picked to provide the service. The contract isn’t signed yet, but We-Cycle Industrial Sanitation starting making pick-ups this past week after being selected for the job last month. The problem is that it hasn’t provided folks with bins yet. City Manager Watson tells us, for the next two months, residents have two options.. ...Read Full Story

The Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan will hold a pumpkin chunkin’ event this weekend. The society’s Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the Launching Hope Pumpkin Chunking Challenge will give everyone a chance to build their own machines to blast pumpkins for distance.. ...Read Full Story

Law enforcement agencies and other first reponders in Berrien County will be training for a mass fatality situation next month. Michigan State Police are helping to organize the course called Mass Fatalities for Rural Communities. The MSP tells us it serves as a training tool to provide rural communities with information to manage an actual mass-fatality response. The process of recovery, identification, and disposal of human remains following a major catastrophe is discussed. MSP says this sort of work differs from the normal daily operations local authorities are used to. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has been planning the training day for a long time, according to The Herald Palladium. Law enforcement, firefighters, and others will spend the whole day of November 6 at the Berrien County Conference Room to learn about those catastrophic situations. The place to register for the disaster training can be found right here.. ...Read Full Story

A new sergeant for the South Haven Police Department was presented to the city council at this week’s meeting. Sergeant Adam Debore comes to the position with much experience. He spoke with WSJM News about his experience.. ...Read Full Story

The city of Dowagiac is planning a special event for next Saturday as it dedicates a new mural remembering the local Orphan Train. City Manager Secretary Bobbie Jo Hartline tells WSJM News the Orphan Train started in New York City in the mid-1800s as a way to find homes for orphans in that city throughout the United States.. ...Read Full Story

Detroit Police Chief James Craig says police nationwide are learning from the massacre in Las Vegas. He tells Michigan News Network he’s asking the NFL for a big change right away to allow off-duty officers to be allowed to carry guns inside Ford Field.. ...Read Full Story