Local News Archives

We will get to vote on a constitutional change regarding how congressional and state legislative districts are drawn. The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling around 10:30 Tuesday night dismissing a lawsuit challenging the ballot proposal from Voters Not Politicians to take the responsibility of drawing the districts out of the hands of lawmakers. The lawsuit contended the proposal made too many changes to the state Constitution, and would create a new branch of government, but the state’s highest court disagreed. Katey Fahey is the executive director of the grassroots group that worked to get the measure before voters, and is very relieved.. ...Read Full Story

Election workers in Berrien County have been busy this last dew weeks preparing for next Tuesday’s primaries. Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler tells WSJM News voters should know there are some new machines in place.. ...Read Full Story

Housing permits for single family home construction have increased nearly 4% in Michigan during the first half of this year, but production is not meeting the demand. Bob Filka is the CEO of the Home Builders Association of Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

With the state of emergency declared this past weekend in Kalamazoo County for PFAS in the drinking water in the city of Parchment and Cooper Township along with the discovery of the chemicals in northern Kent County, the Battle Creek area, and near Selfridge Air National Guard Base in suburban Detroit, is it a problem here? We put that question to Gillian Conrad of the Berrien County Health Department.. ...Read Full Story

Tuesday will bring the 35th annual Police National Night Out as local police departments look to mingle with the public and establish good relations. St. Joseph Township Police Officer Rick Knapp tells WSJM News there will be a gathering at St. Joseph’s Riverview Park featuring demonstrations for the public.. ...Read Full Story

Andrews University will hold its summer graduation ceremonies this weekend. Graduation coordinator Dalary Payne tells WSJM News there will be 305 students receiving degrees. It’s a diverse bunch.. ...Read Full Story

Two men are facing charges following two separate drug raids in Benton Harbor in the past two weeks. The Southwest Enforcement Team tells us it raided a home in the 200 block of Hull Street on Tuesday, July 31 following a month-long investigation. There, officers say they found about 50 grams of crack cocaine and powder cocaine. A 32-year-old man was arrested on drug charges. The second raid was at a home in the 800 block of Superior Street this Thursday. Police say they found cocaine packaged for sale and distribution, a shotgun, and a possibly stolen handgun. A 44-year-old man was arrested on drug and gun charges. The Southwest Enforcement Team says the two cases are not related.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Sixth District candidate for Congress George Franklin is making one final push to drum up support for his primary candidacy with a tour this weekend. Franklin, seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Congressman Fred Upton in November, kicked off the tour in Three Rivers on Thursday. On Friday, it took him to Kalamazoo and Paw Paw, while he planned to appear in St. Joseph Saturday. Franklin’s St. Joe stop will be at downtown Chalk the Block festivities at 301 State Street near the St. Joseph Welcome Center from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Also Saturday, he’ll stop by Cassopolis. On Sunday, Franklin plans to be at the Coloma Open Air Market from 2 to 3, and Watervliet from 3 to 5, where he’ll be canvassing. Another St. Joseph visit and a South Haven visit are planned for Monday. Franklin worked as a lobbyist for Kellogg before starting his own consulting business. Also in the running for the Sixth District Democratic nomination are David Benac, Rich Eichholz, and Matt Longjohn. The primary will be Tuesday.. ...Read Full Story

Cornerstone Alliance is making an aggressive push to bring more retailers to Benton Township. Cornerstone President Rob Cleveland tells WSJM News the group has hired The Retail Coach, a national retail recruitment and development firm, hoping to get some spaces filled along M-139 between I-94 and Napier Avenue.. ...Read Full Story

The Bridgman Police Department has closed its investigation into a reported dog attack on a child and says the story was not true. Early this week, the department on Facebook asked for the public’s help in identifying the owner of a dog that allegedly bit a 3-year-old boy on the face. The child’s father told police a woman had been walking the dog Sunday night along Lake Street near Toth Street and allowed his son to pet it. That’s when the bite supposedly happened. On Thursday, Bridgman police posted an update on the situation, saying the location and description of the woman and dog involved were false. Officers say they have located the real dog and its owner. The department is now submitting its report on the investigation to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible charge of filing a false police report. The department thanked the public for coming forward with tips in the investigation.. ...Read Full Story