Local News Archives

Nesbitt Calls For Audit Of Unemployment Insurance Agency

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The Michigan Senate has approved a resolution from state Senator Aric Nesbitt to request that the auditor general conduct a financial and performance audit of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. Nesbitt tells WSJM News there have been too many Michiganders who have been unable to collect unemployment after losing their jobs because of the pandemic, and the unemployment agency could have done a better job dealing with the flood of claims.. ...Read Full Story

389 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Michigan Friday

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The number of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan went up by 389 on Friday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 62,695 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported two additional deaths for Friday, bringing that total to 5,889. Berrien County had one new case of COVID-19 to report for the day, making the total 701 with 60 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Cass County had two new cases for Friday, making its total 120 with four deaths. Van Buren County had one new case for the day, making the county’s total 198 with six deaths.. ...Read Full Story

Man Arrested After Disturbance At Stevensville Culver’s

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A 35-year-old Florida man is in the Berrien County Jail after causing a disturbance at the Stevensville Culver’s and fleeing from police. The Lincoln Township Police Department says it was called to the restaurant on Red Arrow Highway on Thursday evening for a physical altercation. Arriving officers learned the suspect had been in the restaurant begging a couple for money and food. When they refused, the suspect grabbed some food from the woman and ate it. Police say the suspect then assaulted the man upon being confronted. He also picked up a chair and started swinging it around. When the suspect left the restaurant, he threw rocks, tried to get back in, and assaulted two more people. Police later found the suspect walking along I-94 and he was taken into custody.. ...Read Full Story

Cred Union Offering Free Document Shredding Days

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Honor Credit Union is planning free community shred days to give everyone a chance to have documents shredded while also avoiding contact. There are several shred days planned throughout the summer in the various communities Honor Credit Union serves. The first one will be at the St. Joseph Member Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Saturday. Those who take part will be advised to drive up alongside the designated area, and then a staff member take the documents from the car straight to the shred truck on site. Everyone’s asked to limit their shredding to ten boxes or bags. They’ll run through September 19.. ...Read Full Story

Absentee Ballots Go Out For August Elections

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Voters who requested absentee ballots can expect to receive them soon, as the Michigan Secretary of State’s office says clerks began mailing them on Thursday. Those absentee ballots are for the August 4 primary elections. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says to increase safety during the pandemic, the Michigan Bureau of Elections is providing local voting jurisdictions with personal protective equipment, ballot drop boxes, and matching grants to buy additional equipment. Benson says the absentee ballots went out this week to comply with the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2018 that requires ballot mailing begin no later than 40 days prior to elections. Anyone who has not registered to vote absentee but wants to can go to Michigan.gov/Vote.. ...Read Full Story

Attorney For Gym Owners: Gyms Could Help People During Pandemic

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Gym owners and patrons are not happy after the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled three to nothing this week to grant an emergency stay sought by the governor, deciding fitness centers cannot re-open. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney said last week that gyms could reopen at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. However, the governor’s office filed an appeal. Attorney Scott Erskine, representing the gyms, said although he understands concerns, gyms are some of the cleanest places.. ...Read Full Story

353 Additional Cases Of COVID-19 Reported In Michigan Thursday

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The number of newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan went up by 353 on Thursday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 62,306 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported 19 additional deaths for Thursday, bringing that total to 5,887. Berrien County had four new cases of COVID-19 to report for the day, making the total 700 with 60 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Cass County had five new cases for Thursday, making its total 118 with four deaths. Van Buren County had three new cases for the day, making the county’s total 197 with six deaths.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Seeks To Resolve Jobless Claims Filed Before May

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From the Associated Press — The state of Michigan says it will soon resolve unemployment claims for about 11,800 people who filed before May. The Unemployment Insurance Agency said Tuesday its goal is to clear that backlog that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic and make a determination by the end of next week. The agency will soon announce a target date to resolve claims
filed in May or later. For those still awaiting a decision on their eligibility, the state will pay benefits, determine the claimant is ineligible and communicate why, or deem the person unreachable after multiple attempts to make contact.. ...Read Full Story

Paw Paw Superintendent Discusses New Nickname

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Paw Paw Public Schools Superintendent Rick Reo says he’s glad the community is moving forward with the proposal of a new team name following an extended period of controversy over the old one. The Paw Paw Public Schools Board of Education voted in March to drop the old Redskins nickname, and the Nickname Task Force this week announced it’s recommending the Red Wolves to be the new name. Reo tells WSJM News students led the process.. ...Read Full Story

Lawmakers React To GOP Return To School Plan

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Michigan Republican lawmakers are out with their proposal to re-open schools in the fall, and the plan in part calls for a one-time $1.3 billion boost to K-12 funding. Matt Kolezar, a Democratic state Representative from Plymouth, told Micchigan News Network he’s concerned because the money can only be used toward upgrading technology.. ...Read Full Story

Coloma Township Homeowner Shoots Intruder

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The Coloma Township Police Department is investigating after a homeowner shot an intruder overnight Thursday. It says officers were called to a home in the 5,500 block of Paw Paw Lake Road in Coloma Township just before 2:30 a.m. While on their way, the officers were told by dispatch the homeowner may have shot the intruder. Upon arrival, officers from the Coloma Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Watervliet City Police Department, and the Pokagon Tribal Police encountered the homeowner, who came out of the house with his hands in the air. Police secured the scene, and found the suspect, 47-year-old Kevin Cox, dead inside from a single gunshot wound. Police say the suspect and the homeowner did not know each other. Next of kin have been notified and an autopsy on Cox is being performed in Kalamazoo. The homeowner’s name has not been released. The case will be reviewed by the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office.. ...Read Full Story

Retailers Struggle With Unruly Shoppers

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Now that employers that are reopening for business, they have a new concern during the pandemic — hostile and unruly customers. Paul Beasinger owns Keene Training and Consulting and says he’s been swamped with employers reaching out to ask for training and advice. Beasinger told Michigan News Network he teaches de-escalation, which involves having empathy for the customer who refuses to social distance or wear a mask.. ...Read Full Story

323 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Michigan For Wednesday

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Michigan is reporting 323 new cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the state has had 61,953 cases of the illness since the start of the pandemic. It reported four additional deaths for Wednesday, bringing that total to 5,868. Berrien County had one new case of COVID-19 to report for the day, making the total at 696 with 60 deaths. Cass County had no new cases for Wednesday, keeping its total 113 with four deaths. Van Buren County had one new case for the day, making the county’s total 194 with six deaths.. ...Read Full Story

LMC Board Approves Budget Anticipating State Cuts

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A budget for the next academic year has been approved by the Lake Michigan College Board of Trustees. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke tells WSJM News with major state cuts expected in the fall due to COVID-19, college leadership had to make cuts based on estimates. The budget started out with a $3.5 million deficit, and ended with a $1.6 million deficit.. ...Read Full Story

Motorcyclist Killed In Wednesday Crash

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A South Bend man is dead following a motorcycle crash in Cass County on Wednesday. Michigan State Police from the Niles post say they were dispatched to the scene on Redfield Street near Carter Lane in Milton Township shortly after 10 a.m. They found the motorcycle had been westbound on Redfield when it struck a van that was stopped at a sign facing south on Carter. The impact caused the motorcyclist to be thrown from the machine and into a third vehicle that was stopped for a turn. Troopers gave first aid and CPR to the motorcyclist and he was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries. He has been identified as Nicholas Allen Washburn of South Bend. He was wearing a helmet. Police say their investigation into the crash continues.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Board To Continue Virtual Meetings

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The Berrien County Board of Commissioners will continue to hold virtual meetings as more parts of Michigan reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday, the county says while the governor has relaxed some of the restrictions on movement and workplaces, “what remains is the requirement that businesses, operations and government agencies adhere to sound social distancing practices and additional measures.” It says an order from the governor limits the number of people in a meeting to ten people, and the county board cannot hold a meeting in public and fall within that limit. Therefore, the online meetings will continue. They’re streamed on YouTube with most meetings starting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. You can go to YouTube, and search for the account named “Berrien County, Michigan.”. ...Read Full Story

Bill Sent To Whitmer Requires Reports On Firefighting Foam

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From the Associated Press — Fire departments that use a foam containing a group of chemicals known as PFAS would be required to report its use within 48 hours of ending a fire under legislation sent to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The bill won unanimous approval from the Michigan House Tuesday. It would mandate that fire chiefs report incidents in which PFAS-containing firefighting foams are used to Michigan’s pollution emergency alert system. The state environmental department would have to accept the foam concentrate free of charge and properly dispose of it – contingent on the Legislature allocating money to cover program costs.. ...Read Full Story

Police Investigate Early Morning Shooting In Benton Township

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The Benton Township Police Department is investigating after a man was shot while sitting in his car outside of his home early on Wednesday. It says officers were called to the 1,300 block of Jennings Street shortly after 1 a.m. The 29-year-old victim had been hit in the right forearm and chest. He said he’d been sitting in his car when someone came up and shot him. He could not identify the shooter. The victim was taken to Spectrum Health Lakeland with non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Benton Township Police Department.. ...Read Full Story

SWM Housing Market Down In May

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Southwest Michigan’s housing market was hit hard in May. The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors says the overall economic downturn caused by COVID-19 pushed local homes sales to their lowest level since 2006. Selling prices also dropped. However, association executive Alan Jeffries says, “Since our market has been robust for the last three years, we are expecting this to be a temporary disruption of home sales.” The realtors group says the number of houses sold in May dropped to 142, a 61% decline from May of last year. From April, it was a 27% drop. Year-to-date, the number of houses sold has fallen 27%. The average selling price in May was $240,000 compared to $264,000 in May of 2019 for a 9% reduction. With fewer houses sold, the total dollar volume fell 64% in May. The drop in southwest Michigan home sales happened as the national real estate market also saw a downturn.. ...Read Full Story

State Asks Residents To Watch Out For Invasive Insect

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The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is asking the public to be on the lookout for a new invasive insect that has the potential to devastate the state’s agriculture and natural resources. Spokesperson Jennifer Holton tells WSJM News the spotted lanternfly has not yet been found in Michigan, and the state wants to keep it that way.. ...Read Full Story

GOP Lawmakers Release Plan For Safe Start Of School

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Michigan legislative Republicans have announced their proposal for getting students back in school. State Representative Pauline Wendzel tells WSJM New the House and Senate have jointly worked out a package of legislation called the Return to Learn plan. It allows districts to start whenever is best for them without obtaining a waiver.. ...Read Full Story

Police Investigate Shots Fired Into South Haven Home

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A Covert man is being held for an early Tuesday morning shooting in South Haven. The South Haven Police Department says officers were called out to a home in the 21,000 block of M-140 on a report of shots being fired into a home. No one inside was hurt, but the house was hit multiple times. A sergeant with the South Haven Police Department saw a vehicle speeding away from the area and was able to stop it a short distance away. In the vehicle, he found guns and ammo consistent with the spent casings found at the home. The 21-year-old driver is now being held pending charges from the Van Buren County Prosecutor.. ...Read Full Story

John James Touring Michigan

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From the Associated Press — U.S. Senate candidate John James has begun an in-person tour of Michigan amid the pandemic, visiting a Jackson County farm to criticize the overregulation and overtaxation of farmers. Monday’s stop is believed to be the Republican’s first solo one, with reporters, outside of appearing with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. The challenger to Democratic Senator Gary Peters had been gearing up for a more visible public schedule when the coronavirus struck. He says small businesses need help and aren’t getting it from Peters. Democrats say James supports Trump’s agenda, including trade wars that have threatened farmers’ livelihoods.. ...Read Full Story

University Of Michigan Term To Start August 31, Online Classes Still Key

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From the Associated Press — The fall term at the University of Michigan will open August 31 with a mix of remote learning and in-person classes at the Ann Arbor campus. The school announced its latest response to the coronavirus. Residence halls will be open, but there will be an emphasis on boxed meals and fewer people at one time in dining rooms. Large classes will be held online. Small
classes will meet in-person, and class sizes in the middle will be a mix of both. President Mark Schlissel is promising more details in the weeks ahead. Schlissel says there are few, if any, one-size-fits-all solutions.. ...Read Full Story

Paw Paw Public Schools Announces New Team Name

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Paw Paw Public Schools has announced its new district team name. After the district dumped the Redskins in March, discussions started on what the new mascot will be. This week, the district announced it’s going to be the Red Wolves, assuming the name is approved by the board of education. The name will be officially presented by student members of the Nickname Task Force to the Board of Education for adoption on July 13, along with recommendations of images to be adopted. The district received more than 700 submissions and thousands of votes as a new team name was sought. It says the Nickname Task Force agreed the chosen nickname and imagery needed to be respectful, inclusive, and non-controversial, and also had to bring people together in a unique way. Paw Paw Superintendent Rick Reo says he’s pleased to support the recommendation of the Red Wolves to the board.. ...Read Full Story

Lawsuit Filed Over Death Of Teen In Detention Facility

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A civil, wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court following the death of a 16-year-old alleges that video from a Michigan youth facility recorded the teen saying “I can’t breathe.” Attorney Jonathan Marko said Monday the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services investigation has revealed workers at Lakeside Academy sat on Cornelius Fredericks for up to ten minutes.. ...Read Full Story

School Leaders Warn About Danger Of State Cuts

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School leaders across Michigan are warning lawmakers that districts are facing unknown costs related to the coronavirus and budget cuts will only add to the problem. Oakland Schools Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson is part of the School Finance Research Collaborative which is calling on lawmakers to look at research when determining funding. She spoke with Michigan News Network.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Commission Honors March Organizers

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The organizers of a unity march on June 13 have been honored by St. Joseph City Commissioners. During a Monday virtual meeting, Gwen Swanigan, Tiera Wallace, and Trenton Bowens were all given honorary St. Joseph street signs by the body. Swanigan said the success of the march shows it is time for the two communities to come together as one.. ...Read Full Story

Advocates Want E-Cigarette Bills To Be Stronger

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A package of tobacco regulation bills is headed to the Michigan House, and some health organizations are concerned that it doesn’t go far enough to protect children. Senate Bills 781 and 786 passed the Senate last week, and include new regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes. Andrew Schepers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Michigan says they’re especially troubled by SB 781, which sets a tax rate for vaping products at 18%. He contends all e-cigarettes should be defined as a tobacco product and taxed at the same 32% rate.. ...Read Full Story

Advocates Want E-Cigarette Bills To Be Stronger

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A package of tobacco regulation bills is headed to the Michigan House, and some health organizations are concerned that it doesn’t go far enough to protect children. Senate Bills 781 and 786 passed the Senate last week, and include new regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes. Andrew Schepers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Michigan says they’re especially troubled by SB 781, which sets a tax rate for vaping products at 18%. He contends all e-cigarettes should be defined as a tobacco product and taxed at the same 32% rate.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven Reminds Residents Of Fireworks Rules

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The South Haven Police Department is reminding residents of the rules surrounding fireworks as the Fourth of July approaches. It says state law allows Michiganders to use consumer grade fireworks, which means things like firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. According to South Haven city rules, Fourth of July fireworks may only be used between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on June 29 through July 5 if that date is a Friday or Saturday. The police department says it’s illegal to discharge fireworks on public, school, church, or private property without permission of the owner. That includes all public parks and beaches in South Haven. The fines have also increased to a maximum of $1000. Finally, everyone is asked to be courteous.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven Reminds Residents Of Fireworks Rules

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The South Haven Police Department is reminding residents of the rules surrounding fireworks as the Fourth of July approaches. It says state law allows Michiganders to use consumer grade fireworks, which means things like firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. According to South Haven city rules, Fourth of July fireworks may only be used between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on June 29 through July 5 if that date is a Friday or Saturday. The police department says it’s illegal to discharge fireworks on public, school, church, or private property without permission of the owner. That includes all public parks and beaches in South Haven. The fines have also increased to a maximum of $1000. Finally, everyone is asked to be courteous.. ...Read Full Story

RESA Board Names New Superintendent

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Berrien RESA has selected Eric Hoppstock to be the next district superintendent. Hoppstock is currently RESA’s assistant superintendent and chief academic officer, and he’ll take over his new role on July 1. The Berrien RESA Board of Education met on Monday morning to discuss its next steps after the board’s first choice for superintendent, Matthew Wandrie of Lapeer, backed out. Hoppstock has worked in education in Berrien County for more than 30 years, starting with RESA in 1987 as a school psychologist. Berrien RESA Board of Education President Cathy Bair says his “in-depth educational background, understanding of ISD-level operations, his management skills and his leadership abilities will serve our staff and constituents well.” Hoppstock will take over for RESA Superintendent Kevin Ivers when Ivers retires at the end of the month.. ...Read Full Story