Local News Archives

Snyder Celebrates New Autonomous Vehicle Testing Facility

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Developers have broken ground on what is billed as a world-class testing facility in Michigan for driverless vehicles. Governor Snyder and other officials attended a Monday groundbreaking for the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township. The facility will be located at the site of a former General Motors plant. It’s also where B-24 bombers were made during World War II.. ...Read Full Story

MI Lottery Contributes $889 Million To School Aid Fund

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Michigan Lottery officials say nearly $889 million will be contributed the state’s School Aid Fund in 2016, a year after it contributed a record of $795.5 million. MLive reports that lottery officials said in a news release Monday that its 2016 performance made it the fastest growing lottery in the U.S. Officials said the lottery had its most successful year as a result of record-setting jackpots for Powerball and instant lottery games reporting double-digit growth. The state has paid out more than $1 billion in winnings this year. Each dollar in tickets sold contributed 29 cents to the School Aid Fund, 59 cents to prizes for players, 9 cents to commissions for vendors and retailers, and 3 cents to the Lottery’s ongoing operations and administrative costs.. ...Read Full Story

Couple Sentenced To Probation In Animal Hoarding Case

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It was a case of animal hoarding in Van Buren County. Now the couple charged with animal neglect and cruelty for keeping over 100 dogs in their small home in Lawrence Township will get the help they need. Rather than jail, Melissa Copen and Donald Smith have been given two years on probation. During that period, they must not keep any pets in their home and have to seek psychiatric treatment for their hoarding syndrome, and do community service. Their home was raided and condemned in June after authorities got a look at what had happened. The animals were all seized, cleaned up, given shots and given away to new homes. The couple said they just wanted to help out animals that had nowhere else to go and it got out of hand.. ...Read Full Story

Report: Foster Kids Need More Emotional Support

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A new report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation says child welfare agencies need to focus on helping foster parents meet the emotional needs of children in their care. Denise Goodman, a child welfare consultant, tells us kids in foster care are facing some real emotional difficulties. She says agencies should be sharing information not only about the responsibilities of parenting, but also the rewards of working with a child in need.. ...Read Full Story

“Groceries To Go” Coming To Martin’s In Stevensville

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You’ll now be able to do your grocery shopping online or through an app at the Stevensville Martin’s store. The supermarket chain has announced it’s expanding its Groceries to Go program to that store after a successful launch in a couple of Indiana locations. With Groceries to Go, you can pick out all of the items on your shopping list online, and then Martin’s staff will collect and bundle them for you. Then, you just show up and pick them up. It’s $4.99 to use the service. You can check it out at MartinsGroceriesToGo.com, or get the app.. ...Read Full Story

Police Developing Leads In Berrien Springs Area Shooting

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The leads are trickling in for Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township police in a break-in and shooting case that happened this month. The department tells us on the morning of November 11, three men got into a struggle with a man at his home on East Snow Road. He was shot in the process, and they took off in a white Ford Focus. The victim is recovering, and since the crime, police say they’ve held several interviews in the case, with more to come. Anyone with information is asked to contact Berrien Springs-Oronoko Township police at 471-2813. Police say they have reason to think the victim was targeted for a specific reason.. ...Read Full Story

No Injuries In Crash Involving St. Joseph School Bus

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Everyone’s OK following a crash between a school bus and an SUV in St. Joseph Township Monday morning. Police tell us it happened at the intersection of Niles Avenue and Lincoln just before 8 a.m. A northbound bus on Niles with six St Joseph elementary kids on board was turning left on to Lincoln when the southbound SUV came through the intersection and they collided. The driver of the bus, a 72-year-old woman from Bridgman, was found to be at fault in the crash. The driver of the SUV, a 28-year-old St. Joseph woman who is nine months pregnant, was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Hospital to be checked out, and police say she’ll be fine. None of the kids were hurt, and the scene was cleared by 8:30.. ...Read Full Story

Samaritans Credited With Saving Driver From Tanker Fire

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A Benton Harbor man is expected to recover after he suffered minor injuries when the tanker truck he was driving rolled over early Monday and caught on fire near South Haven. 45-year-old Michael Bennett was on the I-196 ramp to Pullman Road when the crash occurred. When the tanker caught fire, three men who happened by managed to drag Bennett to safety. One of them, Jeff Hunter, from Gaylord, tells WSJM News that Bennett was still conscious, and when he told the other three he’d been hauling gasoline, the men pulled him as far away from the wreck as they could. The other two Samaritans have been identified as Shawn Crittendon and Chad Edgington. Hunter says it’s good they were all there.. ...Read Full Story

BH School Board Trustee Steps Down

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Benton Harbor School Board Trustee James Turner has stepped down. He sent an e-mail to the board this week offering his resignation, effective immediately. Turner says he’s moving out of the country. The board now has to find his replacement, and will take letters of interest through the end of the business day December 6. The letters can be sent to or dropped off at the central administration building on Pipestone. The board hopes to begin screening for a pick by December 15. Turner has served on the board for about two years, and Superintendent Dr. Shelly Walker says it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with him.. ...Read Full Story

MSU Student Files Hacked

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Any one who has worked for Michigan State University since 1970 or attended classes since 1991 wil be offered credit monitoring and identity theft services after someone hacked their system. They are fairly certain that about 450 had their files hacked, as many as 400,000 may have been compromised.. ...Read Full Story

Fire Prevention Group Urges Thanksgiving Caution

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Fire prevention group ESCAPE is issuing some guidelines for folks ahead of Thanksgiving to help make sure the holiday is safe for everyone. The organization’s Mike McLeieer tells us it’s important to not get distracted from your work in the kitchen once the stove and oven are on. Also, he recommends cleaning the oven.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Blood Implements New Protections Against Zika

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Michigan Blood is taking new steps to help prevent the spread of the Zika virus. The organization announced Monday it’s going to test all blood donations for the mosquito-borne illness. It’s working with an Indiana company to do so. That means things will change a little bit for donors. Michigan Blood says they’ll now have to be at least 112 pounds, instead of the previous 110, because an extra tube of blood will be taken for testing. Also, no one will be deferred if they’ve been to a Zika risk area, which could mean a 2% decrease in deferred donors. The changes took effect Friday, and Michigan Blood tells us they’re all about patient safety.. ...Read Full Story

Ground Broken On Autonomous Vehicle Testing Facility

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Developers have broken ground on what is billed as a world-class testing facility in Michigan for driverless vehicles. Governor Rick Snyder and other officials attended a Monday groundbreaking for the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Township. The facility will be located
at the site of a former General Motors plant. It’s also where B-24 bombers were made during World War II. Snyder says the facility “will put Michigan at the forefront of the autonomous movement.” Willow Run Arsenal of Democracy Landholdings Limited Partnership recently
bought the property, paving the way for construction. The center plans to open in December 2017. It will be available for use by private industry, government, standards bodies and academia. Companies will be able to lease office space, garages and other amenities.. ...Read Full Story

Semi Driver Hospitalized After Tanker Rolls, Catches Fire

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The quick response of other semi drivers is being credited with saving the life of a gasoline tanker driver this morning in South Haven. Police say they pulled the man to safety after he was thrown from his rig when it overturned on the ramp at Exit 26 for Pullman Road shortly after 3 a.m. The tanker caught fire and was allowed to burn itself out by South Haven Area Emergency Services. The driver is now being treated at South Haven Community Hospital. There is no word on his condition or where he is from. The fire shut down northbound I-196 for about two hours this morning.. ...Read Full Story

Tanker Fire Closes Part Of NB I-196

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If your drive takes you north on I-196 in the South Haven area this morning, you’ll need a different route. The highway is shut down at Exit 20 due to a gasoline tanker fire early this morning. The semi rolled as it was exiting the highway at 3:15 and caught fire. Other semi drivers quickly pulled the driver away from the flaming wreckage, and that driver has been taken to South Haven Community Hospital for treatment. South Haven Emergency Services says the fire is being allowed to burn itself out.. ...Read Full Story

Lansing Region’s First Venture Capital Firm Launches

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The Michigan State University Foundation has launched a $5 million venture investing subsidiary to help university start-ups that are on the brink of market launch. The Lansing State Journal reports that Red Cedar Ventures would invest a minimum of $250,000 in businesses created by faculty and students to help get their services or products onto the market. The foundation’s executive director, David Washburn, says the firm wants to show the investment community that it’s willing to commit resources to make sure technologies that come from the university are successful. Red Cedar Ventures is the first venture capital firm based in the Lansing region. Andrew McColm, managing director of Venture Creation for Spartan Innovations, the foundation’s commercialization arm, says Red Cedar Ventures helps fill a gap in business funding.. ...Read Full Story

Three Arrested For Drugs, Guns In South Haven

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South Haven Police have three men locked up in the Van Buren County Jail on a slew of drug and gun charges. They were arrested at the Meijer store Friday. Officers were called to the store on a report of two men trying to steal liquor, and found them with a third suspect in the parking lot. A search turned up what police call a “substantial amount’ of marijuana and crack cocaine along with a lot of cash, which they say is consistent with selling drugs.. ...Read Full Story

New Residential Development Coming To Harbor Shores

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Coming soon to Harbor Shores will be a new residential development. On Friday, Harbor Village was announced. It’ll be a 78 home neighborhood right next to the Inn at Harbor Shores, at the confluence of the Paw Paw and St. Joseph Rivers, featuring town homes, row homes, and single family homes. Harbor Shores Real Estate Director Kerry Wright tells WSJM News the neighborhood will have several amenities.. ...Read Full Story

Police Agencies Look To Create Trust, Understanding With Public

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Police departments in southwest Michigan are hoping to build a sense of trust and mutual understanding with citizens. That’s why a forum organized by Advocates And Leaders For Police And Community Trust — or, ALPACT — was held Thursday night in Benton Harbor. Retired Michigan State Police Captain Harold Love gave a presentation on the long-term stresses police officers face.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Sees Drop In Homelessness

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Homelessness is in the spotlight this week, as groups across Michigan work to find ways of preventing it, and the latest data is showing recent efforts have made a difference. Eric Hufnagel, Director of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, tells WSJM News homelessness in the state went down 6% last year. Part of the reason is new tools to help assess each person seeking help.. ...Read Full Story

LMC Gets $1.6 Million Grant For Its Educational Opportunity Center

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A program at Lake Michigan College that helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue a higher education has been funded for another five years. The U.S. Department of Education this week awarded LMC $1.6 million to maintain its Educational Opportunity Center through 2021. LMC has run the Educational Opportunity Center since 1994, and since then, it’s served more than 25,000 students. The EOC is a free community resource hub that connects disadvantaged students with services that could help them earn a degree. It guides them through the admissions process at any college, connects them with tutors, and gives them access to computers, among other things. LMC is one of 143 colleges and organizations nationwide to get a grant to continue such a program.. ...Read Full Story

UPDATE: Two Illinois Men Killed In I-94 Crash Near New Buffalo

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Two people are dead following a crash on I-94 near New Buffalo Saturday morning. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells WSJM News it happened in the westbound lanes near mile marker 2 about 10 a.m. A vehicle with two 20-year-old men from Illinois lost control and slid under a semi that was parked on the shoulder. The two men were killed. The crash caused I-94 near New Buffalo to be shut down for several hours. The sheriff’s department accident reconstruction team is still investigating.. ...Read Full Story

Stuff A Truck Food Drive Sets New Record

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97-5 Y Country radio has set a new record with its latest Stuff a Truck food drive. Volunteers and staff this past week managed to fill a 23-foot truck 12 times with food for the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency. That’s more than they’ve ever collected before. The staff and volunteers stationed themselves at Roger’s Foodland in St. Joseph for the week, taking donations from shoppers and others. In addition to all of the food they collected, they raised nearly $10,000. The donations help the community action agency keep people fed through the winter. Y Country thanks everyone who helped support the 20th annual drive.. ...Read Full Story

Hundreds Come Out For Kids Christmas Carnival

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The Christmas season is here, and a special party was held Saturday at LMC’s Mendel Center to celebrate. The 6th annual Kids Christmas Carnival, partly sponsored by Mid-West Family Broadcasting, featured bounce houses, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, and much more. Mid-West Family’s Lindsay Zvonar told us the event was a huge success.. ...Read Full Story

Two Dead In I-94 Crash Near New Buffalo

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Two people are dead following a crash on I-94 near New Buffalo Saturday morning. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells WSJM News it happened in the westbound lanes near mile marker 2 about 10 a.m. A car crashed into a semi, going underneath it. Both fatalities were in the car. The crash caused westbound I-94 near New Buffalo to be shut down for several hours. Sheriff’s department accident reconstructionists were brought in to further investigate, and the new Buffalo Township Fire Department assisted at the scene.. ...Read Full Story

Upton Holding “Holidays For Heroes” Card Drive

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It’s time once again to help make the holidays a little better for the military. Congressman Fred Upton’s office is holding yet another Holidays for Heroes greeting card collection drive. Between now and December 2, anyone can send or drop off a holiday card at Upton’s offices in St. Joseph or Kalamazoo, and they’ll make sure it gets to a soldier. Schools around the Sixth District have also been invited to make cards. The Red Cross, which will deliver the cards, asks that they not have any glitter or other objects attached, and it also asks that senders don’t write their full names on them. You can find out more about Holidays for Heroes here.. ...Read Full Story

$125,000 Raised For Lakeland Pavilion

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$125,000 has been raised to help pay for Lakeland Medical Center’s new pavilion, thanks to a celebration held recently at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center. The annual Lakeland Gala raised the highest amount to date, as supporters took part in a raffle, a silent auction, and made donations. The New York-themed event also included live music, dancing, and fine dining. Lakeland is planning a $160 million pavilion for its facility on Napier Avenue in St. Joseph. Set for completion in 2020, the pavilion will feature medical and surgical suites, a short stay unit, imaging centers, an intensive care unit, and education and community rooms. The 260,000 square foot addition will also mean a new entrance to the hospital.. ...Read Full Story

Charges Dropped Against Former MI Lawmaker

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A judge has dismissed a misconduct charge against a former Michigan state lawmaker who quit office amid a sex scandal last year. Republican Todd Courser still faces a perjury charge in the case in Ingham County Circuit Court. The Detroit News reports that Judge William Collette dismissed the misconduct in office charge Thursday. MLive.com reports that Courser’s attorney, Matthew DePerno, argued that there was no criminal element to the charge related to an alleged violation of a state House rule.The attorney general’s office plans to proceed with the perjury charge and a misconduct charge in Lapeer County. Courser resigned before lawmakers voted to expel fellow GOP Representative Cindy Gamrat.
He’s accused of soliciting an aide to send a phony email to cover up an affair with Gamrat. Charges against Gamrat have been dismissed.. ...Read Full Story

New Neighborhood Planned For Harbor Shores

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There’s a new development coming to Harbor Shores. Director of Real Estate Kerry Wright tells WSJM News they’re planning a new neighborhood. Work should begin in the next year on Harbor Village, which will be at the confluence of the St. Joe and Paw Paw Rivers. Wright says they’ve got big plans for the property next to the Inn at Harbor Shores.. ...Read Full Story

Researchers Predict Continued MI Job Growth

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University of Michigan economists say the state’s economy will continue its post-recession recovery with continuing job growth for the next two years. George Fulton and colleagues Gabriel Ehrlich, Donald Grimes and Michael McWilliams on Friday issued an annual November forecast of Michigan’s economy. They say the state will add an average of 45,800 jobs per year in 2017 and 2018. That rate, however, is slowing from an average pace of roughly 70,000 jobs per year from 2014 to 2016. In all, Michigan will have gained more than 605,700 jobs during the economic
recovery from summer 2009 through the end of 2018. Overall, they say Michigan’s economic recovery will help the state’s unemployment rate hold steady around 4.6 percent through 2018.. ...Read Full Story

Head Of Trump MI Campaign Seeks State GOP Leadership

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The Michigan director for Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign is running to lead the state Republican Party. Scott Hagerstrom announced his bid Friday. Current chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel is planning to run again but is also under consideration by Trump to
head the Republican National Committee. Hagerstrom says Michigan has made “great strides” under GOP leadership, but “taxes are still too high, government is still too big, and Michigan families still feel left behind.” Four of Trump’s six Michigan campaign co-chairs announced their support for McDaniel Thursday. Republicans will elect the next chair at their February convention. Trump leads Democrat Hillary Clinton in unofficial returns. He would become the first Republican presidential nominee to win Michigan in 28 years. The state has until November 28 to make the results official.. ...Read Full Story

Ford, UAW Donate $6 Million To Motown Museum

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Ford Motor Company and UAW-Ford are investing $6 million in the $50 million expansion of the Motown Museum in Detroit. The investment by the automaker and its collaboration with United Auto Workers members will fund a state-of-the-art performance center and other programming. Museum officials have said the expansion will create space for interactive exhibits at the Detroit tourist attraction. It will be designed and built around the existing museum, which includes the Motown studio with its “Hitsville U.S.A.” facade. Designers and architects are collaborating on details of the expanded space. The museum is located in the house where record company founder Berry Gordy launched his cultural and commercial music empire. The label started in 1959 and scores of stars and hits were created before Motown moved to California in 1972.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien Center Man Killed In Crash

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An 81-year-old Berrien Center man has been killed in an accident in Berrien Township. Lieutenant Steve Campbell of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells WSJM News Robert Froehlich pulled his pickup out in front of another pickup truck on Old US-31 from Dean’s Hill Road Friday morning. After the two trucks collided, Froehlich got out and was inspecting the damage when he was hit by a Toyota driven by 30-year-old Jennifer Garrett of Berrien Springs. Neither Garrett nor the other pickup driver, James Ferguson of Berrien Springs, were hurt. Froehlich was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, which remains under investigation. Lt. Campbell says their report will be submitted to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department for review once it’s complete.. ...Read Full Story

Dowagiac Man To Be Honored At Christmas Parade

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The annual Candle-light Christmas Parade in Dowagiac is set for next month, and a local man who’s done a lot to collect money for the needy will be honored with a spot as its grand marshal. Jim Allen has headed up the Feed the Hungry campaign in Dowagiac since 2010, helping to raise more than $75,000 in that time. He’ll be in unit 3 during the December 2 event, riding in a limo. Organizers say that during November and December each year, Allen can be seen going door to door to local businesses drumming up support, and they just wanted to thank him. The Candle-light Christmas Parade steps off at 7 p.m. on Friday December 2 at Front and Main Streets. The day will also feature the annual tree-lighting ceremony.. ...Read Full Story

Six Trucks Stuffed So Far By Y Country Crew

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This are going well for the 97-5 Y Country radio crew this week. They’ve been hanging out at Roger’s foodland in St. Joseph collecting food donations as part of the 20th annual Stuff a Truck drive, and so far have filled six trucks with items for the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency. That’s not to mention the more than $3,100 they’ve raised. However, it’s not over. The crew will be there again live Friday and Saturday taking donations from folks. Just stop by between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, or between 8 and 10 a.m. Saturday to give. Food pantries could use the help this time of year.. ...Read Full Story

Economists Project Tight US Labor Market

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Economists at the University of Michigan say in an annual forecast that they think the U.S. unemployment rate will stay below 5 percent next year. Five researchers at the university’s Department of Economics put out the report Thursday. They say they found a tightening U.S. labor market with a national economy forecast to add 3.7 million more jobs over the next two years. That’s a slower pace than over the last two years. But they say the predicted falling unemployment rate should help part-time workers who want full-time jobs. The researchers say they believe new light vehicle sales may have peaked and will slow gradually. They say that’s because their analysis found young adults own fewer vehicles because they can’t afford to own detached single-family homes.. ...Read Full Story

Police, Citizen Forum Held In Benton Harbor

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Police departments in southwest Michigan are hoping to build a sense of trust and mutual understanding with citizens. That’s why a forum organized by Advocates And Leaders For Police And Community Trust — or, ALPACT — was held Thursday night in Benton Harbor. Retired Michigan State Police Captain Harold Love gave a presentation on the long-term stresses police officers face.. ...Read Full Story

Police Investigate Wire Thefts In Allegan County

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Police could use your help in figuring out who stole as much as $15,000 worth of wire from two businesses in Allegan County. The thefts happened in late October, and then again very recently. Both were at rural-area businesses about five miles from Allegan. The suspect drove a quad to get to them and made off with heavy gauge electrical wire. Police think the person must have knowledge of how electrical systems work, and say the stolen wire is about 2 inches thick with the copper core being about a half inch. Scrappers should watch out for it. Anyone with information on the suspect is responsible should call the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.. ...Read Full Story

Report: More Pregnant Women Smoking In Michigan

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Women in Michigan are smoking while pregnant at a higher rate than just a few years ago. The Michigan League for Public Policy released data Thursday showing an 18% jump in pregnancy smoking since 2008. The organization’s Alicia Guevara Warren tells us efforts to prevent smoking need to be boosted among pregnant women and the young.. ...Read Full Story

SJHS Thanks Veterans

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St. Joseph High School is saluting area veterans. For the third year, the school’s Student Senate has held their annual veterans breakfast to say thank you around the Veterans Day holiday. Mia Altholz is the Student Senate President and talked to WSJM News about the meaning of the event.. ...Read Full Story

Kate Upton Tweets Disgust At Cy Young Award Vote

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The winner of this season’s American League Cy Young Award is former Detroit Tiger Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox. Porcello led the American League in wins with 22 wins. There are a lot of fans upset by the vote, notably the supermodel girlfriend of Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander. St. Joseph native Kate Upton took to Twitter to rip the Baseball Writers of America for Verlander’s second-place finish, saying quote “Hey MLB I thought I was the only one who could (expletive deleted) Justin Verlander” and noting he had the most first-place votes. To add more salt to the wound for Detroit fans, the National League Cy Young winner was another former Tiger, Washington’s Max Scherzer.. ...Read Full Story

MI Newspapers Continue Struggling

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Media companies continue being squeezed by declining readership and ad revenues. Michigan News Network Business Editor Murray Feldman says newspapers have lost a third of their readers in the past three years, as more adults are getting their news off the web.. ...Read Full Story