Local News Archives

Organizations throughout the state are trying to ensure that no senior goes without food as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order through May 15, a move of special importance to older adults who are at higher risk of complications should they contract the coronavirus. Lisa Dedden Cooper with the AARP of Michigan says there’s a one-stop phone number to call for seniors who might be struggling during this time.. ...Read Full Story

Pure Michigan has started a new campaign intended to spread some positivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel Michigan Vice President Dave Lorenz tells WSJM News “Two Peninsulas, One Pure Michigan” is aimed at serving as a reminder of the value of unity, connectedness, and hope as we continue social distancing.. ...Read Full Story

A meeting of the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education that had been planned for Tuesday has been postponed. The school board was going to meet to vote on the district turnaround plan drafted by the Community Engagement and Advisory Committee. However, the board is instead meeting with the Michigan Departments of Treasury and Education on Tuesday. Therefore, it’s bumped back the session planned for the day so members have time to absorb any new information they learn. The rescheduled meeting will be announced at a later time.. ...Read Full Story

Construction will be among the next businesses allowed to get started again by Governor Whitmer. She says outdoor businesses which can successfully engage in social distancing will be the next given the green light to get people back to work. Whitmer says the state will be watching the data closely by region as well as she announced the MI Safe Start Plan. The governor says there is no firm timetable for reopening parts of the economy, and everything is dependent on the slowing of the spread of COVID-19. Whitmer says if the numbers continue to decline and more people keep recovering, the reopening of the economy will keep moving forward. The state had 432 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, which is the lowest daily increase in more than a month since March 22.. ...Read Full Story

The Cures 2.0 legislation in the works from Congressman Fred Upton of southwest Michigan and Congresswoman Dianna DeGette of Colorado is being designed to address the COVID-19 pandemic along with building upon the success of the original 21st Century Cures.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 432 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 for Monday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the statewide total since the pandemic began is 38,210 cases of coronavirus. There have been 92 additional deaths in the state since Sunday, bringing that total to 3,407. The Berrien County Health Department is reporting 217 total cases of COVID-19, up two from Sunday. The county has had 14 deaths and 146 recoveries. Cass County is reporting 27 total cases of coronavirus, up one from Saturday. The county has had two deaths. Van Buren County is reporting 36 total cases, up one from Sunday. The county has had two COVID-19 deaths.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan’s average gas price is the lowest it’s been in over 17 years, falling 5¢ a gallon over the past week to $1.42. Triple-A Michigan says a 15-gallon fill-up now costs $21, a drop of $23 from last July when prices peaked for 2019. Marquette has the highest prices in the state at $1.70, while Flint and Grand Rapids are tied for the lowest at $1.35 and the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area is right behind at $1.38.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Whitmer will be outlining new steps for restarting Michigan’s economy at 4 p.m. today in a briefing you’ll hear live on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM and can watch on our Facebook page. The governor has been meeting with top business and health leaders to analyze risk and discuss best ways to keep workers safe.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a statement on the governor’s order for employers to provide employees with face coverings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Her statement is below:. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 575 additional cases of COVID-19 for Sunday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the total number of cases statewide is now at 37,778. There have been 41 additional deaths from Saturday with that total now up to 3,315. Berrien County is reporting two additional cases with its total now up to 215. The Berrien County Health Department also reports two additional deaths from Saturday with that total up to 14. The department says both patients were women over the age of 75 with underlying medical conditions. Cass County’s numbers are unchanged from Saturday. Van Buren County is reporting one additional case of COVID-19, bringing its total to 35. The county has had two deaths from COVID-19.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition has made resources available on its website for anyone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. It says it recognizes the potential negative impact of the current COVID-19 crisis on mental health. The page it’s created includes information about the Michigan Warmline, a phone number for those with mental health needs to connect to peer support specialists. There are also links to resources for help dealing with stress and anxiety in general during this time of isolation. You can find the coalition’s resource page via the below link:. ...Read Full Story

The office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer says there is a new facility online  in the Detroit area to treat patients with COVID-19. The office has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 562 new cases of COVID-19 for Saturday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the total number statewide is now 37,203. The state is reporting 189 additional deaths* for Saturday, bringing that total to 3,274. Berrien County is reporting three new cases of coronavirus for Saturday, bringing the county’s total to 213. The county is also reporting one additional death, bringing Berrien County’s total to 12. The Berrien County Health Department says the patient was a man over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions. It also says 137 patients have recovered. Cass County is reporting one new case, bringing its total to 26 with two deaths. Van Buren County’s case number is holding steady from Friday at 34 with two deaths.. ...Read Full Story

The first two engagements of the South Haven Speaker Series for this year have been canceled. Organizers say the decision to cancel the May and June speakers was made out of an abundance of caution. The first presentation was to be on May 21 with Mary Kramer, the Group Publisher of Crain’s Business, on the topic “Public Trust Has Eroded in Our Institutions.” The second was to be on June 3 with Alan Mallory regarding his successful Mt. Everest climbing experience. The goal is to bring those two speakers back in 2021. A decision on the rest of the South Haven Speaker Series engagements planned for this year will be made later.. ...Read Full Story

A Southwestern Michigan College nursing graduate is at home recovering after a bout with COVID-19. MaryBeth Seal’s resume includes being a healthcare provider, author, speaker, and lifeguard, and now, coronavirus survivor. She says she’d been home sick for eight days struggling with asthma symptoms, a low fever, chills, and fatigue when she spoke to her doctor and was advised to go to the emergency room. It wasn’t long before she was on a ventilator in the hospital. Seal says she has no idea how she got the coronavirus, and although she’s active and in good shape, she does suffer from asthma, likely contributing to the severity of her case. After being released from a hospital in Marshall on April 14, Seal is in quarantine and recovering. The Buchanan High School grad attended SMC’s nursing program starting in 1984.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is going to have to brace itself for a substantial cut in funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So says Commissioner Ezra Scott, who told the board on Thursday’s he’s been told by a rep of state Senator Kim LaSata’s office Michigan is already looking at a $6 billion shortfall. That’s going to mean less revenue sharing for the counties. Scott urged everyone to keep that in mind.. ...Read Full Story

Barber Packaging in Bangor is now making personal protective equipment for front line medical workers and other essential personnel. The company has made industrial packaging for the auto industry since 1989. President Luke Barber says when the COVID-19 crisis started, the state called on businesses to retool, and that’s just what Barber has done. They’re making face shields.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is calling for the federal Paycheck Protection Program to extended as long as it’s needed. He and 73 other members of the U.S. House have signed a letter to the Congressional leadership saying Congress must “remove arbitrary funding barriers by having a plan to fully fund the PPP, at an appropriate level.” Upton tells WSJM News the first two rounds of PPP funding have shown there’s a will in Washington to keep the program going.. ...Read Full Story

Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel thinks Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s newly revised stay home order is a good thing. During a Friday briefing with the Berrien County Health Department, Hamel said opening certain businesses and activities that keep people occupied while socially distancing is a smart move.. ...Read Full Story

The state is putting a focus on testing people at nursing homes. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun is Michigan’s chief medical officer and says all nursing homes are now required to report COVID-19 cases to the state, and as of Friday morning, 331 had reported. Khaldun says that’s about two-thirds of the skilled nursing facilities in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

A building on the property of what used to be Deer Forest in Coloma has been completely destroyed by a fire. North Berrien Fire Rescue was called out just before 10 p.m. Thursday to the property at 5400 Marquette Drive. The fire was under control within 45 minutes, but the building is a total loss. Firefighters had some trouble getting to the scene because of two large gates that were locked. There’s no cause known yet for the fire, and the scene was cleared just after 1 a.m. Friday. Deer Forest closed in 2014 amid a federal investigation into the treatment of the animals at the park after having been open since 1949.. ...Read Full Story

The number of new coronavirus cases for Friday stands at 1,350, with the state now having 36,641 cases. A total of 3,085 deaths are linked to the pandemic, a rise of 108 from Thursday. In southwest Michigan, Berrien County is now over 200 cases at 210, an increase of 21, with the number of deaths remaining at 11. Cass County is up by two cases to 25 with two deaths, and Van Buren County’s number has fallen for the second straight day by one to 34 with two deaths. The statewide fatality rate from COVID-19 is 8%, with the youngest being five and the oldest at 107-years-old.. ...Read Full Story

A 52-year-old Baroda man is in the Berrien County Jail on multiple felony charges after a shooting Friday morning at his home. The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department says he got into an argument with a man and a woman who were outside the home and fired three shots at them from inside. Two went into a van and one bullet went into the ground, and the two were not hurt. The shooting happened around 11 a.m. in the 88-hundred block of Stevensville-Baroda Road.. ...Read Full Story

The following is the full statement from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. We will be airing her briefing on this at 11 a.m. on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM.. ...Read Full Story

We’re going to be staying six feet apart, wearing masks, and washing our hands frequently for a lot longer. That was the message from Berrien County Health Officer Nicki Britten to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners this week. She said if things reopen on May 1, it’s not going to be like flipping a light switch, but more like a dimmer switch.. ...Read Full Story

More than 200 financial institutions in Michigan are on board with a new program to help people hold on to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Whitmer on Thursday announced the creation of the MiMortgage Relief Partnership, and United Federal Credit Union vice president of mortgage lending Brett Wier says it’s needed and will provide a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is asking Governor Gretchen Whitmer to revise her executive orders that shut down the state to allow for regional flexibility. The board on Thursday approved a letter to be sent to the governor stating its support for allowing workers in occupations that can mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and socially distance to go back to work. Board Chair Mac Elliott read that Berrien’s position along a state line gives it unique challenges as a county.. ...Read Full Story

After being under 1,000 for about a week, Michigan’s number of new COVID-19 cases has jumped by 1,325 to 35,291. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the number of deaths has risen by 164 to 2,977, but adds there are 55 deaths being reported that had previously not been linked to COVID-19. Locally, Berrien County is up to 189 cases with 11 deaths, Cass County is at 23 cases with two deaths, and Van Buren County has 35 cases with two deaths. Berrien’s total is up by 12, Cass is unchanged, and Van Buren County’s number is down by one from Tuesday. The Berrien County Health Department says 113 people in the county have recovered.. ...Read Full Story

The volunteer corps of the 2020 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship has donated more than $15,000 to the Spectrum Health Lakeland COVID-19 Response Fund. The PGA tells us more than 130 volunteers donated their uniform package fee to benefit Spectrum Health Lakeland rather than take a refund after the championship was canceled. Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Loren Hamel says “the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who chose to donate their volunteer package fees toward Lakeland’s COVID-19 Response Fund is truly inspirational.” The Spectrum Health Lakeland COVID-19 Response Fund was established to support unexpected healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Unemployment Agency says $1.37 billion in benefits have been sent to Michigan workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Emergency Operations Center has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Michigan’s restaurants are projected to lose $1.2 billion in sales in April because of COVID-19. President & CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Justin Winslow, says it’s had a devastating effect on hotels and restaurants.. ...Read Full Story

A donation of up to $300,000 has been made to Benton Harbor Area Schools. Superintendent Andrae Townsel said during a Tuesday virtual session of the school board the money is for cultural climate and security.. ...Read Full Story

State Representative Beth Griffin is seeking reelection. The Republican from Mattawan tells WSJM News with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, the top priority is obvious.. ...Read Full Story

Some surgeries, procedures, clinic appointments, outpatient therapies, and radiology studies are going to resume at Spectrum Health Lakeland. President and CEO Dr. Loren Hamel joined WSJM’s Jim Gifford to talk about the decision, which was based on predictive models showing the curve is being flattened for COVID-19 infections across the state.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton hopes the nation can reopen itself for business safely as many states start pulling back from COVID-19 restrictions. Upton’s Problems Solvers Caucus this week released its Reopening and Recovery “Back to Work” Checklist. He tells WSJM News the Problem Solvers held several conference calls to iron out what issues need to be addressed.. ...Read Full Story

In addition to public outreach and contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Berrien County Health Department is encouraging people who can help the community to do so. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells us there are plenty of ways you can make a difference.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Whitmer has some words most of Michigan has been eager to hear.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 999 additional cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the total number of cases statewide is up to 33,966. There have been 113 additional deaths from Tuesday with that total statewide now at 2,813. Berrien County is reporting seven new cases and one additional death. Berrien has had a total of 177 cases and eleven deaths. Cass County is reporting 23 cases, and increase of one from Tuesday. Cass County has had one death from COVID-19. Van Buren County is reporting two new cases, bringing its total to 36 cases and two deaths. The overall fatality rate of coronavirus in Michigan is 8%.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Trial Court is making public access to court proceedings possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Spectrum Health Lakeland CEO Dr. Loren Hamel continues to urge everyone to keep themselves and others healthy by constantly washing hands, observing social distancing, and staying home as often as possible to limit the spread of coronavirus. Hamel joined WSJM’s Jim Gifford Wednesday morning to talk about the situation locally, and says they currently have 14 patients hospitalized.. ...Read Full Story

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is starting to show up in the area’s housing market, but not fully just yet. The biggest impact is in the inventory of homes for sale in the area, which has fallen slightly from last year. The numbers for March are out from the Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors, showing the number of homes sold in March was up by 4% over a year ago with 244 homes sold, but year-to-date, the sales are down by 5% from the first quarter of 2019.. ...Read Full Story

It’ll be at least another week before the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education votes on the district turnaround plan drafted by its Community Engagement and Advisory Committee. The board was set to vote on the plan during a virtual meeting Tuesday, but it was noted trustees and Superintendent Andrae Townsel have made adjustments to the committee’s recommendations. Townsel cited an example.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is headed back to Washington on Wednesday to vote on a COVID-19 relief bill approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. He tells WSJM News the Senate has come up with a nearly $500 billion plan that includes more than $300 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, which enables small businesses to continue paying employees as they’re shut down.. ...Read Full Story

A $5,000 grant has been awarded to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor by the Heart of Cook program for Earth Day activities. The Heart of Cook is run by employees of the Cook nuclear power plant. It supports a wide variety of community projects each year, but this is the first Earth Day Environmental Grant Award it’s announced, The Boys and Girls Club was selected to be the recipient because it was planning several Earth Day educational programs for this year. Although they’re now on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club plans to set up environmental science stations, a permanent water quality exhibit, raised garden beds, and other environmental education programs when the pandemic is over. Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor CEO Brian Saxton says they’re thrilled o get support from the Heart of Cook despite having to postpone the Earth Day celebration.. ...Read Full Story

The leadership of the Small Business Association of Michigan is encouraged by what they’re hearing from Governor Gretchen Whitmer concerning how her administration has responded to COVID-19 and her plans to safely reopen the economy. In joining SBAM for their daily briefing on Tuesday, Whitmer cautioned the recovery and reopening will be slow.. ...Read Full Story

Bronson Healthcare is cutting its CEO’s salary by 25% as it prepares to attempt a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The health system says other corporate employees are also getting pay cuts, company contributions to retirement accounts will stop for the rest of the year, and some non-clinical staff will be put on 16 week furloughs. Bronson says it’s taken a substantial financial hit from the coronavirus. It’s expecting community spread of the illness to continue through the fall, rather than to surge in the spring, assuming people practice social distancing. Based off that model, Bronson says it’s starting to ramp up surgeries and other procedures within the scope of the governor’s orders with a goal of having the hospitals back to 100% by September.. ...Read Full Story

Two more people in Berrien County have lost their lives to COVID-19. The latest numbers from the state show Berrien County’s total cases are now at 170, up by six from Monday, with a total of 10 deaths. Cass County’s total cases have stayed at 22 since Friday with one death. Van Buren County has one new case, rising to 34 with two deaths. Statewide, the number of new cases is up by 967 from Monday to 32,967 with a total of 2,700 who have died. The number of deaths in the state is up by 232.. ...Read Full Story

The city of South Haven is moving forward with its budget proposal for the coming fiscal year as it was worked out prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager Brian Dissette says they presented that idea to the city council this week. He says they advised them to accept the budget in its current format, accepting there will likely be “a series of amendments to the budget document as we truly understand the impacts of the health crisis, and then can better understand the potential for an economic slowdown,” Dissette tells WSJM News.. ...Read Full Story

Another protest of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order is planned for this week around the Capitol. Last week, thousands drove in from all over the state, and some left their vehicles and gathered in close proximity to each other on the Capitol lawn, violating social distancing guidelines. Whitmer says those actions compromised the health of people around Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

The St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation’s 2020 Distinguished Alumni of the Year is former state Senator Harry Gast. A member of the class of 1938, he died in 2015 at the age of 94. Congressman Fred Upton was among those nominating Gast for the honor, saying he “exemplified what it means to be a public servant,” adding the senator “never forgot those he represented” and added while he could be blunt, “you could never question his motives as he put our corner of the state on the map.” He began his political career in the 1950s, serving as township supervisor, township treasurer, and a school board member before being elected to the state House in 1970. Gast was elected to the Senate in 1978, and served until 2002. For 18 years, he served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Room in the Capitol is named for him. Part of M-63 north of St. Joseph was named the Harry Gast Parkway in 2008.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County has a new treasurer. Shelly Weich of Baroda has been appointed to the post and will serve the rest of the term of former Treasurer Bret Witkowski, which runs through December 31. Weich has been the Chief Deputy Treasurer for the past dozen years. She was selected by the Berrien County Treasurer Appointment Committee after the panel decided given the state of emergency, filing deadlines, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to make an appointment rather than go through the full application review and interview process. They also determined that due to the pandemic and social distancing, it would be difficult to train someone with no experience in the office. Witkowski left the position three weeks ago for a private sector job with Abonmarche. Weich will be eligible to run for a full term in November.. ...Read Full Story

The city of Benton Harbor is giving out personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer to residents thanks to $250,000 in federal funds it’s receiving through the CARES Act. During a Monday virtual meeting, Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the city will buy hand sanitizer, N95 masks, and gloves for all residents. City Manager Ellis Mitchell said those items are not easy to come by.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A federal judge has delayed a deadline for Michigan candidates to file petitions to qualify for the ballot. U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg on Monday cited the state’s stay-at-home order that’s in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline was Tuesday, but it has been pushed back 17 days to May 8. Berg says candidates can collect half as many signatures as normal, and they can gather them by email instead of getting a physical signature. The ruling is a victory for Eric Esshaki, who is seeking the Republican nomination in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District in suburban Detroit.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren Conservation District has been awarded a $413,000 grant to help prevent runoff into waterways. Watershed coordinator Erin Fuller tells WSJM News the funds from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be used to reduce nutrient and pathogen runoff in Pine and Mill Creeks, which are both tributaries of the Paw Paw River. The Van Buren Conservation District will work with farmers on methods of reducing the runoff.. ...Read Full Story

The federal government is distributing financial relief to Michiganders during the COVID-19 pandemic through stimulus checks. However, some people need to take action to ensure they get their payments. Households without a federal tax filing requirement will not automatically receive the payment unless they file a 2018 or 2019 tax return. At Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Kerry Lenaghan-Baughman says there are IRS-certified volunteers who can help with tax preparation virtually or over the phone, or answer questions about the stimulus checks.. ...Read Full Story

More people are eligible to get a test for COVID-19 in the state. Michigan’s chief medical officer, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, says first responders and healthcare workers without symptoms are now eligible to get tests without showing any symptoms.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Whitmer has signed an executive order creating the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist will chair the new panel.. ...Read Full Story