If you’re a photographer, whether amateur or professional, then state Representative Kim LaSata could use your help. She’s looking to decorate her Lansing office with photographs of Berrien County, so she’s started a contest. Just send her a picture you’ve taken and she could hang it there.. ...Read Full Story
Utilities are taking steps to be prepared in case high winds over the next day cause power outages. Consumers Energy spokesperson Roger Morgenstern tells WSJM News the winds around west Michigan could take out some transmission lines, so they’ve got extra crews ready to go.. ...Read Full Story
A key state senator is proposing to repeal Michigan’s school-turnaround law and to overhaul a system that potentially could lead to the closure of academically failing schools. Senate Education Committee Chairman Phil Pavlov said Tuesday he will introduce repeal legislation Wednesday, the first day of the two-year legislative term. His bill comes as Michigan prepares to soon release its latest school rankings list. Governor Rick Snyder’s administration has said state-ordered school closures, an unused option allowed for under a 2009 law, could be coming for chronically under-performing schools where other forms of intervention haven’t worked. Pavlov, a Republican, says the law was “created with the best of intentions” but is “deeply flawed.” He says his bill will launch a conversation about replacing the law with “something that actually incentivizes” school improvements.. ...Read Full Story
More than 309,000 Michigan residents have signed up for health insurance under the health care law, despite Republican efforts to repeal “Obamacare.” That’s about 14,200 fewer people than at the same time last year. Federal figures released Tuesday show about a quarter of enrollees live in rural Michigan. About half are between 45 and 64-years-old, and another 24
percent are 18 to 34-years-old. Fifty-four percent are white. 80% qualify for cost-reducing tax credits of $267 per month, on average. Enrollment continues on HealthCare.gov through the end of January. Consumers have until Sunday to sign up for coverage starting February 1. Nationally, 11.5 million people have signed up for marketplace coverage as of December 24. That’s 290,000 more than last year at the same time.. ...Read Full Story
Two iconic Ford trucks are returning to the American market. The automaker’s vice president and President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs announced at the North American International Auto Show that the Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco are coming back.. ...Read Full Story
A Michigan state senator has been approached by the president-elect’s team to be considered as the state director for USDA’s Rural Development office. It’s responsible for a $1 billion budget. Senator Mike Green, of Mayville, says rural Michigan has always been important to him.. ...Read Full Story
The Chevy Bolt has snagged the annual award for the top car in North America. Kathy Beslic, the Marketing Manager for Chevrolet Electric Vehicles, says this is very exciting for the company as the Bolt is the first all-electric car to win the Car of the Year award.. ...Read Full Story
No one’s hurt following a crash involving a school bus in Dowagiac Monday. Police tell us it happened around 3:40 p.m. at the intersection of Orchard and North Street. The 17-year-old driver of a Grand Prix told officers she didn’t see the bus as she approached the intersection. The Grand Prix slammed into the side of the bus. On board were only the driver and a 5-year-old passenger, but neither were hurt. Due to Dowagiac Union Schools policy, they were still both checked out by EMTs. The 5-year-old’s parents were called to come pick their child up, and police gave a ticket to the 17-year-old.. ...Read Full Story
The big expansion project going on at Lakeland Hospital is expected to create more demand for parking. That’s why they’re planning to add more spaces. Lakeland’s Dan Bacchiocchi tells WSJM News work could begin this winter.. ...Read Full Story
Experts say it’s never too early in the year to take a peek at your trees, and this year, it could help to stop the spread of a dangerous pest. The hemlock woolly adelgid, or HWA, is a tiny insect that secretes white wax as it feeds on the sap of hemlock trees. The wax, over time, can kill the tree. The invasive insect has already been found in parts of West Michigan. Roger Mech, with the DNR, says you don’t have to go far to see just how harmful it can be.. ...Read Full Story
St. Joseph City Commissioners are hoping to see some action to strengthen part of the bluff along Old Lakeshore Road. That’s because it appears to be in danger of collapsing. On Monday, they discussed the problem area, located around 2405 Old Lakeshore. Some residents have documented the failing of the sea wall and subsequent bluff erosion. CSX Railroad is responsible for the property, and Mayor Mike Garey tells WSJM News they’ve got to be convinced to do something.. ...Read Full Story
The city of St. Joseph will be picking up Christmas trees all this month. Anyone looking to dispose of one should put it out at the curb and make sure it’s not surrounded by snow. Also, be sure it has nothing on it, including plastic. Anyone who needs their tree picked up from an alley should call the city public works department. The number is 983-6341.. ...Read Full Story
The city of South Haven is about to begin a tree census. Public Works Director Bill Hunter tells WSJM News they’ve secured a grant from the state to count every tree on city property and keep it recorded so they can better plan development.. ...Read Full Story
Police in Chikaming Township are looking for a couple of burglary suspects who they say fired off a gun as they got away on Friday. Shortly after midnight, officers were called to a home on Sawyer Road on a report of a burglary in progress. They were told by the homeowner two men had gone into his barn. He went outside to confront them, and one of them came out and pointed a long gun at him. The two suspects then ran off while one fired the gun, possibly at the homeonwer’s dogs. The two men are described as white males wearing Carhart-style clothing. Police remind everyone to lock their cars and outbuildings at night.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien Community Foundation is once again taking applications for Heart of Cook grants. Heart of Cook is a grant program funded by the Cook nuclear power plant that goes to non-profits around Berrien County each year. Last year, they gave out $53,000 in funding to programs in the fields of education, human services, and environmental protection. In all, a total of 29 organizations benefited. Anyone thinking of applying for a grant for their own group can do so at BerrienCommunity.org/HOC. The deadline is February 6.. ...Read Full Story
Governor Rick Snyder has signed legislation to let Michigan stores ship wine directly to in-state customers using common carriers such as FedEx or UPS but ban out-of-state retailers from sending beer and wine to Michigan customers. Beer and wine wholesalers say the law enacted Monday will crack down on illegal wine shipments from online wine retailers and “wine clubs,” and customers can still get wines directly shipped from wineries. But wine sellers say the “poorly written” bill should have been vetoed because it is unconstitutional and will be challenged in court. The law had allowed wine retailers to deliver to Michigan consumers only using their own trucks. Under the new law, common carriers such as FedEx or UPS will have to submit quarterly reports about each delivery.. ...Read Full Story
Governor Rick Snyder is promising Fraser residents impacted by the sinkhole on 15 Mile Road that help is coming, though how the mess will be paid for remains unknown. Snyder toured the area with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller yesterday.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan State Police are reminding all of us with vehicles to make sure the entire thing is clear of snow before driving. Not doing that can result in a ticket of about $100, but no points on your license, according to MSP Lieutenant Michael Shaw.. ...Read Full Story
If you want to get up close and personal with the World Series Trophy, also called the Commissioner’s Trophy, you’ll have your chance next month. It will be in St. Joseph on Monday, February 20 along with Kalamazoo on the same day. The World Series champion Chicago Cubs are taking the trophy on a tour of the Midwest following their first title in 108 years last fall. The time and location for the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo displays of the trophy are yet to be announced. The Cubs will also take the 24-inch trophy to South Bend on January 21st and will show it off at the South Bend Cubs’ Performance Center at Four Winds Field and Purcell Pavilion on the Notre Dame campus.. ...Read Full Story
Gas prices continue to go skyward in Michigan. Triple-A puts the statewide average to start the week at $2.51, up 15¢ from last week and higher than last year by 59¢ a gallon. In the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area, we’re paying $2.49 on average, which is up 16¢. The state’s cheapest fuel in the ten areas surveyed by the auto club is found in Flint at $2.48, while drivers in Ann Arbor pay the most at $2.53. Michigan’s average price is the ninth-highest in the nation and the highest in the Midwest. AAA says the oil markets are being driven higher by OPEC’s decision to cut production by 1.8 million barrels per day.. ...Read Full Story
The Van Buren County United Way is once again offering to do your taxes for you. The organization’s Vera Sebree tells us trained volunteers will hold several sessions throughout the next few months to fill out taxes for free. It’s a popular program.. ...Read Full Story
Thieves have hit JB Party Store on East Empire in Benton Harbor not once, but twice since the day after Christmas. Both armed robberies resulted in the suspects getting away with what public safety considers a “large amount of cash,” but no exact amount has been released. The most recent robbery was early last Thursday morning, and during that one, one of the suspects actually fired a shot into the ceiling. No one was hurt. Investigators have released surveillance photos of the suspects in the hope someone recognizes them and turns them in to police. Benton Harbor Public Safety officers believe the two robberies on December 26 and January 5 are related.
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With freezing weather now here in southwest Michigan, Van Buren County Animal Control is taking a few extra steps to keep critters safe. The shelter’s Ashley Taylor tells our WSJM News volunteers are driving around the county looking for dogs or cats left outside and offering their owners extra help if they need it.. ...Read Full Story
Newly-elected state Representative Kim LaSata is settling into her Lansing office. WSJM News checked in with her this week, and she told us lawmakers are meeting to set an agenda ahead of next Wednesday’s official start of business. LaSata’s ready to get to work on finding ways to provide more job training around the state.. ...Read Full Story
A program to test Berrien County waterways for E-coli contamination is utilizing dogs to help do the initial detecting. The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission’s Marcy Hamilton tells WSJM News the dogs can detect human waste in the water, and from there, the researchers take samples. Getting them helps pinpoint where runoff and leaks are causing the E-coli contamination.. ...Read Full Story
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety is bringing back its Police Athletic League. Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis tells WSJM News PAL was once a great way for police officers to mentor young people in sports leagues.. ...Read Full Story
A newly increased license fee and gas tax will mean about $460 million more for roads in Michigan this year. However, Berrien County Road Commission Managing Director Louis Csokasy tells our newsroom the road package approved in 2015 by the state legislature doesn’t fully take effect until 2021.. ...Read Full Story
State wildlife officials have signed off on Ann Arbor’s plan to kill up to 100 deer and sterilize dozens more. The Ann Arbor News says 11 parks and nature areas will be closed from 3 p.m. to midnight during the 15-day hunt, which starts January 30. The shooting will be performed by sharpshooters from White Buffalo Inc. Ann Arbor wants to reduce the deer population to protect plants and animals and to reduce deer-vehicle crashes. A deer management plan was approved by the city council, 9-2, in November. Mayor Christopher Taylor opposed it, saying the $250,000 cost to manage deer is too expensive. Taylor says the killing of deer in parks “shakes people” and “undermines their sense of home.”. ...Read Full Story
Now that the flu season is here, doctors are once again urging everyone to get a shot. Dr. David Davenport, with Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, tells us the most-prevalent strain of the virus this year is covered by the latest vaccine. Still, he says about 60% of people go unvaccinated.. ...Read Full Story
The Mackinac Center of Public Policy and the ACLU are teaming up to call for the continued reform of Michigan’s civil forfeiture laws. The Mackinac Center’s Jarrett Skorup tells WSJM News reforms made in 2015 have helped to reign in, to a degree, how and when often the police can seize property during a criminal investigation. However, he thinks more needs to be done.. ...Read Full Story
