Local News Archives

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce a “stay at home” order during 11 a.m. press conference according to the Detroit Free Press and MIRS News. Illinois and Ohio have already done so. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations had opposed the shutdown, but Chamber CEO Rich Studley and the others spent time meeting with the governor over the weekend about the coronavirus pandemic.. ...Read Full Story

WSJM Morning News-3/23/20. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Governor Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan needs the federal government to provide not only more test kits and masks but also clear guidance on how best to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Whitmer spoke Sunday on ABC’s “This
Week.”She says Michigan and others are doing the best they can, “but it would be nice to have a national strategy.” As it is, she says the states are “all building the airplane as we fly it.” She is criticizing the federal government for not focusing on the threat much earlier. Michigan has reported a total of 787 cases of COVID-19.. ...Read Full Story

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is now at least 1,035 with eight deaths. The latest figures from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services show the area of the state most affected by coronavirus remains southeast Michigan. Detroit has 325 cases with four deaths. Wayne County, which the state is counting separate from Detroit, has 152 cases with one death. Oakland County has 277 cases with one death. Macomb County has 140 cases with one death. The state has Berrien County listed with three cases, but the Berrien County Health Department is reporting there are four. There is an even 50% to 50% split by gender in the state, and 58% are over the age of 50.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County now has four COVID-19 cases. According to a post on the Berrien County Health Department’s Facebook page, one is someone who attended the March 8 concert by Sandi Patty at Andrews University, but the other person was not at the show. Officials say that backs up the assumption under which they’re working that the virus “could be present in many public places in our community. That is why everyone should be taking prevention measures like practicing social distancing and heeding Executive Orders in place. If people are feeling sick, they need to stay home!”. ...Read Full Story

Bronson Healthcare is turning to the public to help meet its needs at its southwest Michigan hospitals and offices. Starting Monday, Bronson will be collecting items at five of its sites in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Portage, and South Haven. They are in need of disposable face masks; N95 masks, also called respirators; eye protection like safety goggles and face shields; disposable gowns, gloves, surgical caps, and foot covers; antimicrobial or bleach wipes; hand sanitizer, and bleach. Bronson is also accepting home-sewn face masks which will be used by staff in appropriate areas to conserve the supply of personal protective equipment. The donations will be accepted from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bronson is not taking donations of medication, blankets, toys, clothes, or any other medical supplies.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order closing facilities that provide non-essential personla care services. The governor’s office has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

State Senator Kim LaSata is urging everyone to follow guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Her office has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is working to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 after the county’s first two cases were identified on Saturday. The first two positives are adult women under the age of 60 who attended a concert at Andrews University on March 8. The performer, singer Sandi Patty, announced this week she’s been diagnosed with COVID-19. At a press conference on Saturday, Berrien County Medical Director Rick Johansen said things moved quickly from there.. ...Read Full Story

The first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Allegan County has been reported. The Allegan County Health Department has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in southwest Michigan for the first time, with two cases in Berrien County that resulted from close contact with singer Sandi Patty during a March 8 concert at Andrews University in Berrien Springs. She announced on March 17 that she had tested positive, but that was not done in the state of Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

A Pullman man is in the Van Buren County Jail on multiple charges after trying to run away from sheriff’s deputies around 11:30 Friday morning when they spotted his vehicle and realized it matched one reported stolen out of Allegan County. The chase started in Bloomingdale Township and ended in Allegan County when the suspect ditched the vehicle near 110th Avenue and 49th Street and ran into the woods. An Allegan County Sheriff’s Department K-9 officer tracked the 22-year-old man and he was arrested. He’s facing charges of fleeing and eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting and obstructing police, driving with a suspended license, possession of meth, and for being a fugitive.. ...Read Full Story

The following is the full news release from the Berrien County Health Department announcing two cases of COVID-19:. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says two Kalamazoo residents are facing charges over two church break-ins on Saturday morning. Deputies were called  out to the Chapel Hill Church at 4071 Naomi Road in Sodus Township shortly before 6 a.m. when the alarm went off. They found a smashed window on the north side of the building. While they were still at the scene, the deputies were told of another business alarm that had gone off at the Eau Claire Seventh Day Adventist Church at 6562 Naomi Road. Arriving officers found a window on the east side of the building had been smashed. While checking the area, officers found a vehicle sitting on the side of the road with a woman in it. They also found a man walking down the road, and determined the man and woman had been involved in the two break-ins. They were arrested and taken to the Berrien County Jail on charges of breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools, and possession of meth. The names of the suspects have not yet been released.. ...Read Full Story

The Benton Township Police Department is investigating a shooting at the Blossom Acres housing development on Friday night. It says officers were called to the area of Blossom Lane and Concord around 11:40 p.m. on a report of two men in a shootout. The officers arrived to find a 23-year-old Ohio man with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He was taken to Spectrum Health Lakeland to be treated for non life-threatening injuries. Police say they collected a large number of shell casings from the scene and are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Benton Township Police Department.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued a new statement after saying she was “dismayed” by a Michigan Department of Education memo that indicated online learning during the shutdown won’t count toward this year’s learning requirements.. ...Read Full Story

The American Electric Power Foundation has announced it’s donating $240,000 in emergency funds to help communities throughout Michigan and Indiana during the COVID-19 crisis. Indiana Michigan Power’s Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News the funds will be made available to non-profits throughout I&M’s service area.. ...Read Full Story

A body found in Lake Michigan late Thursday at Holland State Park is that of missing 16-year-old Eliza Trainer of Flushing. The Flint-area teen had been missing since being swept off the pier around 11:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day while visiting the lake with a friend for the first time. Trainer’s body was identified through an autopsy Friday in Grand Rapids. Her 19-year-old friend survived and tried to pull her on shore after he was able to get to some rocks, but another wave hit and pulled her away from him. Trainer’s body was found wedged in rocks along the side of the pier.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Treasury is telling those who owe taxes to the state to reach out to make arrangements during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, it’s offering collections assistance to newly-unemployed Michiganders paying on past-due state tax debts or other state debts. Treasury says effective immediately, individuals who have been laid off or had their place of employment closed due to COVID-19 should contact them to see what options are available. To get assistance, people are encouraged to call Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 517-636-5265. Michigan Treasurer Rachael Eubanks says the department’s “first and foremost priority is the health and safety of Michiganders.”. ...Read Full Story

It’s too early to tell if Michigan will have a state shutdown like has happened in Illinois, New York, and California. Governor Whitmer said Friday afternoon the situation is changing rapidly, but said right now, she’s not ready to take that step.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County has announced the closure of its county buildings due to COVID-19. The county has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

As of Friday afternoon, there were still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Berrien County, but that is expected to change. In a livestream on Friday, Spectrum Health Lakeland President Loren Hamel said there is strong demand for tests right now.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan’s COVID-19 positive cases now stand at 549, a jump of 225 from Thursday. There remain none in southwest Michigan – Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. Oakland County has 184, followed by 149 in the city of Detroit. Two have died in Detroit, and one has died in Wayne County. The state is separating the numbers from Detroit and Wayne County. Macomb County has 86 cases, followed by 67 in Wayne County and 16 in Washtenaw County. In west Michigan, Kent County’s positive cases have gone from 7 to 12, while Ottawa County remains at one. The Ottawa County patient is a woman who had been treated at Holland Hospital, but has since been discharged. Most of the cases, 55%, are of people 50 and older, while 21% are in their 40s.. ...Read Full Story

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-17, which imposes temporary restrictions on non-essential medical and dental procedures beginning as soon as possible but no later than March 21, 2020 at 5:00pm. The governor’s office has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Cass County has announced the closure of several of its buildings. Cass County administration has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel says COVID-19 related scams are on the rise. Her office has received more than 800 consumer complaints. The Michigan Attorney General’s office released the following statement on Thursday:. ...Read Full Story

Don’t look for a travel ban or stay home order from Governor Whitmer anytime soon following orders in California for people to shelter in place at home.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan households now are receiving 2020 census forms in the mail – and while the goal is to count everyone, there is concern that some children may be overlooked. Millions of federal dollars are at risk if every child isn’t counted, and nearly two million kids age five and younger were missed in the 2010 census. Children of color and Latinos are especially vulnerable to under-counting. Christine Suave with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Coalition notes there is some distrust in the immigrant community about the use of census data, but she says the benefits are too great to not be counted.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is preparing for the area’s first COVID-19 cases. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells WSJM News as of late Thursday afternoon, the county still had no confirmed cases.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Whitmer announced today that Michigan’s licensed distilleries are now permitted to produce ethanol-based hand sanitizers in order to help meet demand as the state of Michigan mitigates the spread of COVID-19. The State Emergency Operations Center has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Local restaurants are working to adjust to the new normal of only being allowed to serve customers via takeout as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. Jayme Bendoski with the Full Circle Cafe in Stevensville tells WSJM News she’s trying to get used to it.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has voted to proceed with applying for some grants to expand two county parks. At a Thursday meeting, it authorized the Berrien County Parks Department to put in for a $300,000 grant for Paw Paw River County Park and a $300,000 grant for Madeline Bertrand County Park with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. In the case of Paw Paw River, the money would be used to purchase 63 acres, and in the case of Madeline Bertrand, the purchase would be 33 acres. In each case, the county would have to make a $100,000 match. If approved by the state, the Madeline Bertrand expansion could allow for new hiking trails, biking areas, cross-country skiing, and turkey and deer hunting opportunities. With Paw Paw River County Park, the expansion would allow for more hard surface trails, overlook decks, and fishing. The county won’t hear back from the state about the grant applications until later this year.. ...Read Full Story

Getting things done at a Secretary of State branch office in Michigan will be a bit different for the next several weeks or months. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson tells WSJM News the changes are due to the coronavirus outbreak.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is remaining flexible when it comes to the COVID-19 outbreak. At this week’s meeting, Chair Mac Elliott said the nation’s response to the crisis has once again shown that “when we get focused, when we get purposeful, when we get geared up, we get things done.” He told WSJM News on the county level, the Emergency Operations Center has been partially activated, and responders are adjusting to a dynamic situation.. ...Read Full Story

The number of coronavirus cases in Michigan is now 336, with three deaths. All three deaths have been in metro Detroit, which has been the hardest hit with positive cases so far. There are no cases in the southwest Michigan counties of Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren. Oakland County has the most cases at 105, followed by the city of Detroit with 75 and Macomb County with 55. The new numbers include the results of 148 tests run by commercial labs, 744 done by hospitals, and 1,557 done by the state Department of Health and Human Services laboratory. The ages of those with the illness are starting to even out, with 18% being between 30 and 39, 19% between 40 and 49, 19% between 50 and 59, and 18% between 60 and 69. Just 10% of the cases are people in their 20s, only 1% are infants to 19-year-olds, and those in their 70s make up 8% of the cases. People 80 and older are 5% of the positive cases in the state.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is waiving the need for a state Recreation Passport for entry at state parks and other destinations for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. The DNR says state parks are a good place to pass some time while avoiding a dense crowd. If you’re headed to a state recreation area, the DNR says you should remember to keep six feet of distance between yourself and others, minimize sun exposure with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, keep your vehicle windows slightly open to provide air flow, and wash your hands thoroughly when done. The DNR also says you should only visit Mother Nature if you’re not feeling sick. While the DNR has closed contact areas like restroom buildings, shooting ranges, and visitor centers, the state parks themselves remain open.. ...Read Full Story

Big changes are being made by Michigan’s largest grocery retailer. Meijer will no longer be open 24 hours starting Friday night for the length of the coronavirus pandemic. The chain, based in suburban Grand Rapids, will close at 10 p.m. and reopen at 8 a.m. Employees will be using the overnight hours to deep clean the stores and restock.. ...Read Full Story

The Region IV Area Agency on Aging is closing its Creative Campus on Aging and main offices to visitors, but keeping an information line open. The Area Agency on Aging has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi has donated nine pallets of food from its Four Winds Casino locations to food banks as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. The Pokagons shut down all of their casinos in Michigan and Indiana this week, leaving them with a large amount of food to give away. In all, the donation announced on Thursday amounts to more than 7,400 pounds of food that includes dairy products, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, baked goods, and fresh fish. The donations are going to be distributed to those in need throughout southwest Michigan and northern Indiana by Feeding America and Cultivate. Pokagon Tribal Chair Matt Wesaw says they “felt compelled to donate these unused foods items as soon as possible so they could be used by community members in need.”. ...Read Full Story

Three lives have been lost in Michigan from the COVID-19 outbreak. The first was a man in his 50s at a Beaumont Health hospital in Wayne County early Wednesday. The two latest deaths are of a woman who was at an Oakland County hospital and an 81-year-old patient who was being treated at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Health officials in southeast Michigan say all three who have died had other underlying health conditions. No names have been released. An update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on the number of positive coronavirus cases is set to be released at 2 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

There will not be a Blossomtime Grand Floral Parade this year. The annual event in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor is being canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, and had been scheduled for May 2nd. The Blossomtime board of directors says the decision to call off the parade was not taken lightly, and they’ve also canceled six other related events, including Blessing of the Blossoms and Dinner with the Queens.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Honda and Toyota confirm they will temporarily shut down all of their North American factories due to the coronavirus threat. Ford said its plants will close after Thursday evening shifts, through March 30, while GM’s closures will start today and take several days to finish. Closures also will last through March 30. Honda plants will close for about a week starting Monday, while Toyota will close for two days next week. The move by Detroit’s three automakers will idle about 150,000 workers. They likely will receive supplemental pay in addition to state unemployment benefits. The two checks combined will about equal what the workers normally make.. ...Read Full Story

A rash of car break-ins has been seen in Hartford lately. The Hartford Police Department put out word on Wednesday it’s handled 16 larceny from vehicle cases in the past five days. 13 of them were in one night. And that’s not counting the car break-ins that haven’t been reported. The department tells everyone to lock their vehicles. Police say that’s the single biggest step you could take to protect yourself from those crimes. In all 16 of Hartford’s cases, the vehicles were left unlocked.. ...Read Full Story

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an executive order allowing public bodies to meet remotely. Her office has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Tax foreclosures in Michigan are now being delayed until May 29 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Whitmer made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in the latest in a series of executive orders over the past week.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is investigating a case of possible COVID-19 exposure at a concert at Andrews University in Berrien Springs. The concert artist, singer Sandi Patty, announced on her Facebook page on Tuesday she had tested positive for COVID-19. She performed a concert at Andrews University Howard Performing Arts Center on the evening of March 8 and hosted several individuals for a special in-person experience after the concert. The Berrien County Health Department has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Martin’s Super Markets and Roger’s Foodland in St. Joseph have reserved time for seniors only to grocery shop. Roger’s tells us its store will switch to new hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, and the first hour of that will be for seniors and the vulnerable to shop.. ...Read Full Story

Northside Municipal Marina in South Haven will be closed for the 2020 boating season. The city says the closure is to make needed electrical upgrades, as high water has compromised the shore power electric system. That could cause shock or electrocution if someone were to come into contact with the water. Results of a recent field review and targeted testing showed electrical leakage is occurring where wires have been sliced or are in partially or fully submerged junction boxes.. ...Read Full Story

The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan is up to 80. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says 15 new cases have been confirmed as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, and all of the new cases are in southeast Michigan. Seven are in Oakland County, while there are two in Macomb County and one in Wayne County, and five in the city of Detroit. To date, there are zero confirmed cases in southwest Michigan for Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. There are cases in northern Indiana’s St. Joseph County and in Ottawa and Kent counties in the Holland and Grand Rapids areas in west Michigan. Beaumont Health in Wayne County says one man in his 50s who had underlying medical issues has died from COVID-19, marking the first death in the state from the virus.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County has partially activated its Emergency Operations Center to prepare for COVID-19. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

As many businesses adjust to a new reality and have employees working from home where possible and others have had to close temporarily, there are still some things that are going on as normal. One of those is something Michigan is very familiar with: road work. The Michigan Department of Transportation is going to start a $10.3 million project next week in southern Berrien County to replace the Squaw Creek culvert under I-94 at the New Buffalo weigh stations. There will be two lanes of I-94 remaining open to traffic in each direction during the project. The work is scheduled to be done by August 14.. ...Read Full Story

Taking a sightseeing trip to Canada is now not possible for Michiganders, nor can Canadians come across the border for the next several weeks to enjoy a trip to Pure Michigan. President Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have announced they’re closing the border to non-essential travel to try to slow down the spread of coronavirus.. ...Read Full Story

Christian singer Sandi Patty is among the celebrities who have tested positive for COVID-19. The reason that’s of any importance in southwest Michigan is she performed March 8 at the Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University. The Berrien Springs university says they are “actively working with the appropriate Berrien County health officials to immediately understand and effectively respond to the implications” of the positive test. In a Facebook post, Andrews officials say they will have more information soon on what anyone should do if they had close contact with Sandi Patty during the event last Sunday. As of right now, there have not been any positive COVID-19 results in Berrien County.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is expecting the U.S. Senate to get to work on an economic stimulus package this week. He tells WSJM News it will likely be around $1 trillion to carry the country through the coronavirus. What will be in it?. ...Read Full Story

As the coronavirus outbreak continues, the PGA of America is considering its options when it comes to the 2020 Senior PGA Championship, which is still set for May 19 through May 24 in Benton Harbor. A statement from Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship Corporate Hospitality Manager Brent Curtis says the PGA on Tuesday announced the postponement of its PGA Championship at Harding Park, which had been set for May 11 through May 17 in San Francisco. They’re looking for a date later in the summer for that event. As for the Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, the PGA says “we are also discussing the best options” for it. They continue, “We hope to have an update in the near future and sincerely appreciate the patience of our wonderful volunteers, fans, supporters and our partners at KitchenAid. The health and safety of all involved in this prestigious championship is our highest priority.”. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor city officials are doing what they can to protect residents during the COVID-19 outbreak. At a Tuesday press conference, Mayor Marcus Muhammad noted the city is suspending water shutoffs and reconnecting those who already had their water shut off. Above all, he urged discipline for everyone.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued another executive order, this time intended to increase operational capacity and efficiency in Michigan hospitals. Her office has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Andrae Townsel says staff are working to disinfect the school buildings with classes shut down for three weeks. During his portion of a community update at Benton Harbor City Hall on Tuesday, Townsel said the district is planning to make online learning possible.. ...Read Full Story

With the governor limiting the size of gatherings in Michigan as part of COVID-19 response, many churches are improvising. Overflow Church Pastor Brian Bennett tells WSJM News they went into Sunday thinking services would be normal, but when the recommendations for events changed, services were offered only online. So how did it go?. ...Read Full Story