Local News Archives

Governor Gretchen Whitmer did not like what she saw during the most recent protests of her COVID-19 executive orders on Thursday.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Waves from Lake Michigan have washed away a section of pavement in a Northwest Indiana town, threatening utility lines and nearby homes. Rangers with the Indiana Dunes National Park stood guard Thursday at a sharp cliff overlooking Lake Michigan that was once parking for Lakeview Beach in the town of Beverly Shores, about 40 miles east of Chicago. Beverly Shores Town Council President Geof Benson told The Northwest Indiana Times a section of roadway near that location has been closed for the past month. Bruce Rowe, the park’s supervisory ranger, says a “significant piece of pavement was lost.”. ...Read Full Story

Pure Michigan and MLive have announced a new partnership to keep people entertained while they’re sheltering in place and social distancing. They’re working with Under the Radar Michigan to host a new virtual concert and entertainment series to benefit the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund. The fund has been established to benefit hospitality workers who find themselves struggling during the COVID-19 shutdown. “Come Together: A Relief Effort for Tourism Workers” will stream live from Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8. The shows will each run from 7 to 8 p.m. They’ll be streamed on the Facebook pages of MLive and Pure Michigan. The shows will include performances by Michigan musicians, food and beverage demonstrations, and surprise features. People who watch can make donations to the relief fund.. ...Read Full Story

Flooding is again an issue throughout southwest Michigan. South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette says it’s unprecedented.. ...Read Full Story

Officials in Berrien County are asking everyone to continue social distancing and staying home when possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a Friday update, Berrien County Health Officer Nicki Britten said the measures that have been taken so far have kept the curve flat, at least locally.. ...Read Full Story

More of Michigan’s economy will be reopening next week. Governor Whitmer says she’s signed a new executive order on that front.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 977 new cases of COVID-19 around the state for Friday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that brings the state’s total up to 42,356 since the pandemic started. There have been 77 additional deaths from COVID-19 as of Friday, bringing that total up to 3,866. The Berrien County Health Department reports 15 new cases of coronavirus for Friday, bringing the county’s total for the outbreak up to 263. The health department says the county has also had 173 presumed positive cases, which are cases where the patient had the COVID-19 symptoms but wasn’t tested. The county has had 15 coronavirus deaths and 183 recoveries. Cass County’s case total for Friday has gone down by one from the day before, now standing at 30. Van Buren County is reporting five new cases for Friday, bringing its total to 54. Cass and Van Buren counties have each had two deaths from COVID-19.. ...Read Full Story

The Cook nuclear power plant’s Unit 2 has been taken offline so crews can do some repairs. The Cook plant has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed new emergency declarations over the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s after the state House and Senate both declined to extend the previous declaration. The governor’s office has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

How will the economy of the nation, the state, and Berrien County recover following the COVID-19 shutdown? Berrien County Community Development Director Dan Fette told the county board of commissioners this week he has some thoughts. Fette said this current recession is a lot different from other recessions.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is thinking about how to proceed once things start to open up after the COVID-19 shutdown. Health Officer Nicki Britten told the Berrien County Board of Commissioners this week officials have been asking themselves several questions.. ...Read Full Story

Health officials in Cass and Van Buren counties are urging everyone to wear a face covering when out at an enclosed public space, and they’re also asking those who make cloth masks to donate them. The Van Buren-Cass District Health Department has put up a list of “locate and donate” sites for masks at its website. You can find the page right here. Fabric face coverings are an additional measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but health officials say they should not replace social distancing measures.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The Republican-led Michigan House has refused to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration. It also voted Thursday to authorize a lawsuit challenging Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s authority and actions to combat the pandemic. The step came as hundreds of conservative activists returned to the Capitol to denounce Whitmer’s stay-at-home measure. Whitmer wanted lawmakers to extend her emergency declaration by 28 days. It expires late Thursday. But at the same time, she has said the state of emergency will continue regardless because of another law giving her broad powers to act.. ...Read Full Story

The cause of a fire that destroyed a Van Buren County home is under investigation. The Columbia Township fire department was called to the home in the 22-thousand-500 block of 48th Street just before noon Thursday, and it was fully engulfed. No one was inside the house at the time, and there are no reported injuries. Bangor and Bloomingdale sent mutual aid along with South Haven Area Emergency Services. Water had to be brought to the house fire by tankers due to its location.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County has six new confirmed COVID-19 cases to bring the county’s total to 248, while the number of people who have died from the virus remains at 15. The Berrien County Health Department is reporting 179 recoveries, up eight from Wednesday. In Cass County, the number is up by two to 31 with two deaths. Van Buren County has three new cases for the second straight day for a total of 49 with two deaths. Statewide, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are 980 new confirmed cases for a total of 41,379 and 119 additional deaths, bringing that count to 3,789. To date, 91% who have tested positive have survived in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police are investigating a crash with injuries in the parking lot of Lane Automotive in Watervliet Township. Troopers were called to the scene around 11:40 Wednesday night after a vehicle had turned from M-140 into the private drive to the lot, and they believe the woman likely thought she was getting onto I-94, as she had reached 50 to 60 miles an hour before slamming head-on into a parked semi. Her passenger suffered critical injuries and had to be freed using JAWS by the Watervliet Fire Department. Both the driver and passenger are hospitalized at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph, while the occupant of the semi was not hurt and had been sleeping at the time of the crash. Troopers say alcohol appears to have factored into the crash, and they don’t know if seat belts were worn.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department has launched a new online dashboard for residents to better track cases of COVID-19. The department has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The Krasl Art Center has announced the cancellation of this year’s Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff. The Krasl has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Court of Claims has sided with the administration of Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a challenge to its stay home order. The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has issued an update regarding the reopening of state recreational facilities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The department has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Southwestern Michigan College plans to start awarding a new nursing scholarship in the fall of 2021. The college says it’s the McLoughlin Family Scholarship, which was created with an endowment of $50,000 from the McLoughlin Family Foundation in 2017. The endowment came after the foundation made a previous gift of $50,000 for a nursing classroom in the newly expanded SMC nursing building. The $9.6 million project more than doubled SMC’s nursing program’s capacity. In selecting scholarship recipients, preference will be given to spouses or children of employees of K&M Machine Fabricating in Cassopolis. SMC Foundation President Carole Schmidt says the McLoughlin Foundation’s donation is “extremely generous,” and will “provide long-term assistance for numerous students.”. ...Read Full Story

With COVID-19 forcing everyone to practice social distancing, Congressman Fred Upton thinks the way things are done in Washington is going to have to change. He tells us the House vote on the most recent coronavirus relief package took hours because of the safety measures being taken. If it’s going to be that way for months, Upton says everyone’s going to need to get more coordinated.. ...Read Full Story

The Dyckman Avenue Bascule Bridge is now back open for both street and boat traffic in South Haven. The city of South Haven has issued the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

The YMCA of Greater Michiana has teamed up with Spectrum Health Lakeland to take care of the children of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. YMCA Director of Youth Programs Zechariah Hoyt tells WSJM News while the Y’s facilities closed for normal activities, they’re being used as daycares for the kids of doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff.. ...Read Full Story

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has a new program based on the G.I. Bill after World War Two to thank current frontline workers.. ...Read Full Story

Get ready to start seeing the sawdust fly once again, as construction will be among the next parts of the economy in Michigan allowed to get back to work. Governor Whitmer made the announcement Wednesday afternoon.. ...Read Full Story

A situation involving a suspicious package has been resolved safely in Cass County. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says police were called around 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday about a package found sitting on a bench outside of Hale’s Hardware in Dowagiac. Due to it being considered suspicious, the area was evacuated and sealed off and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad was called in. The bomb squad x-rayed the package and found it to be empty. The area was then re-opened for business. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Dowagiac Police Department, the Dowagiac Fire Department, and Michigan State Police. The case remains under investigation.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan is reporting 1,137 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday. Since the start of the pandemic, the state has had a total of 40,399 cases of the illness. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports an additional 103 deaths around the state from coronavirus for Wednesday, bringing that total up to 3,670. The total of COVID-19 recoveries in Michigan, as of last Friday, is 8,342. Locally, the Berrien County Health Department is reporting ten new cases of COVID-19 for Wednesday with the cumulative total of confirmed cases for the county now at 242 with 15 deaths. The department says 171 have recovered, and there have also been 169 presumed positive cases. Cass County is reporting two new cases for Wednesday, bringing its total to 29 with two deaths. Van Buren County is reporting three new cases, bringing its total to 46 with two deaths. Statewide, the fatality rate for COVID-19 is 9%.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department has announced expanded COVID-19 testing capabilities in the area. The department has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

Governor Whitmer will be giving an update this afternoon regarding the reopening of Michigan’s economy and possibly on the negotiations with the Republican legislative leaders regarding her request to extend the current state of emergency that expires tomorrow by another 28 days. We will carry her briefing live on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM and on our Facebook page at 3 p.m. Whitmer will be joined by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio, and Michigan AFL-CIO president Ron Bieber. Following that update, Whitmer will be joining former Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley for a Disability Tele-Town Hall on Zoom that will be streamed over the Small Business Association of Michigan’s Facebook page.. ...Read Full Story

Ford Motor Company is burning through cash at an alarming rate due to the coronavirus crisis. But its chief financial officer says there’s enough money to get through the year even if U.S. factories aren’t restarted. The automaker posted a $2 billion first-quarter net loss Tuesday that it blamed on the virus. It used roughly $2.4 billion to get from January through March. But the cash burn accelerated to $7.7 billion during the first 24 days of April when nearly all of Ford’s factories were shut down and little revenue was coming in. All automakers are struggling with the crisis because they book revenue when vehicles are shipped from factories to dealers. Ford is warning the second quarter loss will be around $5 billion.. ...Read Full Story

With its facilities now closed due to COVID-19, the YMCA of Greater Michiana is offering child care services to first responders and other professionals at Spectrum Health Lakeland and other essential operations. It says it’s caring for the kids of doctors, nurses, technicians, and medical staff, and taking several steps to be sure they’re kept safe. The kids are evaluated each day with temperature checks, and their activities are limited to small groups that are rotated to different areas with sanitation in between. The facility is also being deep cleaned each night. The care services are being offered Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. They may be expanded to other YMCA locations if needed.. ...Read Full Story

Comcast has announced it will extend through June 30 some special programs it launched to help customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s so students can finish out the school year from home and remain connected to the internet. When the outbreak began, Comcast started offering its Internet Essentials broadband plan for free. Initially, the offer was for 60 days. Internet Essentials is normally available to qualified low-income households for $10 per month. Also, Comcast says the suspension of its normal data caps will continue, it has halted disconnects, and it will continue offering its Xfinity WiFi hotspots for free. Comcast CEO Dave Watson says the extended measures will “continue to keep Americans safe and ensure that households are equipped for students to learn and stay informed at home as the nation copes with this unprecedented disruption to our daily lives.”. ...Read Full Story

$540,000 in federal housing dollars have been announced for southwest Michigan. Congressman Fred Upton tells WSJM News the money from the CARES Act Supplemental Public Housing Operating program will be divided between nine public housing agencies around the region.. ...Read Full Story

A Grand Rapids-based mental health organization has released a report predicting a 32% increase in statewide suicides due to the pandemic unless action is taken now. Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services VP of Outpatient and Recovery Scott Halstead tells WSJM News the group studied previous outbreaks, like the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Treasury is offering some help to those who owe on student loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department has released the following statement:. ...Read Full Story

As more of us keep the cars and trucks parked and work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for gasoline has continued to plummet and take prices with it. However, GasBuddy.com analyst Patrick DeHaan says while prices nationally will still fall a little more, the 95¢ per gallon price in South Haven and $1.12 in Watervliet aren’t going to last much longer.. ...Read Full Story

After a few days of the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Michigan being under 600, they’ve jumped by 1,052 to 39,262 as of Tuesday. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says 160 new deaths have been linked to the virus, for a total of 3,567 since the pandemic began to hit the state roughly six weeks ago. In southwest Michigan, there are 22 new cases, with 15 in Berrien County for a cumulative total of 232 and seven in Van Buren County, rising there to 43. Berrien County has also recorded another death, rising to 15, while there are no new deaths in Cass or Van Buren counties. Cass County’s number of COVID-19 cases remains 27, the same as it’s been since Sunday. The Berrien County Health Department says 163 people in the county have recovered.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Today has announced the cancellation of the Memorial Day Parade that had been set for May 22. The organization says the decision is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was not made lightly. Director Amy Zapal says St. Joe Today will “continue to monitor the situation regarding coronavirus and other upcoming SJT events.” She says the health of residents and visitors are the top concern. St. Joseph Today urges everyone to follow the CDC guidelines for staying protected from COVID-19.. ...Read Full Story

Despite what’s expected to be a record high level this summer for Lake Michigan, the outer harbor in St. Joseph will be dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with the work expected to start next month. During this week’s city commission meeting, St. Joseph City Manager John Hodgson said they’ve asked the Corps to place dredged material as far to the north as possible, starting at Park Street and moving south.. ...Read Full Story

Twin City Players is switching gears and is now making face masks for the Area Agency on Aging. The theater company was forced to cancel the last two productions of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and recently received the request for face masks by the Berrien Community Foundation. The agency asked for the help of the BCF in obtaining 1,400 masks for seniors and others who didn’t have the ability to make their own or were unable to find them to purchase. The foundation provided a grant through the Frederick S. Upton Foundation to cover the supplies, and lead costumer Julie Smiy immediately assembled a team of 14 volunteers.. ...Read Full Story

The city of St. Joseph will start work on the Kingsley-Orchard-Morton project to widen sidewalks for non-motorized transportation and rebuild the roads in the area of Lincoln Elementary. Public Works Director Tom MacDonald says Kalin Construction will start the first phase of the work on Monday, May 4 on Orchard and Morton avenues.. ...Read Full Story

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