Local News Archives

A new report has been released showing that nearly all K-12 students in the U.S. now have access to high-speed internet and the future of digital learning in is bright in Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer says there’s still work to do but huge steps have been taken to make broadband accessible.. ...Read Full Story

Military veterans and active duty service personnel are being invited by Berrien County Veterans Services to take a nine-week course to get their financial house in order. Lee Lull is the county’s Veterans Services director and says offering the Military Edition of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University came about thanks to a county veterans service fund grant from the state of Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

There’s a petition being circulated around Breedsville to disincorporate the village and become part of Columbia Township. The petition states in part that the local government doesn’t have the money to maintain the village and do needed road repairs. Village President Steven Rogusta says that’s just not true.. ...Read Full Story

The red-hot housing market in southwest Michigan is showing signs of cooling down. Sales of existing homes in September were down by 12% from August and off by 3% compared to a year ago. For 2019 to date, sales are down by 1 home from the same period in 2018 at 2,731. Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors association executive Alan Jeffries says inventory has dropped 4% to 1,820, which is a 7.3 months supply of homes on the market. The average selling price in September fell 2% from last year to $241,620, but the year-to-date average selling price through the first three quarters of the year is up 3% from 2018 at $237,390. The amount of bank-owned or foreclosed homes as a percentage of all sales rose from 3% in August to 4% in September, which is the same percentage as it was last year.. ...Read Full Story

U.S. Senator Gary Peters is trying to increase the funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. He is filing an amendment to a government funding bill to increase the amount from the current proposed $301 million to $320 million. The U.S. House has already passed a similar measure.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Authorities say a “well-organized machine” of thieves appears to be behind the theft of tons of apples and pumpkins from orchards and farms in Michigan and Indiana. An estimated 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of apples were discovered missing October 10 from Spicer Orchards in Fenton, Michigan, during the same week that 1,000 pumpkins were pilfered from McCallum’s Orchard in Jeddo. There were also 50,000 apples reportedly stolen from Williams Orchard in LaPorte County, Indiana, just south of the state line. Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell told the Detroit Free Press Monday that investigators do not have any suspects, but he called the heists “a major league operation.” The Michigan orchard operators say they will strengthen security with cameras and alarms to deter future thieves.. ...Read Full Story

The street repairs being paid for with the city of Benton Harbor’s new income tax are almost complete for the year. At Monday’s Benton Harbor City Commission meeting, City Manager Ellis Mitchell reported the 2019 work is 80% done. Mayor Marcus Muhammad told WSJM News he’s heard positive things from residents happy to see their own streets fixed.. ...Read Full Story

A new president for Southwestern Michigan College has been selected by the SMC Board of Trustees. The board on Monday voted unanimously to hire Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald to succeed Dr. David Mathews. Odenwald has served as SMC’s Vice President of Student Services since 2017, coming to Dowagiac after working as assistant dean for academic affairs at Louisiana State University College of Engineering. Odenwald earned his Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College, a Master of Science from Mississippi College, and his Doctor of Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. SMC Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Jerdon says the four candidates the board considered for the position were all impressive, but after much deliberation, the body decided Odenwald is the best fit. SMC President David Mathews will retire at the end of the year. Once the board approves Odenwald’s contract, he will begin transition work and officially assume his duties as president on January 1, 2020.. ...Read Full Story

The city of St. Joseph is holding a trunk or treat event this weekend. Trunk or Treat events are designed to be like trick or treating, but safer because they’re held in one location with kids not running all over a neighborhood. Trunk or treating in St. Joseph will be at the John and Dede Howard Ice Arena on Saturday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. On hand for the event will be police and fire vehicles, excavators, and tractors for the kiddies to check out. They’ll also hold a screening of Hocus Pocus on the big screen in the ice arena after the trunk or treating. Overflow parking will be available at the First Church of God on Niles Avenue. Crossing guards will be provided.. ...Read Full Story

The Community Engagement and Advisory Committee for Benton Harbor Area Schools has been established by the board of education. Board President Joseph Taylor tells us the body held a retreat Saturday and signed off on the state-proposed committee. It will be tasked with drafting recommendations for a district turnaround. Sitting on the committee will be representatives of the Michigan Department of Treasury, the Michigan Department of Education, the governor’s office, the Berrien Community Foundation, and Intercare, along with a high school student selected by the student council, a teacher picked by the union, and school board member Denise Whatley-Seats. The Community Engagement and Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting this month and come back with its district turnaround plan in March. The Michigan Department of Treasury proposed the committee as a way to avoid the potential closure of the high school.. ...Read Full Story

The South Haven Police Department is warning residents about utility scams. It says many businesses in South Haven have been affected by scam attempts. A caller will pretend to represent a utility company and say electric or water service will be shut off if immediate payment on a bill is not made. Some would-be victims have reported the caller claimed to represent the South Haven Electric Department. Police remind everyone to never give out personal information like banking numbers over the phone. If you’re in doubt, hang up on such a call and contact your utility yourself. Legitimate companies don’t demand a specific payment method like gift cards or wiring money. Also remember these scammers will spoof their phone numbers to make it look like they’re calling from a different number than the one they’re really using.. ...Read Full Story

High winds are causing more than shoreline erosion around southwest Michigan today. Indiana Michigan Power is dealing with more than 13,000 outages in Michigan as of late afternoon. Many are smaller and scattered around Berrien County, but one outage of around 10,000 customers in southern Berrien County is  due to a tree falling on to a high voltage power line. I&M spokesperson Schnee Garrett tells WSJM News those lines often connect to substations. She had an advisory about downed power lines for customers.. ...Read Full Story

Countryside Academy’s board of directors is on the record opposed to the line-item veto in the budget by Governor Whitmer of a funding increase for charter schools. The veto stripped the $240 per-pupil increase that had been expected according to Countryside administrator Sarah Brookshire.. ...Read Full Story

Former Benton Harbor Area Schools superintendent Dr. Leonard Seawood isn’t getting his conviction overturned. The state appeals court has ruled Seawood violated his contract with the district by being paid $46,000 for 110 unused vacation days because the agreement only allowed for him to be paid for five unused days a year. He led BHAS for five years before being let go in 2015 and was sentenced last year to 90 days in jail in the case. Seawood had argued the district didn’t actually lose any money because he worked on those 110 days, but the court didn’t see it that way.. ...Read Full Story

Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a break-in at Lakeshore Tackle and Firearms in Saugatuck. Several guns were stolen. Police were called to the business just before midnight Sunday night by the alarm company, and were on the scene in three minutes. The suspects were already gone from the business on Blue Star Highway near 64th Street. The investigation is ongoing, and no description of suspects has been released. The sheriff’s office has also not put out information about exactly how many or what types of guns were swiped.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is warning residents about a rash of thefts from vehicles — and vehicle thefts — that have been occurring all around the county. He tells WSJM News neighborhoods in Royalton and St. Joseph townships have been hit especially hard.. ...Read Full Story

An effort to relieve medical debt for struggling residents of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties is now well underway thanks to Harbor Country Mission, Lake Street Community Church, and the I CAN Cafe. They announced at this week’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners they have raised the $15,000 that will be the seed money for New York Charity “RIP Medical Debt” to buy up debt from collectors. Harbor Country Mission’s David Heyn told WSJM News more about the program.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Health Department is urging women over the age of 40 to get screened for breast cancer this October, with it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Spokesperson Gillian Conrad tells us one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.. ...Read Full Story

Opening soon in Stevensville will be a dog park. Village Treasurer Barbi Hoge tells WSJM News the Hickory Creek Bark Park is opening in part of the existing Hickory Creek Park.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is recognizing 164 schools around the state that have earned the MI HEARTSafe School designation for the 2018-2019 academic year. Department spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News the HEARTSafe program was created six years ago to help schools be sure they’re prepared to help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. They have to meet certain guidelines.. ...Read Full Story

The Benton Township Police Department is looking for a suspect after a 16-year-old was shot on Saturday afternoon. Officers were called to Spectrum Health Lakeland on a report of a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they were told the victim and two friends had been walking south on Agard Street near McKann Street around 1:15 p.m. when a black Jeep Cherokee approached them. A backseat passenger brandished a handgun through the window and fired three shots. The victim was hit in the cheek. The Cherokee then took off south on Agard, turning onto McKann and going out of view. The victim’s friends took him to the emergency room, where he was being treated for non life threatening injuries. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Benton Township Police Department.. ...Read Full Story

The 2020 tax season isn’t far away, and free income tax filing programs are looking for Michiganders willing to give their time to help others. The Consumers Energy Foundation has provided a $200,000 dollar grant to support the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan’s tax assistance work, which includes hiring and training tax-prep volunteers. Brian Wheeler with Consumers Energy says their interest is helping the people they serve in Michigan communities.. ...Read Full Story

The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph will hold a fall celebration with an international twist just after Halloween this year. Director Brian Carroll tells WSJM News it’s the second annual Day of the Dead Celebration in partnership with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. He says the two team up to have a celebration all about the Mexican Dia de los Muertos.. ...Read Full Story

There will be a statewide drug takeback event this month. The Drug Enforcement Agency is teaming up with Michigan State Police and others to collect unneeded prescription medications. If you have any sitting in your cabinet, you’re encouraged to stop by a state police post on Saturday, October 26 to drop them off. Police say getting opioids out of homes and destroyed can help to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. All 30 Michigan State Police posts will take part in the takeback event, which will run on the 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During a takeback event in April, state police posts collected more than 1,100 pounds of medications.. ...Read Full Story

This coming week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, when parents are urged to talk with their fledgling teen drivers about the importance of caution behind the wheel. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning’s Kari Arend tells WSJM News teens and young adults accounted for 7.6% of traffic deaths in Michigan last year.. ...Read Full Story

Firefighters from Dowagiac and Wayne Township were able to contain a blaze at a barn just outside of Dowagiac on Thursday morning, but the structure was a total loss. The Dowagiac Police Department says the fire was reported in the barn behind an unoccupied house in the 56,000 block of M-51 near Pokagon Street around 5 a.m. Firefighters arrived quickly, but the place was already fully engulfed. They believe the fire had been going for some time before anyone saw it. The building was under renovations and it was insured. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.. ...Read Full Story

If you want to see some beautiful fall color in Michigan, Travel Michigan’s Dave Lorenz says you should head north. He says he’s seeing a lot of out-of-state visitors to Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Southwest Michigan women small business owners met with state Senator Kim LaSata on Friday as she held a roundtable discussion with them to learn about their priorities and concerns. LaSata presented the group with a copy of her Senate Resolution 86, which recognizes October 2019 as Women’s Small Business Month and encourages residents to support women-owned small businesses. LaSata notes there are more than 29,000 women business owners in Michigan providing more than a quarter million jobs. On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate unanimously adopted LaSata’s Senate Resolution 86.. ...Read Full Story

Set for this Saturday at Western Michigan University is Congressman Fred Upton’s next Academy Day. He tells WSJM News it’s a chance for young people interested in attending a U.S. service academy to speak with representatives of them.. ...Read Full Story

An injunction this month put on hold Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s ban on flavored vaping products, which are now back on store shelves. However, the Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad tells us the risks posed to young people by those e-cigarettes remain. She says there are simply too many unknowns about vaping products to say with any certainty they’re safe. She says just as teen cigarette use went down, teen e-cigarette use went up.. ...Read Full Story

More than 100 animals have been seized from a home in Edwardsburg by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Cass County Animal Control. Sheriff Richard Behnke’s office tells us they raided the home in the 24-thousand block of May Street back on October 8 after getting animal cruelty tips. The animals were in “varying states of health living in deplorable conditions” according to the sheriff’s office. The names of the suspects are not yet being released, as no arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. The sheriff’s office has not said what animals were taken in.. ...Read Full Story

The economic impact of the UAW’s strike against General Motors goes a lot deeper than you may think. Automotive analyst John McElroy says the more than month-long work stoppage has a huge trickle-down effect.. ...Read Full Story

Detectives from the Michigan State Police Fifth District Special Investigation Section are investigating the shooting death of a man by Indiana police in Michigan. Just after 12:30 Friday morning, police in Bristol, Indiana began chasing a vehicle that then crossed the border into White Pigeon. The suspect rammed the patrol vehicle during the chase, prompting the Bristol officer to open fire. The shots killed 46-year-old David Sanders, a white man from Three Rivers. During the investigation, officers learned Sanders was not armed. The Bristol officer suffered minor injuries and has been put on administrative leave. That officer’s name has not been released.. ...Read Full Story

A warning is going out from Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott about a phone scam. He says callers are asking for donations to the sheriff’s office for an oldies music event, which isn’t happening. Abbott says he called the number given to him by a potential victim and says no one answered and it’s an “obvious spoofing.” He is offering a list of tips to avoid being victimized, with adding your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at the top. Other suggestions include being cautious of caller ID because scammers can change the number that shows up, which is what spoofing is, and never say “yes” at the start of the call if asked if you can hear the other person. That’s because your “yes” answer could be recorded and then used as proof you agreed to make a purchase or have your credit card charged.. ...Read Full Story

There will be a new location in a few weeks for the latest Whirlpool Appliance Sale that will benefit the United Way of Southwest Michigan. Previously held at a now-former Whirlpool property on Hilltop Road in St. Joseph, the sale will be held in the Orchards Mall on November 2 and 3 in the old Carson’s location. The sale is held twice a year to raise money for the Whirlpool Employee United Way Campaign.. ...Read Full Story

The 2020 tax season isn’t far away, and free income tax filing programs are looking for Michiganders willing to give their time to help others. The Consumers Energy Foundation has provided a $200,000 dollar grant to support the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan’s tax assistance work, which includes hiring and training tax-prep volunteers. Brian Wheeler with Consumers Energy says their interest is helping the people they serve in Michigan communities.. ...Read Full Story

An effort to relieve medical debt for struggling residents of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties is now well underway thanks to Harbor Country Mission, Lake Street Community Church, and the I CAN Cafe. They announced at Thursday’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners they have raised the $15,000 that will be the seed money for New York Charity “RIP Medical Debt” to buy up debt from collectors. Harbor Country Mission’s David Heyn told WSJM News more about the program.. ...Read Full Story

Ann Cardon is out at Traverse City Area Public Schools. The school board held a special meeting Thursday where it was announced Cardon has resigned. She’d been on the job for a little more than two months after leaving St. Joseph Public Schools. UpNorthLive reports the school board president in Traverse City “announced the mutual agreement and resignation of Superintendent Ann Cardon” following public comment at Thursday’s meeting. It was reported last week board members were at odds with Cardon over school funding and how often the board should meet. They held a special meeting last Friday where nearly 30 people spoke, all of them in favor of Cardon. No action on Cardon was taken by the board at that meeting. The public comments in favor of Cardon continued at Thursday’s meeting. Cardon just started as superintendent at Traverse City Area Public Schools in August after being chosen unanimously by the school board.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is recognizing 164 schools around the state that have earned the MI HEARTSafe School designation for the 2018-2019 academic year. Department spokesperson Lynn Sutfin tells WSJM News the HEARTSafe program was created six years ago to help schools be sure they’re prepared to help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. They have to meet certain guidelines.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is warning residents about a rash of thefts from vehicles — and vehicle thefts — that have been occurring all around the county. He tells WSJM News neighborhoods in Royalton and St. Joseph townships have been hit especially hard.. ...Read Full Story

There will be a statewide drug takeback event this month. The Drug Enforcement Agency is teaming up with Michigan State Police and others to collect unneeded prescription medications. If you have any sitting in your cabinet, you’re encouraged to stop by a state police post on Saturday, October 26 to drop them off. Police say getting opioids out of homes and destroyed can help to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. All 30 Michigan State Police posts will take part in the takeback event, which will run on the 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During a takeback event in April, state police posts collected more than 1,100 pounds of medications.. ...Read Full Story

Democrats in the U.S. Senate are calling on their Republican colleagues to “let the facts come out” and hold off on any judgments regarding the impeachment inquiry into President Trump by the U.S. House. At the Capitol, Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says the administration needs to be upfront with what happened regarding Ukraine.. ...Read Full Story

Police in Covert are looking for two men who dropped off an Illinois man at South Haven Hospital’s emergency room last week. That man, 36-year-old Jayson Piper of Brookfield, was pronounced dead at the hospital. His death is under investigation as a possible drug overdose, but autopsy results are still pending. Police have released surveillance photos from the entrance of the emergency department of the two men who brought in Piper on October 12 at 6:30 p.m. They are not calling the men suspects, and say they think the two might have information about what led to Piper’s death. Police believe the man had been at a party in the Covert or South Haven area right before being brought to the hospital.. ...Read Full Story

Automakers could see new regulations requiring passive alcohol detection systems in all vehicles by 2024. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says the support is there for this technology that could keep drunk drivers off the road.. ...Read Full Story

As the winter approaches, the Van Buren County Road Commission is asking homeowners to secure their mailboxes. It says you can prepare your mailbox for winter by tightening screws and ensuring the post and box are secure enough to endure large amounts of thrown snow. The road department’s policy states the agency will only replace mailboxes or posts if it is determined its own equipment made direct contact with the mailbox, and not when the box is knocked over by snow or slush that is thrown by the plow. Therefore, it’s urging everyone to shake their mailbox this October to avoid a bigger headache later on.. ...Read Full Story

Using setbacks as opportunities was a theme of Wednesday night’s presentation of the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan as retired U.S. fighter pilot Nicole Malachowski spoke in Benton Township. Malachowski served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years, becoming the first woman Thunderbird and rising to the rating of command pilot. She served as a White House Fellow and advised First Lady Michelle Obama on issues related to service members.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton has teamed up with several of his Michigan colleagues to send a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking her to reconsider some line item vetoes she put into the most recent state budget. Upton tells WSJM News Whitmer cut funding to several important programs.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien Community Foundation is working to get the word out about the importance of taking part in the next U.S. Census. President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News count day will be April 1 of next year. She says critical state and federal funding for communities is calculated based off population numbers obtained through the census.. ...Read Full Story

A Cass County man faces up to 30 years in prison after being convicted in a meth case on Wednesday. The Cass County Prosecutor’s office says Richard Williams was found guilty by a jury of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver, of conspiring with girlfriend Ashley Friske to do the same, and of maintaining a drug house. Police say they raided the Calvin Township home of Williams in May and found meth along with items used in the use and sale of meth. Friske pleaded guilty in September to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, conspiring with Williams to possess with intent to deliver methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug house. Williams will be sentenced on December 13 as a habitual offender.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The administrator of a plan that covers the medical expenses of uninsured non-drivers who are injured in car crashes sued a top Michigan regulator, alleging that her recent orders conflict with an auto insurance overhaul. The lawsuit was filed Monday in the Court of Claims by the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility. The organization is run by insurers and administers the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan, which provides medical benefits for passengers and pedestrians who are injured in accidents and have no auto insurance. The suit accuses the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services and its director, Anita Fox, of forcing the plan to violate the law by not implementing a new $250,000 cap on benefits until July 2020. The suit says the limit took immediate effect this past June.. ...Read Full Story

A Michigan City man is recovering after he was in a brief chase with police on Tuesday night as a result of a medical issue he was having. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says a call came in around 7:45 p.m. about a vehicle driving erratically on U.S. 12 in New Buffalo Township. A sheriff’s deputy found the vehicle and tried to pull it over, but it kept going at a rate of 25 to 30 miles per hour erratically. The vehicle eventually crashed into a New Buffalo Police Department vehicle at the intersection of US-12 near Whittaker Street in New Buffalo. Officers learned the man behind the wheel was suffering from low blood sugar. He was taken by ambulance to Spectrum Health Lakeland in St Joseph for treatment. No arrest was made in the incident. The sheriff’s department will forward its report to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office for review.. ...Read Full Story

A two-car crash on M-43 in Arlington Township about four miles east of Bangor has claimed the life of one of the drivers. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office says 54-year-old Santiago Gallegos-Saucedo of Bangor was killed in the crash, which happened Wednesday morning a little after 7. Deputies say he ignored a stop sign while heading north on County Road 673 at the intersection with M-43 and his Saturn sedan was hit by a GMC pickup. Both vehicles rolled, and both drivers had to be pulled from the wreckage. The GMC driver suffered minor injuries and was buckled up. She had her 10 and seven-year-old kids in the car, and they were not hurt. Gallegos-Saucedo, however, was not wearing a seat belt. He died at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.. ...Read Full Story

Strong wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour and waves up to 15 feet Wednesday caused some issues along the Lake Michigan shoreline all up the coast. South Haven Harbormaster and Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier says they have no reports of property damage, but there’s a lot of water.. ...Read Full Story

A 21-year-old Benton Harbor man is in jail, accused of an armed robbery at the Subway restaurant on Main Street across from Whirlpool’s Riverview Campus. Public safety officers were nearby when the robbery happened just before 9 p.m. Tuesday and caught the suspect quickly. A pistol was also found during the arrest along with the money taken from the register. No one was hurt in the robbery, and the Subway opened at its normal time today. The suspect’s name is being withheld until he’s arraigned.. ...Read Full Story

General Motors and the United Auto Workers union have reached tentative deal that could end month-long strike by more than 49,000 workers. The deal comes a day before local union presidents are to meet with United Auto Workers union leaders in Detroit and follows yesterday’s bargaining session that included CEO Mary Barra for a second time in a week. GM has lost over $1 billion since the strike began in mid-September.. ...Read Full Story

Grants totaling nearly $1.6 million have been announced for the specialty courts in Van Buren County. The county court administrator says the money comes in three grants. First, a State Court Administrative Office grant of $716,000 for the Van Buren County Drug Treatment Court, the Family Reunification Court, the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program, the Adult and Family Recovery Courts, and the Sobriety Court. Second is a $750,000 enhancement grant from the Office of Justice Programs for the Adult Recovery Court. Lastly, the State Community Corrections Board has awarded the Van Buren Office of Community Corrections $128,000 to support pretrial supervisions. Meanwhile, the Berrien County Trial Court also announced this week it’s received a $433,000 grant for its specialty courts through the State Court Administrator’s Office. Those specialty court programs in both counties aim to reduce the rate of re-offences by giving offenders special attention and help.. ...Read Full Story

There’s been another slight delay in the creation of a new Community Engagement and Advisory Committee for Benton Harbor Area Schools. The board of education was scheduled to approve a memorandum of understanding for the body at a Tuesday meeting, but it was pulled from the agenda. Board President Joseph Taylor told us the reason is that State Superintendent Michael Rice wants to be included in the memorandum, but he has yet to read it.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she will appeal a judge’s decision to block enforcement of the state’s new ban on flavored electronic cigarettes. The Democrat issued a statement Tuesday calling the ruling “wrong” and saying
it “sets a dangerous precedent” of a court second-guessing the expert judgment of public health officials. Whitmer last month ordered the issuance of emergency rules after her chief medical executive found that youth vaping is a public health emergency. Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens ruled Tuesday that vaping shops that sued are likely to prevail on their contention that the rules are procedurally invalid. Whitmer wants the Michigan Supreme Court to issue a “quick and final” ruling on the dispute.. ...Read Full Story

Former Benton Harbor City Manager Darwin Watson is the newest member of the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education. At a Tuesday meeting, the board selected Watson to fill a vacancy created by the death of Stephen Mitchell last month. Board President Joseph Taylor told us Watson seemed to have the qualities the school board needs.. ...Read Full Story