Legislation from 78th District state Representative Brad Paquette aims to address a shortage of substitute teachers in Michigan by loosening the requirements someone has to meet in order to be a sub. Paquette tells WSJM News, right now, you need 60 college credits to be a substitute. His bill would drop that requirement for those who have a relative attending the school where they want to sub.. ...Read Full Story
One of the winners of a NASA contest seeking ideas for how to recycle in space is a St. Joseph native. Derek McFall now lives in the Detroit area and works as an engineer at Troy-based SRG Global. He tells WSJM News NASA sent out a crowdsourcing challenge months ago regarding the International Space Station and other microgravity environments.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Parks Department will be holding a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle day at Lake Michigan College next week. County Environmental Property Manager Jill Adams tells WSJM News this gives Berrien County residents a chance to drop off a variety of household waste items so they can be recycled.. ...Read Full Story
(Detroit, MI – AP) – The Michigan Supreme Court says people who were wrongly accused of defrauding the unemployment program can sue the state, a decision that could cover thousands of victims. The court says victims qualify if they filed a lawsuit within six months of losing wages or tax refunds. The unanimous opinion was released Friday.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Michigan State University is selling pieces of Spartan Stadium. The school says the turf is being replaced after the spring football game on April 13. Sections of grass are being sold for $10 on the school’s surplus store website . The sections will be approximately 18 inches by 72 inches. The grass should be available for pickup on April 15 or soon after that date. MSU plans to contact buyers by email. The turf is described as hybrid Kentucky bluegrass. It should be transplanted within five days of removal from the stadium.. ...Read Full Story
Following the measles outbreak in metro Detroit, there is now at least one confirmed case in northern Indiana. It is unrelated to the southeast Michigan cases. The Indiana State Department of Health is consulting with health officials in both Michigan and Texas due the risk of exposure being found in both states. ISDH says they’re working with local health departments and doctors in LaGrange and Steuben counties to identify anyone in Indiana who may have been exposed to the person confirmed to have the illness.. ...Read Full Story
A man convicted of killing three people when he was a teenager says he was “rotten from the beginning” and is skipping a chance to possibly get a new sentence from a judge in suburban Detroit. Michael Kvam told a judge on Friday that he deserves to die in prison. TV station WXYZ quotes Kvam as saying, “I’m a killer, plain and simple.”. ...Read Full Story
Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad is running for reelection. In a Twitter post Friday, he made the official announcement, noting unfinished business in a hashtag. Muhammad was first elected mayor in 2015, defeating incumbent James Hightower by 222 votes. Under him, the city has enacted an income tax aimed at fixing roads and emerged from all state oversight after 6 years. The state had complete or partial control of city government from 2010 to 2016. The oversight included emergency managers appointed by Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm and Republican Governor Rick Snyder.. ...Read Full Story
The next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is coming up at the end of this month. In Berrien County, the Voice, Change, Hope Alliance is partnering with police and Spectrum Health Lakeland to accept unwanted and unused prescription drugs on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Medication can be dropped off during those four hours near the southeast corner of the Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services at 3900 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph and at Lakeland Medical Suites on North St. Joseph Avenue in Niles. The Niles Law Enforcement Complex has a 24-hour drop box as well for anyone who is unable to dispose of their medicines during the National Drug Take-Back event. According to studies, most abused prescriptions are obtained from friends and family, and flushing medicine or throwing it in the trash can pose health and safety hazards. In the fall of 2017, 456 tons of medicines were collected during the event nationwide.. ...Read Full Story
The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution in support of broadband internet access for residents. Following Thursday’s vote, Commissioner Ezra Scott told WSJM News he wanted the resolution so the county could pursue a USDA grant for the roll out of high-speed internet.. ...Read Full Story
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Berrien County Health Department is urging parents to keep an open dialogue with their kids about the dangers of underage alcohol abuse. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells WSJM News alcohol is harmful to developing brains, adding the drinking age of 21 is based on science.. ...Read Full Story
The U.S. House voted on Thursday to approve the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, renewing the landmark 1994 law designed to help protect the survivors of domestic violence and to prevent the crime. Congressman Fred Upton voted in favor of the reauthorization this week, with the overall vote being 263 to 158. Upton tells us the act “plays a critical role in combating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other terrible crimes,” adding that since it was first approved, “we’ve seen our nation’s response to these crimes improve and the rates of domestic abuse continue to decline.” The Violence Against Women Act provides support to survivors, including funding for shelters, legal resources, and counselling. Upton voted for the original act, and for every subsequent reauthorization.. ...Read Full Story
The Cook nuclear power plant will be running extended tests of Berrien County’s emergency sirens this weekend. The sirens are sounded for one minute the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. and this Saturday’s test will be for three minutes. There are 70 omni-directional sirens as part of Berrien County’s Alert and Notification System within the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone radius of the Cook plant in Bridgman. The Cook plant tells everyone not to be alarmed when they hear the sirens at 1 p.m. on Saturday. If it were a real emergency, the sirens would go off for three to five minutes.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan is making an effort to keep foster kids in family settings, with a 9% improvement over a 10 year period, according to a new report. Michigan is home to almost 12,000 foster children, and researchers from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found the percentage being placed with families increased from 80% in 2007 to 89% in 2017. Rob Geen with the Casey Foundation tells us while the overall trend is positive, the numbers are still stubbornly low for teens and children of color.. ...Read Full Story
The Kent County Prosecutor’s office will decide if charges will be filed against a 19-year-old man for defacing the grave of former President Gerald R. Ford. Chris Johnson tells the “Grand Rapids Press” he took the letter “E” from the word “committed” on the grave because it had come loose. He added he had been skateboarding in the area with a friend and thought the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum were part of a park. Johnson added he did not know the names of President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford and had never heard of them. He had moved from Indiana to Grand Rapids within the past month, and went to police Thursday after seeing news reports and realizing authorities were looking for him.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan State Police are handling the investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Kalamazoo. Inspector Dale Hinz tells WSJM News police were trying to arrest a parole absconder around 10 a.m. Thursday on East G Avenue in the city of Kalamazoo, and the man was making threats regarding a weapon. Several officers opened fire, and the man was pronounced dead at Borgess Hospital. His name and criminal history have not been made public, and no officers were hurt. Hinz says officers from the MSP Fifth District Special Investigation Section, US Marshals Service, Michigan Department of Corrections, and Battle Creek police were involved in the incident.. ...Read Full Story
A Berrien County man is a half-million dollar richer thanks to a Michigan Lottery scratch off game. He won the top prize on the 777 instant game, purchasing the ticket at the Meijer on Pipestone in Benton Harbor. The 62-year-old has chosen to stay anonymous, but told Michigan Lottery officials the win brought him to tears and said “there is such a happiness and joy that comes with winning,” adding he thanks God that he will be debt-free. The man plans to remodel his home and pay off his bills with the winnings. Since 777 launched in March, the Lottery says players have won over $6.5 million through the $5 ticket. Two other tickets are still out there with the top prize of $500,000.. ...Read Full Story
Set for April 20 is the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan’s third annual Village Charcuterie Festival in Stevensville. Humane Society Director Jill Svoboda tells WSJM News the event is a fundraiser that comes in the form of a party held downtown. It will feature a variety of locally-made brews and other spirits.. ...Read Full Story
It was a packed house at Benton Harbor High School Wednesday night for a town hall regarding the future of Benton Harbor Area Schools. On hand were members of the State Board of Education, and local residents who spoke told them years of state intervention in the district haven’t helped, too many programs have been lost, and the district relies on too many substitute teachers. There was also support for having the state help district out of its $18 million debt. State board President Casandra Ulbrich told WSJM News they will take the information they heard back to Lansing.. ...Read Full Story
The Hartford Public Library is now ready to move forward with plans for a new home thanks to a $400,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Library Director Stephanie Daniels tells WSJM News the goal is to acquire the old Red Arrow Elementary School on East Street, and then replace it with a new facility to be called the Art and Bonna VanDerlyn Community Center and Hartford Public Library.. ...Read Full Story
Residents of Benton Harbor and people who work in Benton Harbor take note — the new city income tax will be due this month. City Manager Darwin Watson updated everyone at this week’s city commission meeting.. ...Read Full Story
The spring kick-off of this year’s Adopt a Beach cleanup events will be this month. Alliance for the Great Lakes spokesperson Jennifer Caddick tells WSJM News from April 13 to April 29, clean-ups will be held along beaches throughout the Great Lakes states. Thousands of volunteers are expected to pick up trash. They log all of it.. ...Read Full Story
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of K9 Medo. The dog had been with the department since 2011, and lived with the family of Deputy Ben Haas. The department says it received Medo as a gift from the Gun Lake Tribe and Casino. It tells us in their career, Deputy Haas and Medo were active in hundreds of cases that included catching suspects, finding missing persons, drug detection, and school programs. Haas says the most memorable search was in May of 2015, when he and Medo found a 2-year-old who had gone missing from his home. The sheriff says the 8-year-old Medo will be missed.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Department of Transportation has projects underway along Interstate 196 in Berrien and Van Buren counties to remove trees and create a larger vehicle safety area when cars and trucks unexpectedly leave the highway. MDOT’s Nick Schirripa says they will be repaving a seven and half mile stretch between I-94 and the Hagar Shore Road exit on I-196 this year, as it’s become badly marred by potholes.. ...Read Full Story
The University of Michigan is among six colleges competing to host a presidential debate during next year’s election season. Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald says there’s a chance students could even question the candidates if the university if chosen.. ...Read Full Story
Illegal dumping has become a serious concern across the state, as we’ve seen in Benton Harbor with a renewed effort to crack down on the problem. State Representative Cynthia Johnson of Detroit has submitted two bills to increase penalties on those who dump, especially those who don’t live in the neighborhoods. The current punishment is a fine of up to $500 and 90 days in jail for a first offense. Johnson’s bills would raise the fine to $2,500 for the first offense and extend the sentence to up to one year.. ...Read Full Story
An investigation is underway into vandalism on the graves of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. Grand Rapids police have released surveillance images of two people seen defacing the graves on the property of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum on March 27. One is a heavyset white man with short brown hair, sideburns, and scruffy facial hair who was wearing a black hoodie, grey pants and yellow Nike shoes. The other appears to be a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair who wore a red and black shirt or jacket, black jeans and black Converse Chuck Taylor shoes. GRPD says the two are wanted for larceny of U.S. Government Property. President Ford died on December 26, 2006 and Betty Ford died July 8, 2011. He is the only President from Michigan and the only one to serve having never been elected President or Vice President.. ...Read Full Story
The death of a 59-year-old Lawton man who drove his Hyundai into Cedar Lake in Marcellus is under investigation. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department has identified him as John Catalino, who was found shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday inside his car, about 20 yards offshore. A witness saw Catalino drive into the lake backwards, and then called 911 after watching the car sink. A wrecker driver and Lawton fire fighters used a nearby boat to pull the man out of the vehicle before the county’s dive team arrived to help remove the car from the lake.. ...Read Full Story
Two area nonprofits are being recognized for being among the best such organizations to work for in the country. Kinexus Group is 29th on the list put out by “The NonProfit Times,” and the United Way of Southwest Michigan is 14th. This is the third straight year Kinexus has been on the list of the top 50 nonprofits for which to work. The list is dominated by small organizations with between 15 and 49 employees and medium-sized outfits employing between 50 and 249 people. The United Way notes 18 small organizations like theirs are in the top 50. UWSM is the highest-ranking Michigan organization, while NOWCC Incorporated of Arlington, Virginia is at the top. A Lansing nonprofit is the only other from Michigan included, with Cinnaire ranked 31st.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — Automobile sales in the U.S. fell 2% in the first quarter, another sign the nation’s economy is starting to slow.
Automakers sold just over 4 million vehicles from January through March. Industry analysts blame the drop on rising vehicle prices, competition from late-model used vehicles, and relatively high interest rates. Weak sales of cars, harsh winter weather and the partial government shutdown also had an impact. Edmunds.com analyst Jeremy Acevedo says new vehicle sales are past their peak. He says that with prices on the rise, interest rates at post-recession peaks and leases growing in cost, the U.S. auto market is under pressure. Most analysts are predicting sales of around 16.9 million this year, still strong but down from last year’s 17.27 million. Sales peaked in 2016 at 17.55 million.. ...Read Full Story
The 135th Trooper Recruit School of the Michigan State Police will hold its graduation on Wednesday. That means 101 new MSP recruits will be sent out to posts throughout Michigan, including five coming to the Niles post. First Lieutenant Mike Dawson, the post commander in Niles, tells WSJM News it’s good to get them.. ...Read Full Story
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources started doing some prescribed burns on state lands this week. DNR Fire Superintendent Dan Laux tells WSJM News the DNR burn season lasts throughout the spring, and there are more burns in the fall. He says those controlled fires are designed to help forests grow and native species thrive.. ...Read Full Story
Congressman Fred Upton has joined with colleagues from the Great Lakes states in signing a letter in support of President Trump’s request for $75 million in the next federal budget to build a new Soo Lock. Upton tells WSJM News the Poe Lock, the biggest of the locks, is more than 60 years old, and it’s time a back-up is built.. ...Read Full Story
The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety’s war on illegal dumping is heating up. At a Monday city commission meeting, department Director Dan McGinnis said there have been 13 arrests so far as police investigate. The department has also had some help from the state.. ...Read Full Story
A federal judge is ordering a government agency to take a closer look at pipeline company Enbridge’s plans for dealing with a potential oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan.. ...Read Full Story
Lake Michigan College is taking registrations for summer classes. LMC tells us a student who just graduated from high school could get an early start on racking up college credits by signing up for a summer class. Students who attend other colleges or universities who are home for summer can also enroll as guest students with credits that transfer and save some money. Special Saturday tours are planned for prospective summer students who want more information. They will be held at 11 a.m. on April 13 and May 18. You can also check out LakeMichiganCollege.edu/Summer.. ...Read Full Story
(Flint, MI – AP) – A judge says former Governor Rick Snyder can be sued by residents in the Flint water scandal, reversing a decision from last summer. Residents claim Snyder violated their right to bodily integrity by repeatedly doing nothing as Flint used corrosive water that released lead from old pipes. Judge Judith Levy says a right to bodily integrity is a “fundamental interest” protected by the U.S. Constitution.. ...Read Full Story
Governor Whitmer says among the chores she has planned for Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist will be to tap his background in computer technology to improve rural broadband, and to also upgrade the state of Michigan’s antiquated computer systems.. ...Read Full Story
Michigan’s Impaired Driving Safety Commission has recommended to Governor Whitmer that Michigan set no limit for the amount of THC in a driver’s blood. Commission member Norbert Kaminski says there’s a poor correlation between blood levels of THC and driving impairment.. ...Read Full Story
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has raised $7 million in the first quarter toward a possible presidential run.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — A Michigan judge has blocked yet another attempt by state officials to shut down unlicensed medical marijuana provisioning centers. About 50 unlicensed shops in Michigan were set to be shut down by regulators. But Michigan Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borrello signed a temporary restraining order Thursday that prevents state regulators from enforcing a licensing deadline that had been set for Sunday. The judge’s order means that the unlicensed shops can keep their doors open for at least another two weeks. The Bureau of Marijuana Regulation said in a statement Friday that Sunday’s licensing deadline would not be enforced. State officials have tried to impose a deadline for licensure since September 2018, but it’s been pushed back multiple times due to legal challenges and official intervention.. ...Read Full Story
Residents of Benton Harbor will soon have a new way to report tips to police without having to speak with the police themselves. At a Monday meeting, the Benton Harbor City Commission approved spending $6,000 to sign the community up for tip411. Deputy Director of Public Safety Michael Clark told WSJM News it will mean the creation of a mobile app for residents to submit tips and pictures to a third party that keeps the tipster’s information secure.. ...Read Full Story
Fishing license season is now underway in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources tells us if you want to fish in Michigan waters, you need to get your license. All 2019 licenses are good for all species and will be valid through March 31 of next year. The standard resident annual license is $26, while seniors get a license for $11. You can also get a 24 hour license for $10 or a 72 hour license for $30. There are a few new regulations to note. The DNR says among them is the statewide daily possession limit for yellow perch has been reduced to 25. For the rest of them, check the 2019 Michigan Fishing Guide. It’s available at fishing license retailers or the DNR’s website.. ...Read Full Story
From the Associated Press — A federal judge has ordered a government agency to take a closer look at pipeline company Enbridge’s plans for dealing with a potential oil spill in the waterway connecting Lakes Huron and Michigan. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration previously approved the Canadian company’s spill response plans for areas traversed by Line 5, which carries oil from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. A portion runs along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s upper and lower
peninsulas. Environmentalists sued, claiming the plans left too many questions unanswered. In a ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith instructed the agency to provide more information about its reasons for approving the plans and to prepare an environmental assessment or impact statement. The pipeline agency declined to comment Monday.. ...Read Full Story
There have been 30 confirmed cases of measles in southeast Michigan this year as part of an outbreak that started last month. The outbreak began as a result of one person who had traveled internationally, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Angela Minicuci told WSJM News it spread quickly because of a high number of people in the area who have not been vaccinated. She said the illness starts with many cold or flu-like symptoms, like a cough or runny nose.. ...Read Full Story
The Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative has kicked off its fourth annual cereal drive. The Allegan County Community Foundation tells us they’re hoping to collect 30,000 boxes of cereal this month to be distributed through its 16 member pantries. It says for families whose children receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch, summer can be difficult with increased food costs. The goal of the cereal drive is to provide one box, per child, per week for the summer for those children whose families visit food pantries in Allegan County. There are a variety of drop-off locations throughout Allegan County for those who want to help. You can see them below. The food drive continues all month.. ...Read Full Story
A west Michigan boy is getting attention for taking matters into his own hands to deal with potholes. Twelve-year-old Monte Scott recently used dirt from his backyard to even out a street near his Muskegon Heights home. Scott’s mother posted a video to Facebook last week, saying “he’s really got a garbage can full of dirt filling these potholes.” She adds her son took it upon himself to get something done to fix their street. So far, Scott has filled in about 15 potholes and says he plans to tackle the rest of the street when he can. He says he “didn’t want people messing up their cars like my mom did,” adding repairing a pothole-damaged vehicle can cost hundreds of dollars. The Facebook video has been seen over 50,000 times and has 1,200 shares.. ...Read Full Story
The body found along the shore of Lake Michigan on Sunday has been identified as a Chicago woman. Eddisa Concepcion Herrera was last seen on December 21 when she jumped into the lake at the North Avenue Beach in Chicago. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department says they were helped out by Chicago Police in the investigation, and the positive identification was made during the autopsy at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Herrera’s death has been ruled an accidental drowning. Her remains were found by someone walking on the beach north of Warren Dunes State Park and Weko Beach shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday.. ...Read Full Story
There are renewed concerns for medical marijuana patients in Michigan, as a new testing requirement is slated to go into effect this month. The Curing Corner, a licensed provisioning center in the Detroit suburb of River Rouge, has filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs department to allow caregivers to continue providing untested products to state licensed provisioning centers.. ...Read Full Story
Spring weather is bringing out thieves targeting vehicles in Van Buren County. The sheriff’s department tells WSJM News they’ve had an uptick in larceny reports from vehicles and several cars have also been stolen in the past several weeks. Most of the incidents are happening in the overnight hours. Police are reminding people to keep their vehicles, garages, and homes locked.. ...Read Full Story
The amount we’re shelling out to fill up the gas tank keeps rising. Triple-A Michigan puts the average price for unleaded regular at $2.78 a gallon, up 7¢ from a week ago. The price is down from the high for the year of $2.83 set on March 27. The most expensive fuel is being sold in Jackson at $2.86 a gallon, while the lowest average price is $2.71 in Marquette. The auto club says the average in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area is $2.79, a 14¢ jump in the past week. Prices are a little lower in South Haven, with GasBuddy putting the average at $2.71 along the shore in Van Buren County.. ...Read Full Story
A number of school districts in Michigan will be getting a share of a $25-million fund to make security improvements in their districts. Michigan State Police say the money comes from the 2019 School Safety Grant Program. They received 360 applications for $21-million more than they have to spend. Coloma and New Buffalo Public Schools both have grants coming. Grants range from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand, depending on the size of the district and the need.. ...Read Full Story
The new Michigan Election Security Commission created by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is expected to release a set of recommendations to improve the integrity of Michigan’s elections by the end of the year. Benson tells WSJM News she set up the body to get the input of elections and computer experts from around the country. We asked if she has any predictions for what the body will recommend.. ...Read Full Story
An autopsy will be done Monday on the body of a woman found washed ashore north of Warren Dunes State Park in Lake Township. Baroda/Lake Township police say a person walking on the Lake Michigan shore found the body shortly before 1 pm Sunday. Police say they have not been able to identify the remains, and the discovery remains under investigation. Several agencies are assisting with the investigation, including Department of Natural Resources park rangers from Warren Dunes, Lake Township Fire Department, Bridgman Police, and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.. ...Read Full Story
Time is running out for those who are behind on their property taxes to avoid foreclosure. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells WSJM News the deadline to pay is April 1, and this is especially important for some property owners.. ...Read Full Story
The Disability Network of Southwest Michigan is planning a transportation forum for next month. Program Director Lewis Whalen tells WSJM News the event will be a chance for anyone to ask questions and express concerns to representatives of Berrien County transportation agencies.. ...Read Full Story
Older Michiganders outraged over the soaring cost of prescription medications are turning up the heat on lawmakers and drug companies.. ...Read Full Story
A new officer is about to start at the Lincoln Township Police Department. Echo is a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois recruited to be the department’s K9, and she just arrived in the United States from Poland this month. Lincoln Township Police Chief Gary Soper tells WSJM News the department collected $30,000 from the public to get the K9. That support came in from businesses and individuals.. ...Read Full Story
Kinexus has announced the creation of an economic development organization for Van Buren County. Market Van Buren was formed to respond to the marketplace needs of both the private and public sectors in the area, says Director Zachary Morris.. ...Read Full Story
The Healthy Berrien Consortium in partnership with Riverwood Center is offering free mental health first aid training next month. The eight hour course will be on Thursday, April 18. Riverwood Center Mental Health First Aid Instructor Kimberly Sparkmon tells WSJM News the program has been in the community for several years, and as many as 1,000 people in Berrien County have received the training. She calls it “first aid for the brain.”. ...Read Full Story
