Local News Archives

High winds around southwest Michigan on Saturday have led to thousands of power outages and some roads to be temporarily blocked. As of early evening, Indiana Michigan Power was dealing with just under 27,000 outages. The high winds have knocked down tree branches throughout the region, leading to some parts of roads to be blocked while police, fire, and utility crews work to clear them. Police remind everyone to stay away from downed power lines and to report them to 911. You can stay on top of I&M power outages and also report outages at www.indianamichiganpower.com/outages.. ...Read Full Story

Major construction is underway at the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi’s Rodgers Lake campus near Dowagiac. Pokagon Band Government Manager Jason Wesaw tells us they’re doing a major improvement project at a cost of $25 million on the Justice Center and the Pokagon Health Services building. He notes the Pokagon Tribal Police have been working out of a building not intended for law enforcement.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A complaint has been filed against a Michigan college for having a religious invocation at its commencement ceremony. The Muskegon Chronicle reports that the Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists on Thursday sent Muskegon Community College a letter detailing the complaint. The complaint was filed in response to a prayer said by college Trustee Ann Oakes at the college’s May 9 graduation ceremony. The association’s letter cites two U.S. Supreme Court cases that ban invocations in schools and other public institutions. College President Dale Nesbary says he’s surprised by the complaint. He says Oakes has been delivering the commencement invocation for many years. Nesbary says the college will respond after reviewing the issue. The association has filed several complaints in recent years regarding the separation of church and state.. ...Read Full Story

The AARP of Michigan is hoping the state’s voters will get themselves familiar with the variety of proposals set to appear on next month’s ballot before they hit the polls. Manager of Advocacy Lisa Dedden Cooper tells us Proposal 1 would legalize recreational marijuana for people ages 21 and up. Proposal 2 would amend the state constitution to create a new commission to re-draw Michigan’s legislative districts when the Census comes out every 10 years. Proposal 3 would add several voting-rights provisions to the Michigan Constitution.. ...Read Full Story

Additional trains are being added to several Amtrak lines in anticipation of Thanksgiving. Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari tells WSJM News folks heading home for the holiday will have more chances to take a train. The busiest day in Amtrak’s entire history was on the Sunday following Thanksgiving last year, with more than 160,000 customers.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the largemouth bass virus that killed hundreds of fish back in the early 2000s has been found in Cedar Lake in Alcona and Iosco counties. DNR Hatchery Manager Martha Van Amberg tells us, for the most, there is no danger to humans.. ...Read Full Story

Brown Elementary School in St. Joseph will dig up a 20-year-old time capsule this weekend. Principal Kristen Bawks tells WSJM News she learned about the time capsule buried by students from Brown’s previous principal, Craig Hubble.. ...Read Full Story

The Van Buren County Road Commission continues to push its road millage proposal as the November 6 elections get close. Road Commission Finance Director Linnea Rader tells WSJM News after the same proposal was shot down by voters in August, the commission decided to ask again.. ...Read Full Story

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releasing its Winter Outlook prediction. Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, told Michigan News Network there’s good news for us here in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Today is reminding kids and parents of the downtown trick or treating planned for this Halloween. It tells us there will be treats to be sought in both downtown St. Joe and the Benton Harbor Arts District on Halloween from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes and visit the participating businesses. In St. Joseph, the first 700 youths to stop by the Welcome Center on State Street will receive a trick-or-treat bag from HoltBosse. We have the participating St. Joe and Benton Harbor businesses listed below.. ...Read Full Story

As Michiganders get set to vote on a ballot proposal that would legalize recreational marijuana, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce held a summit Thursday morning to discuss the local implications. Josh Lunger is the chamber’s Director of Government Affairs. He spoke with Michigan News Network.. ...Read Full Story

The jackpot for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is now $1 billion. Yes, that’s $1 billion. And if no one wins it, the jackpot will jump to $1.6 billion for next Tuesday’s drawing, according to the Michigan Lottery. Tickets are flying out of stores. If anyone wins Friday’s jackpot, the one-time lump sum payment would be $565.6 million. The odds of getting that jackpot are 1 in more than 320 million. A ticket is $2.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton and challenger Dr. Matt Longjohn were featured in a debate broadcast on WSJM and WKZO radio on October 15, 2018. You can hear a podcast of that same broadcast below:. ...Read Full Story

The real estate market continues to show gains in Michigan with the median sales price increasing 3% last month compared to September of 2017. Karen Kage with Real Comp told Michigan News Network the region continues to be a hot market.. ...Read Full Story

Arnold “The Terminator” Schwarzenegger will speak Saturday at a rally in East Lansing. It’s in support of Proposal 2, an effort to eliminate gerrymandering in Michigan. Voters Not Politicians Director Katie Fahey tells us Michigan draws its legislative districts every ten years, and the process is directed by elected officials, meaning the ruling party, whoever it is at any given time, gets to set up the system for itself.. ...Read Full Story

An overnight freeze finally happened in west Michigan this week. The temp dropped to below 32 on Wednesday night, and in many places, that was the first hard frost of the season. National Weather Service Meteorologist in Grand Rapids Nathan Jeruzal spoke with WKZO News about the freeze.. ...Read Full Story

Two million people have passed through the gates of the Niles Scream Park since it opened 45 years ago. On Sunday, guest number two million attended. It was Yessica Renteria of Plymouth, Indiana. The Niles Scream Park’s Kellie Welch tells WSJM News this has been a great year at the non-profit attraction.. ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is waiting on the president to sign opioid legislation that passed the Senate this month. Upton tells WSJM News the landmark package out of the House is designed to help fight the growing opioid abuse crisis. The House approved it before going on break.. ...Read Full Story

A bomb threat reported this week at Baseline Middle School in South Haven was determined to be a hoax. The South Haven Police Department says it cleared the building of anything dangerous on Wednesday after a search. Police used bomb sniffing dogs to check the school after the threat came in around 2:30 p.m. A custodian found a note in one of the boys restrooms. It said a bomb was in the building. A several hours-long police search determined that was not in fact the case.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Association of United Ways says systemic poverty includes large numbers of working poor in Michigan. A United Way report shows that for large numbers of Michigan families there is no ‘booming economy’. Doug Cunningham reports.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan Gas Utilities is hoping its customers are thinking about how to keep themselves warm this coming winter. Spokesperson Matt Cullen tells WSJM News now is the time to apply for heating assistance.. ...Read Full Story

Gast Manufacturing has announced a $6 million investment in Benton Township. Cornerstone Alliance Business Development Manager Shane Kissack tells WSJM News the company, which designs and produces air-moving products, plans to add at least 30 new jobs over the next three years as it improves its existing facility.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — U.S. officials are reminding travelers that it remains illegal to bring marijuana into the United States at border crossings despite the legalization of the drug in Canada. U.S. Customs and Border Protection representative Christopher Perry says the implementation of the new Canadian law on Wednesday thus far has had little effect on the flow of traffic along the border. Perry, CBP’s director of field operations in Michigan, talked to reporters at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, which connects Detroit with Windsor, Ontario. According to Perry, U.S. border agents are asking the same kinds of questions of travelers that they did prior to the change in Canadian law, adding that agents generally will not ask routine questions about marijuana use. On Wednesday, Canada became the largest country with a legal national marijuana marketplace .. ...Read Full Story

The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday’s drawing is now up to $900 million. The Michigan Lottery tells us the cash option for Friday will be $513 million. The $900 million jackpot is the largest ever for the Mega Millions game. If a Michigan player wins Friday, it would be the largest Mega Millions prize ever won in the state and the largest ever Michigan Lottery prize in general. In April of 2005, a Port Huron couple won $208 million playing Mega Millions. A Mega Millions ticket is $2. Your odds of getting the jackpot — 1 in more than 320 million.. ...Read Full Story

As next month’s elections are expected to bring a surge in voter turnout, one thing that could help Republicans is the state of the economy. September’s unemployment rate was 3.7%, the lowest it’s been since 1969. Congressman Fred Upton has some thoughts as to why. He spoke with WSJM News this week.. ...Read Full Story

Major construction is underway at the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi’s Rodgers Lake campus near Dowagiac. Pokagon Band Government Manager Jason Wesaw tells us they’re doing a major improvement project at a cost of $25 million on the Justice Center and the Pokagon Health Services building. He notes the Pokagon Tribal Police have been working out of a building not intended for law enforcement.. ...Read Full Story

In west Michigan, the Immigration Centers of America has proposed converting the former Deerfield Correctional Center in Ionia into a federal immigration detention center. Dennis Muchmore, who represents the Immigration Centers of America, told Michigan News Network this week it would cost about $35 million.. ...Read Full Story

Former Vice President Joe Biden has issued an appeal for a commitment to shared American values.. ...Read Full Story

With a new city income tax in place, the work to ensure it’s implemented properly never ends for Benton Harbor city leaders. This week, the city commission approved the creation of an Income Tax Board of Review. City Manager Darwin Watson told commissioners it is needed to consider appeals from taxpayers of their city income tax bills. Commissioner Juanita Henry was concerned the Income Tax Board of Review could wind up with only elites serving on it.. ...Read Full Story

A workshop on the different types of assistance animals and the rules that apply to them is planned for next month in St. Joseph. Disability Network Southwest Michigan Education Coordinator Miranda Grunwell tells WSJM News there are service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals.. ...Read Full Story

By Doug Cunningham. ...Read Full Story

Residents of South Haven who might need some financial help repairing the exterior of their home could be in luck. South Haven City Manager Brian Dissette tells WSJM News that’s after action by the city council this week.. ...Read Full Story

The national opioid crisis is being felt all over Michigan. In Washtenaw County there have 56 overdose deaths so far this year, an increase of more than 30% from a year ago. The Washtenaw County Opioid Summit this week brought together health officials and community members to discuss the epidemic. Co-chair of the Washtenaw Opioid Project Jamina Loveluck spoke with Michigan News Network about the crisis.. ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the largemouth bass virus that killed hundreds of fish back in the early 2000s has been found in Cedar Lake in Alcona and Iosco counties. DNR Hatchery Manager Martha Van Amberg tells us, for the most, there is no danger to humans.. ...Read Full Story

The Krasl Art Center in St. Joseph is getting ready to unveil its new outdoor Sculpting Community along with a brand new sculpture by Richard Hunt. The piece from the Chicago artist was shipped into St. Joseph on Monday aboard a flatbed truck, and it’s being installed at the grounds of the Krasl this week. Hunt tells WSJM News it’s about 20 feet high and 40 feet across in two stainless steel pieces.. ...Read Full Story

By Doug Cunningham. ...Read Full Story

The AARP of Michigan is hoping the state’s voters will get themselves familiar with the variety of proposals set to appear on next month’s ballot before they hit the polls. Manager of Advocacy Lisa Dedden Cooper tells us Proposal 1 would legalize recreational marijuana for people ages 21 and up. Proposal 2 would amend the state constitution to create a new commission to re-draw Michigan’s legislative districts when the Census comes out every 10 years. Proposal 3 would add several voting-rights provisions to the Michigan Constitution.. ...Read Full Story

The Greater Bridgman Chamber and Growth Alliance is integrating into the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce. Cornerstone’s Chris Heugel tells WSJM News the Twin Cities-based chamber started helping the Bridgman chamber when its previous leader moved out of town, and over time, it made sense for the two to combine.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The U.S. Coast Guard says ships can’t drop anchor in the Straits of Mackinac unless they have permission. The area between Michigan’s two peninsulas has an oil pipeline, known as Line 5, as well as electrical cables. The Coast Guard says the goal is to prevent damage to the lines from anchors. There is an exception to the no-anchor zone in case of emergency. The policy starts October 31 and covers ships that are at least 131 feet long. The rule was published October 1 in the Federal Register. The legislature is working on a similar ban. Governor Rick Snyder in May approved an emergency rule barring anchors in the waterway, after a tugboat anchor struck
oil and electrical lines and caused an insulation spill.. ...Read Full Story

By Doug Cunningham. ...Read Full Story

With hunters now hitting the woods, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking them to be on the lookout for bovine tuberculosis. DNR deer biologist Ashley Autenrieth tells WSJM News bovine TB is an ailment in deer that can sometimes be spotted when a hunter is dressing a deer. They’re asked to watch out for signs.. ...Read Full Story

A finalized code of conduct at Benton Harbor Area Schools and new security procedures are close to being implemented. District CEO Robert Herrera told WSJM News after a meeting this week the new school resource officer set to be provided by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department should be in place in the next three weeks.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Public Schools Superintendent Ann Cardon is hoping to help push for a change in how schools are funded in the state. This week, she spoke to the board of education about a report from the School Finance Research Collaborative on the model used in Michigan. Cardon told WSJM News 1994’s Proposal A was supposed to establish equality for school funding, but time has shown there are several factors that are not considered.. ...Read Full Story

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Domestic Violence Coalition of Van Buren County, located in Paw Paw is ready to help. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of violence by at partner every year. Domestic Violence Coalition Executive Director “Melanie” says they take many calls.. ...Read Full Story

Feeding America West Michigan is conducting a study on a possible community food center in Benton Harbor. Marketing and Development Director Pattijean McCahill tells WSJM News the organization helps relieve hunger in 40 counties, but right now only has two community centers.. ...Read Full Story

The early enrollment numbers for Benton Harbor Area Schools this year are down slightly. District CEO Robert Herrera told WSJM News this week the counts are showing a loss of about 70 students from last year, which he doesn’t think is nearly as bad as it could have been. Herrera says Benton Harbor Area Schools has been trying to re-establish credibility with the parents after a rough time last year.. ...Read Full Story

The latest financial audit has found St. Joseph Public Schools to be in good shape. At a meeting this past week, the board of education was told the district in the last year spent slightly less than what it took in, with both figures around $27 million. Superintendent Ann Cardon also told WSJM News they tucked some money away for a rainy day.. ...Read Full Story

A new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy shows a racial disparity in the state when it comes to the standardized test scores of students. The league’s Gilda Jacobs tells WSJM News the differences are stark in the latest M-STEP results.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Office of Emergency Management is preparing to offer another round of Community Emergency Response Team training to the public. The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, is trained to help respond to disasters in the community. The CERT program teaches people things like fire safety, search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can help others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders aren’t immediately available. Many businesses also establish their own CERT teams. The next round of classes will run from October 16 through November 6. The classes are each Tuesday, and each is three hours. The classes are free, and you can register through the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. Just click here.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College has named its new wine and viticulture center in honor of a Stevensville couple who has worked to help the college complete major projects. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke tells WSJM News the Welch Center will be named in honor of Mike and Lisa Welch.. ...Read Full Story

With the fall here, the Insurance Alliance of Michigan is reminding all drivers of the dangers posed by deer. The alliance’s Mark Fisk tells WSJM News deer are more active this time of year, especially at dusk and dawn. You should remember what to do if you see a deer in the road. It starts with slow down.. ...Read Full Story

The United Way of Southwest Michigan is bringing a different kind of fundraiser to the Haymarket Brewery in Bridgman next week. The United Way’s Ryan Cheevers tells WSJM News they’re holding a pop-up giving event where those who attend will get to choose which local organization will get support for its project. Three are competing next Thursday for dollars.. ...Read Full Story

When Michigan voters head to the polls next month, they’ll consider a proposal that would legalize marijuana, and one group is partnering with law enforcement to encourage the voters to just say no. Scott Greenlee with Healthy and Productive Michigan tells WSJM News one can just look to Colorado to see why legalizing marijuana is a bad idea. He says drugged driving deaths increase in recent years, noting there’s no easy way to field test a driver for pot. Speaking about the pro-legalization claim that more than $100 million in new tax revenue would be generated each year by legalizing, he notes that is a small fraction of 1% of the state budget. He also believes costs will come with legalizing marijuana.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — A large swath of dunes and forest known as Ottawa Sands in western Michigan is opening to the public next week. MLive reports visitors to the property bordering a section of the Grand River in the Ferrysburg area will have access starting Monday to four miles of marked trails and catch-and-release fishing. Ottawa County Parks and Recreation says more features and amenities are planned. The project includes preserving a section of Lake Michigan dunes and linking nearby parks and preservation areas. County Parks Director John Scholtz says it’s “one of our more exciting land acquisitions” and has “a lot of elements.” The property was the site of an inactive sand mining operation. Included within the property is designated critical dune areas, Grand River frontage and a man-made lake.. ...Read Full Story

An old video of Bill Schuette has surfaced that some say is creepy, and Schuette says shows what a bad sense of humor he used to have. Shot in 1989 while he was a member of the U.S. House, he’s seen smiling at a woman off-camera and making a suggestive comment as she asks him to move closer to a lamp in the video frame as she is preparing to interview him.. ...Read Full Story

Set for this Saturday is the first ever Lake Michigan College Homecoming Fall Fest. LMC Intercollegiate Athletics Director Melissa Grau tells us the event will be a way to check out some Red Hawks athletic events with the Women’s Soccer team and Basketball team both with games starting at 1 p.m. There will also a variety of other activities throughout the Benton Township campus.. ...Read Full Story