Local News Archives

BH Police Focus On Illegal Dumping

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An effort is underway in Benton Harbor to crack down on the illegal dumping of trash. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety tells us discarded tires, mattresses, and other junk have become a major problem. Word went out Thursday about a new tip line that has been set up for people to report the practice. Police say the situation has gotten so bad the city has spent more than $169,000 on extra dumpsters to remove the illegally dumped material over the past three years. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety has made four arrests as part of its illegal dumping investigation since last week. To report the illegal dumping of trash in Benton Harbor, call or text 269-944-7929.’. ...Read Full Story

Tax Proposal Gets Attention Statewide

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A tax credit being floated by Cornerstone Alliance President Rob Cleveland is getting some attention statewide. Cleveland tells WSJM News he came up with the idea for the HUGE credit while brainstorming with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It would give an income tax break to recent college graduates in Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Tuition At LMC Is Going Up

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A tuition increase is coming for students at Lake Michigan College. At this week’s LMC Board of Trustees meeting, an increase of 1.5% for in-district students was approved. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke tells WSJM News the move is in response to increased operating costs.. ...Read Full Story

Man Shot Through Window In Cass County

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Saturday shooting in Mason Township. It says deputies were called out to a home on Starbrick Street near Tharp Lake Road shortly before 12:30 a.m. and learned a 57-year-old man had been shot through a window. He told deputies some unknown subjects had come to his home and demanded to speak with him. He said that when he refused to come outside, the subjects fired a gun through a window, injuring him. The man was taken to to Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart Indiana, and police say he was listed in stable condition as of 11 a.m. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Department.. ...Read Full Story

Upton Visits School Robotics Facility

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Just a few weeks after it was dedicated, Congressman Fred Upton has paid a visit to the new robotics facility at St. Joseph High School. He stopped by the Edward J. Todd Innovation Center Monday. Upton tells WSJM News FIRST Robotics is a program that helps kids apply their science, technology, and math skills.. ...Read Full Story

Town Hall Planned At Benton Harbor Area Schools

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There will be a town hall meeting on April 3 for the public to learn more about problems currently faced by Benton Harbor Area Schools. The board of education has scheduled the town hall for 6 p.m. at the high school cafeteria. There are several questions about the district’s future as declining enrollment is making its borrowing power go down. Meanwhile, the district’s cooperative agreement with the state is set to end on July 1, likely returning control of the schools back to the board of education. Everyone is welcome to attend the April 3 meeting.. ...Read Full Story

Measles Outbreak In Oakland County

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State health officials are responding to a measles outbreak in Oakland County. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Angela Minicuci tells WSJM News it all started with one person who got the measles while traveling. Since then, the total number of cases as a result of the one infection is up to eight. Minicuci says Michigan also had a high rate of measles last year.. ...Read Full Story

Bill Designed To Help Prevent Suicides

State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan is a co-sponsor of legislation designed to help prevent suicides in Michigan. She tells WSJM News the proposal would create the Suicide Fatality Review Act, allowing Michigan counties to establish a review task force. Those panels would include doctors, police, mental health experts, and others who have been affected by suicide. They would look for trends and patterns locally in an effort to address the situation, and meet following a student’s suicide. Griffin’s bill exempts the local panels from Open Meetings Act laws.. ...Read Full Story

Effort To Combat Abuse Launched At Andrews University

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Andrews University is rising up to fight abuse. Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Michael Nixon tells WSJM News the university hosted its first-ever Rise Up Against Abuse Rally last week, launching the Rise Up Against Abuse initiative. It’s to help people use awareness, intervention, and prevention to take action against all forms of abuse.. ...Read Full Story

St. Joseph Girl, Family Raise $1,600 For Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital

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A St. Joseph girl is turning a bit of personal heartbreak last summer into something positive. Seven-year-old Devyn Whitney has a prosthetic right leg and is missing some fingers due to being born with a condition called Fibular Hemimelia, but didn’t feel like she was different from anyone else until last summer at the Krasl Art Fair according to her mom, Stephanie Watkins. Devyn noticed people staring and whispering for the first time and became upset, with her mom taking her down to the Whirlpool Compass Fountain to get away.. ...Read Full Story

Driver Killed In Bloomingdale Township Crash

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The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly crash Thursday afternoon in Bloomingdale Township. A 57-year-old Paw Paw man was killed when his pickup went off the road on 24th Avenue west of M-40 and hit a tree. The crash happened just after noon. The driver was the only one in the truck, and he was not wearing a seat belt. The man’s name has not been released.. ...Read Full Story

Senator Nesbitt Wants Auto Insurance Reforms Before June 27

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State Senator Aric Nesbitt wants major changes to Michigan’s auto insurance system passed and on the desk of Governor Whitmer before lawmakers head out on their summer break at the end of June. He announced the self-imposed deadline this week in an effort to spur action after the House and Senate have tried for years to make changes. Lawmakers from both parties have said it was one of the top issues they heard about from voters during last year’s campaign, especially as more studies show Michigan’s insurance premiums are the highest in the country. To blame for that is the mandate that policies include lifetime health coverage for catastrophic injuries in crashes. Nesbitt says one of the biggest issues they’re looking at is giving drivers choices for the coverage levels they want, and adds everything is on the table. His Senate Bill 1 is pretty open-ended in order to make modifications.. ...Read Full Story

Today Is World Water Day

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Michiganders plan to show their support for the right to clean drinking water with the 26th annual World Water Day on Friday. The event highlights the importance of clean drinking water across the globe. Grand Rapids Water Protectors chief Shannon Abbott tells us several battles over water are going on across Michigan, including fights against chemical contamination and keeping water affordable. Abbott notes low-income communities and people of color face the brunt of those battles.. ...Read Full Story

Lincoln Township Police Department Receives K9

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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 last week. 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

Talons Out Honor Flight Announces Student Essay Contest

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A student essay contest has been launched by Talons Out Honor Flight. The organization takes veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to their memorials in Washington, D.C. for free, and the two winners of the essay contest will get to go along on the June 1 trip. Talons Out Honor Flight President Bobbie Bradley tells WSJM News the essays should be about the experiences of a World War II or Korean War vet from the student’s community.. ...Read Full Story

Police Launch Tip Line To Report Illegal Dumping In Benton Harbor

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An effort is underway in Benton Harbor to crack down on the illegal dumping of trash. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety tells us discarded tires, mattresses, and other junk have become a major problem. Word went out Thursday about a new tip line that has been set up for people to report the practice. Police say the situation has gotten so bad the city has spent more than $169,000 on extra dumpsters to remove the illegally dumped material over the past three years. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety has made four arrests as part of its illegal dumping investigation since last week. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is also assisting. To report the illegal dumping of trash in Benton Harbor, call or text 269-944-7929.. ...Read Full Story

New Boating, Fishing Laws Take Effect

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If you boat or fish in Michigan, some new laws go into effect today. Boaters are now required to take steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. That includes things like draining all water from any live wells and bilges and ensuring that the watercraft and trailer are free of all aquatic organisms, including plants.. ...Read Full Story

State House Bill Would Lower Drunk Driving Threshold

Newly introduced legislation would make Michigan the second state to lower its drunken-driving limit to a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05%. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is supporting the House bill that was proposed by Democrats Thursday. It would drop the limit to 0.05% from 0.08%, which is the limit in all other states except Utah. Utah dropped to the 0.05% threshold in December.. ...Read Full Story

Gas Price Jump Due To Variety Of Factors

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You likely noticed a big jump in gas prices this week, going from $2.56 in St. Joseph and Benton Harbor on Monday to $2.71 now according to AAA Michigan. GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan says factors include crude prices being up, refineries doing spring maintenance and the turmoil in Venezuela, but the main reason is the end of the supply for relatively cheap winter blends.. ...Read Full Story

Ford Repackages Factory Investment Plan, Will Add 900 Jobs

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(Dearborn, MI – AP) – Ford is repackaging a previously announced manufacturing investment in the Detroit area and now says it will spend $900 million and create 900 new jobs over the next four years. Most of the new workers will build a new generation of electric vehicle at a Ford factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, south of Detroit. It will see an $850 million investment. The company also plans a $50 million autonomous vehicle manufacturing center at an undisclosed site near Detroit that will add hardware to existing vehicles.. ...Read Full Story

Engler, AG Butt Heads Over Interview In Nasser Probe

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(East Lansing, MI – AP) – A lawyer for John Engler is accusing a prosecutor of misconduct and wants her removed before the former Michigan State University president speaks to investigators. The attorney general’s office and Engler’s attorney, Seth Waxman, are in a war of words over his willingness to speak to investigators about campus changes after the Larry Nasser scandal.. ...Read Full Story

Tuition Increase At LMC

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A tuition increase is coming for students at Lake Michigan College. At this week’s LMC Board of Trustees meeting, an increase of 1.5% for in-district students was approved. LMC President Trevor Kubatzke tells WSJM News the move is in response to increased operating costs.. ...Read Full Story

One Arrested For Meth In Dowagaic

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A traffic stop in Dowagiac this week led to the arrest of a 34-year-old Granger, Indiana man on meth and other charges. The Dowagiac Police Department says an officer pulled over a vehicle Tuesday night for having an improper registration. There were three people in the vehicle, and one of them provided the officer with a false ID. A further check revealed the Granger man had a warrant out. Police say a K9 then searched the vehicle and found 22 grams of meth. The Granger man was arrested on multiple charges, and taken to the Cass County Jail.. ...Read Full Story

Website Lists MI Bridges And Their Conditions

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The Michigan Department of Transportation has launched a new online dashboard to make information about the condition of bridges around the state known to the public. MDOT Deputy Chief Bridge Engineer Beckie Curtis tells WSJM News the site includes data on more than 11,000 bridges. It goes over the state of each.. ...Read Full Story

Shot Fired, No One Hurt In Niles Robbery

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No one is hurt after a shot was fired during the robbery of the Check Into Cash store in Niles Wednesday. The Niles Police Department says a suspect walked into the store on South 11th Street shortly before 12:30 p.m. and flashed a gun. He fired off one shot, but police don’t know if it was accidental or on purpose. The suspect made off in a light-colored vehicle with an undisclosed amount of cash. Michigan State Police and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department helped in the search, but the suspect was not found. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact police.. ...Read Full Story

MI House Approves Highway Designation For Aretha Franklin

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From the Associated Press — In a sign of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the Michigan Legislature is expected to honor the late Queen of Soul with a highway designation. The Michigan House voted 101-6 on Tuesday to designate a portion of M-10 in Detroit as the “Aretha L. Franklin Memorial Highway.” Franklin died in Detroit last year after battling pancreatic cancer. The legislation will next go to the state Senate.
Supporters say dedicating a portion of the highway is an appropriate way to honor the musical and cultural icon, who grew up in Detroit and learned the gospel fundamentals at New Bethel Baptist Church. The sponsor, Democratic Representative Leslie Love of Detroit, says Franklin was a “special lady” who fought for civil rights and “gave us all a soundtrack to our lives.”. ...Read Full Story

Father Charged For Teen’s 2017 Overdose Death

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A Bangor man is facing a pair of felony charges for the drug overdose death of his 16-year-old son in 2017. Forty-eight-year-old Gary Birkhead was arraigned Wednesday in Van Buren County on a homicide-involuntary manslaughter charge and a count of second-degree child abuse connected to the death on August 13, 2017 of Cole Birkhead. The teen from Hartford died at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo of an overdose, though Michigan State Police and the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s office have not revealed which drug it was. Gary Birkhead was arrested on Tuesday following the lengthy investigation, which MSP says remains open.. ...Read Full Story

House OKs Subjecting Governor, Legislature To Records Requests

From the Associated Press — Michigan’s lawmakers and governor would be subject to public-records requests under bills moving forward in the Legislature. The House voted unanimously Tuesday for a package that aims to end Michigan’s status as one of just two states to fully exempt the Legislature and governor’s office from Freedom of Information Act requests. The legislation goes to the Senate for consideration next. Information such as communications with constituents could be exempt from disclosure. Similar bills passed the House in recent years only to die in the Senate. One of the sponsors, Republican Rep. Daire Rendon of Lake City, says “people deserve to see what we’re doing so that they can hold us accountable.”. ...Read Full Story

Mayor Delivers State Of The City Address

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Benton Harbor is building forward. That was the message of Mayor Marcus Muhammad as he delivered his annual State of the City address Tuesday. Speaking at the Benton Harbor Public Library, Muhammad said the city has come a long way since being under state control, pointing to five years of positive fund balances.. ...Read Full Story

Upton Talks New Soo Lock

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The inclusion of $75 million for a new Soo Lock in President Trump’s budget proposal is a plus in the eyes of Congressman Fred Upton. He tells WSJM News a new lock to replace the Poe Lock, the largest of those shipping channels connecting Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes is needed in case the Poe Lock fails.. ...Read Full Story

Work Underway On Farmers Market Pavilion

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Work is underway on the new pavilion for the Benton Harbor Farmers Market. The structure will be put into use when the market is held throughout the warmer months, says the Berrien County Health Department’s Gillian Conrad. The pavilion will be located at the corner of Sixth Street and Main Street at in Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park. ...Read Full Story

“Biggest Little Baseball Museum” To Open In Three Oaks

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Preparations are being made for the grand opening of a new baseball museum in Three Oaks. The Biggest Little Baseball Museum will focus on local baseball teams throughout the decades, including town teams like the Three Oaks Greens, the New Troy Grays, and the Lakeside Aces, along with Little League teams. The museum will occupy the second floor of the Three Oaks Township Library. Its grand opening is set for noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. The grand opening will feature a special presentation at 1 on Civil War-era baseball by members of the House of David Echoes. Organizers of the Biggest Little Baseball Museum say the place will be “so big you can’t see it all in one visit, and so little you can’t get lost.” Everyone is welcome to go and check it out.. ...Read Full Story

South Haven To Make Repairs To Dyckman Bascule Bridge

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Damage to the electrical conduit serving South Haven’s Dyckman Bascule Bridge has knocked it out of service for the time being. Emergency repairs will get underway next week by Strain Electric out of suburban Grand Rapids, with the city authorizing spending $26,500 on the work. Ice damaged the conduit over the winter, but city officials say it will be back in service before the upcoming boating season. The bridge was refurbished in 2015 and dates to 1967. On average, 88-hundred vehicles cross the bridge daily according to BridgeReports.com, with that number coming from a study four years ago.. ...Read Full Story

Divers Hope To Recover Underwater Crucifix Part In Michigan

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From the Associated Press — Divers hope to locate and repair the arm of an underwater statue depicting a crucified Jesus in northern Michigan, which is part of a yearly event that draws hundreds to a frozen bay. The Petoskey News-Review reports that about 1,300 people gathered earlier this month to view the 11-foot tall, one-ton statue of Jesus Christ in Little Traverse Bay near the Petoskey shore. But many attendees questioned why the statue’s arm is missing. Event organizer Dennis Jessick says he believes compression forces from the ice caused the arm to break. He says event organizers and divers hope to locate the missing arm in the spring. The crucifix was brought to Petoskey in 1962 as a way to honor people who have died in bodies of water and moved to its current spot in 1986.. ...Read Full Story

Commission Approves Break For Apartment, Commercial Development

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Benton Harbor City Commissioners have signed off on plans for an apartment development downtown. At a Monday meeting, the city commission approved the establishment of an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District and a 12-year tax break for Cressy Commercial Real Estate to redevelop the Harbor Center building at Pipestone and Main Streets. The plan is to invest $2.5 to $3 million in turning the building into 14 apartments and two commercial spaces. Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the vacant building is currently dilapidated.. ...Read Full Story

Lawmaker Optimistic About E-Cigarette Legislation

Legislation that would ban the sale of e-cigarettes to minors in Michigan is making its way through the state House. State Representative Beth Griffin of Mattawan tells WSJM News the committee hearing on the plan brought to light one question. It was whether the liquids used in those products, which sometimes contain no nicotine, should be included.. ...Read Full Story

Presidential Contenders Campaign In Michigan

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From the Associated Press — Two Democratic presidential candidates are campaigning in Michigan a year before the state’s primary. Beto O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman, made three stops in the Detroit area Monday. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York scheduled events later in the day. Democrats are emphasizing Michigan early after Donald Trump in 2016 became the first Republican to win the state in decades. At a stop in Macomb County, a man asked O’Rourke how Democrats can win back blue-collar white workers who supported Trump. O’Rourke said Trump has successfully “exacerbated the divisions” among Americans, but Democrats must “transcend that” and “be above it” while still confronting economic inequalities and the “hard truths” of slavery and segregation. O’Rourke also visited a carpentry training school in Oakland County and a Detroit coffee shop.. ...Read Full Story

Registrations Being Taken For Lory’s Place Run And Walk

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Registrations are being taken for the next Lory’s Place Run, Walk, and Rock. This is the 15th year for the event, which raises money for Lory’s Pace, a St. Joseph-based program that helps people cope with grief. The Run, Walk, and Rock will be Saturday, May 18. The timed 5K run and walk course will take runners and walkers through St. Joseph’s Edgewater area and into Tiscornia Park. Meanwhile, rocking chairs will be available for spectators throughout the morning along the edge of the course. Individuals or groups can sponsor a rocker. That money goes to Lory’s Place, along with the registration fees paid by runners and walkers. You can find out more right here.. ...Read Full Story

Jobs For MI Graduates Conference This Week

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As Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates marks ten years, the program will hold its annual Career Development Conference in Lansing this week. Youth Solutions Director Kristin Harrington tells WSJM News JMG has grown to serve around 3,000 at-risk students across Michigan since it started in Benton Harbor a decade ago. Around 300 students will be at Thursday’s conference to take part in career skills competitions, showing off things they have learned.. ...Read Full Story

No Plea Deals Offered In Murder Of Army Sergeant

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No plea deals are on the table for the couple accused of the murder of Army Sergeant Tyrone Hassel III. His wife, Kemia Hassel, and alleged gunman Jeremy Cuellar were both in court on Monday. They’re accused of using Snapchat to plan the killing, which happened New Year’s Eve at the home of Sergeant Hassel’s parents in St. Joseph Township. Defense attorneys for both and the Berrien County Prosecutor’s office have told the judge they all need more time to prepare their cases, meaning the scheduled April 30 start for the trial might be delayed. Authorities say Kemia Hassel and Cuellar were having an affair and she came up with the idea to kill her husband to get insurance money rather than file for divorce.. ...Read Full Story

Man Charged For 1986 Murder In Bangor

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Michigan State Police believe they’ve solved a 1986 cold case murder in Bangor. One of the daughters of 51-year-old Wilda Wilkinson found her body, but investigators got nowhere in their investigation. State police detectives reopened the case nine years ago and narrowed down several suspects before starting to work full-time on the investigation last year. A man who was a neighbor of Wilkinson was never ruled out as a suspect, and was arrested last week in California. Michael Curry was arraigned Monday after waiving extradition and being brought back to Michigan. Investigators say several interviews and physical evidence led them to Curry, but have not disclosed exactly what cracked the case.. ...Read Full Story

Antwan Mims Sentenced For Double Murder

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In reality, it was just a formality as Antwan Mims of Benton Harbor was sent away to prison for the rest of his life for a double murder a year ago this month outside a house party. Mims was convicted of first degree murder for the deaths of Michael Johnson and Cortez Miller, and was captured in suburban Atlanta, Georgia last year after being placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives list. He made no statement at today’s sentencing hearing. It took a jury just three hours to find Mims guilty of all charges in February. Johnson and Miller were shot in front of roughly 100 witnesses at the home of a friend of Mims on Lavette Avenue on March 25, 2018.. ...Read Full Story

AAA Survey: Gas Prices Up 7¢ To $2.59

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AAA Michigan says average gas prices statewide are up about 7¢ from a week ago to about $2.59 per gallon. The Dearborn-based auto club says Monday the average price for self-serve regular unleaded is about 3¢ more than a year ago. AAA says the statewide average rose to a new 2019 high of $2.62 per gallon last Wednesday before easing later in the week, and prices are likely to keep going higher. The state’s highest average was about $2.65 a gallon in the Traverse City area. The lowest average was about $2.53 in the Flint area, while the average in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph is the second-lowest in the state at $2.56. According to GasBuddy, South Haven’s average is $2.47, but that area is not part of the Triple-A survey.. ...Read Full Story

Vehicle Break-Ins At Governor’s Residence Investigated

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An investigation is underway after someone broke into two vehicles at Governor Whitmer’s home. Michigan State Police arrested one person this weekend, and the Ingham County Prosecutor’s office will determine charges. No information about what was stolen was released. State police wouldn’t say if the governor or her family were home when the thefts occurred. The governor’s residence is gated and has armed security. The “Lansing State Journal” reports part of the investigation involves how the suspect got onto the property.. ...Read Full Story

Tax Day Approaching

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The clock is ticking towards tax day. Tax refunds are due in less than a month on April 15th if you don’t file for an extension. It’s expected that 30 million people will get a tax bill this year, not a refund as they usually do because of changes to tax laws and reform. Some people who say they have never had to pay before have received word they owe the IRS hundreds of dollars. If you have to pay, but don’t have the money, experts say you should talk to the IRS about a monthly payment plan.. ...Read Full Story

One Hurt In Cass County Crash

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The impact was hard enough cause a vehicle to split into pieces in Cass County’s Porter Township Sunday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies say 63-year-old Randy Riley was headed north on M-40 when he lost control and slammed into a tree. He’s being treated at Elkhart General Hospital, but authorities have not released his condition. Investigators don’t yet know what caused Riley to go off the road.. ...Read Full Story

Student Jobs Program Facing Funding Loss

A program that connects Michigan students with job skills and employment could be on the chopping block. State Representative Beth Griffin tells WSJM News that when she got a look at Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, she noticed it contained no funding for Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates.. ...Read Full Story

Parks Grants Approved By State House

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A list of recreation and parks projects recommended for state grants by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board has been approved by the state House. Among the 60 projects statewide that are included in the list is $2.4 million to acquire 42 acres for the Grand Beach Nature Preserve in Berrien County. It will be used to develop a trail system. State Representative Brad Paquette says “Grand Beach Nature Preserve is already a great part of our community,” and the acquisition will make it better for tourism. Also included in the latest list of grants is $534,000 to add another 126 acres to the Cornish State Game Area in Van Buren County. The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is made up of money acquired by the development of minerals on state land. Each year, those dollars go to recreation projects all over the state.. ...Read Full Story

Funding Sought For New Soo Lock

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President Trump is seeking more than $75 million for work on the new Soo Lock project in Sault Ste. Marie. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the money would be used to start construction of the upstream approach walls, continue the design of the New Soo Lock chamber, and finish construction of the upstream channel deepening. The Corps tells us the upstream approach walls will stabilize the existing approach walls to allow for modern vessels to tie up and wait their turn to pass through the new lock. It’s anticipated the wall designs will be finished in late 2019, and the construction contract will be awarded in summer 2020. Army Corp Lieutenant Colonel Greg Turner says the appropriation keeps the project on track for completion in seven to ten years from the start of construction. You can find out more about the new Soo Lock project right here.. ...Read Full Story