Local News Archives

With time short in the lame-duck legislative session, some policy groups and youth advocates are hopeful lawmakers will pass Raise the Age legislation.. ...Read Full Story

He’s keeping his plans close to the vest when it comes to whether or not controversial legislation will be signed coming out of the lame duck session of the Legislature. But Governor Snyder told WDIV-TV in Detroit over the weekend he plans to give the changes to the state’s minimum wage and paid sick time laws careful consideration.. ...Read Full Story

AAA Michigan says average gas prices statewide are up 6¢ in the past week to about $2.34 per gallon following a string of declines linked to lower oil prices. The Dearborn-based auto club says early Monday the average price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline increased after recently sinking to its lowest level since July 2017. Major oil producers on Friday including the OPEC cartel agreed to cut global oil production – sending oil prices higher. The state’s highest average was $2.42 per gallon in the Marquette area. The lowest was in the Traverse City area at $2.29 a gallon, while the Twin Cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph are second-lowest along with Flint at $2.32.. ...Read Full Story

If you have a daily commute that takes you on highways in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, or Ottawa counties, then the Michigan Department of Transportation could use your input. Spokesperson John Richard tells WSJM News the agency is signing up volunteer Road Watchers for the winter. Volunteers will be polled about highway conditions following winter storms, and their input will be used to deploy winter maintenance crews and identify best practices. The Road Watcher program attracted more than 80 volunteers last year in west Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

Now that Michigan lawmakers are in Lansing for a few more weeks as the session winds down, the Insurance Alliance of Michigan is urging them to tackle auto insurance reform. Spokesperson Mark Fisk tells WSJM News now is the perfect time, with the issue no doubt fresh on the minds of legislators.. ...Read Full Story

By Doug Cuningham. ...Read Full Story

A new tax reform plan is unlikely to come out of Congress this year. Congressman Fred Upton tells us the House has many things it has to get done this month, and the idea of another tax bill is a no go.. ...Read Full Story

There’s a new scam that targets those who may owe overdue taxes, and the Michigan Department of Treasury is putting out a warning. Spokesperson Ron Leix tells WSJM News the scammer will send a letter through the U.S. Postal Service, telling someone they owe money.. ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin is asking Benton Harbor City Commissioners to lend their support to a clean-up project for the Ox Creek drain system. At this past week’s commission meeting, the body was told easements would need to be granted for the drain commissioner to remove dead trees, industrial debris, and litter throughout the creek. About 10% of the adjoining land is owned by the city. Quattrin told WSJM News it will require jurisdiction to make the clean-up happen.. ...Read Full Story

Lake Michigan College is starting a truck driving program. At this past week’s meeting of the LMC Board of Trustees, the sale of 6.5 acres of excess LMC property at the Bertrand Crossing campus was authorized for a price of just under $148,000. The buyer is N&M Transfer Company, a trucking firm out of Wisconsin. LMC VP of Academic Affairs Leslie Kellogg tells WSJM News the deal allows for a public-private partnership for the college to use a facility the trucking firm intends to build there. She says students will be able to get a CDL at LMC.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has helped ten families and 34 kids have a merry Christmas this year. On Saturday, sheriff’s deputies took the children on the annual Shop with a Cop trip to the Niles Wal-Mart. Each child was able to pick out gifts for the holiday. The kids were from the Niles, Berrien Springs, New Buffalo, and Benton Harbor areas. After the free shopping trip, everyone went to the Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles for snacks and gift wrapping. Shop with a Cop is organized by the Berrien County Sheriff ‘s Office Reserve Division Deputies Kimberly Fedison and Katie Bauer. They were able to collect more than $7,000 in donations to cover the costs of the event thanks to area businesses and others. In addition to providing the funds to allow the children to shop, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department also provided holiday food baskets to the ten families.. ...Read Full Story

There are still several critical tasks Congress must get done before the year ends, and Congressman Fred Upton is confident they will be finished in time. He tells WSJM News the House may have taken some time off to honor former President George H.W. Bush this past week, but lawmakers but there was still plenty lawmakers had to do.. ...Read Full Story

The city of Bridgman will celebrate Christmas today as it opens up its Holiday Village. Several businesses in the downtown area will have sales and special Christmas-related activities going on. Among other things, there will be a poinsettia sale at Small Town Weddings, a pet parade at Paws to Wash, pizza bites at Lake Street Eats, crafts at the library, and reading with Mrs Claus and cookie decorating at the Sandpiper. Additionally, the following Saturday — December 15 — will bring a chili cook-off at Tapestry Brewing with proceeds going to the Southwestern Michigan Humane Society. You can check out the Facebook page of the Bridgman Holiday Village to learn more.. ...Read Full Story

We Care Incorporated in South Haven is providing Holiday Meal Baskets for Families in need. They anticipate needing more than 400 meal baskets this year. Interim Executive Director, Susan Trabucchi tells us you can help.. ...Read Full Story

State lawmakers have sent Governor Rick Snyder a bill that delays a requirement that farm animals confined in small spaces be given more room. The rules apply to egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs. Attorneys for Animals President Beatrice Friedlander told Michigan News Network what the changes will mean.. ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a health insurance grant for one of its K9s. Undersheriff Chuck Heit tells WSJM News the grant comes through the National Police Dog Foundation.. ...Read Full Story

Michigan State Police out of the Paw Paw post have gone the extra mile to save a child’s Christmas. The post tells us one of its troopers was sent out to investigate an apartment break-in in Galesburg on November 19. During the investigation, Trooper Benoit learned from the victim that all of her 9-year-old son’s Christmas presents had been stolen. Without the woman knowing, Trooper Benoit reached out to the State Trooper Outreach Partnership — or STOP — and organized the purchase of the same gifts for young Christopher. The items included Pokémon cards, Beyblades, and most importantly, a lord Voldemort Harry Potter wand. The trooper delivered the presents to the woman on Friday. Michigan State Police tell us STOP is a small non-profit made up of troopers and community members who raise money to help those in need.. ...Read Full Story

From the Associated Press — The University of Michigan Law School is receiving $33 million, which officials say is the largest gift in its history and entirely intended for students. The gift announced Thursday comes from Chris and Lisa Jeffries. Chris Jeffries is a 1974 law school graduate and co-founder of Millennium Partners, a real estate development company. The couple previously gave $5 million toward the building of the law school’s South Hall, which the Ann Arbor school’s governing board renamed Jeffries Hall. The money announced Thursday is intended for scholarships, financial aid, summer programs and debt management. Chris Jeffries, who lives with his wife in
Miami, says in a statement that he’s “especially interested in paying the way forward for students who lack financial resources.”. ...Read Full Story

Funding for the year has been approved for seven senior centers by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners. At this week’s meeting, more than $2.3 million from the county-wide senior millage was put aside for the centers in Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Berrien Springs, Niles, Coloma, Harbert, and St. Joseph. Commissioner Mamie Yarbrough noted they each get $333,000.. ...Read Full Story

At long last, US 31 will be completely connected to I-94 within five years. Congressman Fred Upton announced a $20 million federal grant late Thursday afternoon.. ...Read Full Story

Two bills from state Representative Kim LaSata designed to bring consistency to Michigan election rules have been approved by a Senate committee. LaSata’s plan would allow someone running for a township office to submit a $100 filing fee to appear on the ballot, instead of submitting a nominating petition. That option is already allowed for those seeking certain state or county offices. LaSata says no one will be excluded from running for office because they can’t afford the fee. Her bill just makes it possible to go the fee route instead, while leaving open the option of circulating a petition without paying any fees. She worked on the plan with Secretary of State Ruth Johnson. It passed the Senate Election and Government Reform Committee, and now goes on to the full Senate. It’s already passed the House.. ...Read Full Story

There will be some real party animals hanging out this Saturday at the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan. That’s because they’re holding the annual Holiday Party for the Animals and Open House at the shelter in Royalton Township. Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan Volunteer Coordinator Taylor Michael tells WSJM News everyone is welcome there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. ...Read Full Story

With marijuana now legal to possess in Michigan, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey wants everyone to know the rules. He tells WSJM News you should treat marijuana in a similar way to alcohol, at least when driving.. ...Read Full Story

A new tax reform plan is unlikely to come out of Congress this year. Congressman Fred Upton tells us the House has many things it has to get done this month, and the idea of another tax bill is a no go.. ...Read Full Story

If you have a daily commute that takes you on highways in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, or Ottawa counties, then the Michigan Department of Transportation could use your input. Spokesperson John Richard tells WSJM News the agency is signing up volunteer Road Watchers for the winter. Volunteers will be polled about highway conditions following winter storms, and their input will be used to deploy winter maintenance crews and identify best practices. The Road Watcher program attracted more than 80 volunteers last year in west Michigan.. ...Read Full Story

US-31 will finally be expanded all the way to I-94. The office of Congressman Fred Upton announced on Thursday a $20 million grant to the Michigan Department of Transportation for the project. It’s been on MDOT’s build list for a few years, and the problem has always been securing enough funding. MDOT spokesperson Nick Schirripa tells WSJM News the project will be done in three parts. Parts one and two involve expanding I-94 to make way for the connect and then expanding the interchange. Schirripa says the third phase is the actual expansion of US-31.. ...Read Full Story