News

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to let Michigan’s new ban on straight-party voting take effect for the November election. The court on Friday rejected a request by state officials to halt lower court rulings that blocked the Republican-sponsored law signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The court’s decision means Michigan voters will still be able to use the popular straight-ticket option, which allows them to support all candidates from one party with a single mark. In issuing a preliminary injunction, a federal district judge ruled the law would create longer lines and disproportionately burden black voters who are more likely to use the straight-ticket option. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request for a stay pending appeal. Forty other states prohibit straight-party voting.... ...Read Full Story

In this week’s WSJM Week in Review, for September 9, 2016, the total funds raised for the first Denise Bohn Strong Golf Outing are released, a late Benton Harbor pastor will be honored with a street name, and more.... ...Read Full Story

With a bumper cherry crop in Michigan this year, Shoreline Fruit has donated 40,000 pounds of tart cherries to Feeding America of West Michigan. Bruce Veliquette is a Shoreline board member and owner of Cherry Ke Inc in Kewaydin.... ...Read Full Story

The price at the pump is on the way up. Patrick DeHaan with Gas Buddy says supplies are low because they were “likely affected by Hurricane Hermine.” He adds the storm “shut down a lot of the infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.” A lot of the large crude carriers can hold up to two-million barrels of crude oil, and if there’s a large storm that would affect how quickly the oil can be offloaded and brought into the country, supply will take a hit.... ...Read Full Story

(South Bend, IN – AP) – Two primary streets in South Bend closed since May have reopened. Mayor Pete Buttigieg and other city officials on Thursday removed a barricade, reopening Michigan Street, which goes through downtown South Bend. That street and Main Street were closed to install roundabouts and to prepare to convert the streets from one-way to two-way. Full conversion of the two streets will occur in three phases over the next two months. The goal of the $20 million project is to make the city’s downtown friendlier to pedestrians and bicyclists and to slow down vehicles traveling through downtown. The project also included new curbs, sidewalks and trees.... ...Read Full Story

An agreement between eight Michigan community colleges is now in place that will allow students to transfer credits between the schools in pursuit of advanced manufacturing jobs. Macomb Community College President Jim Jacobs describes why the agreement is important.... ...Read Full Story

A burglary at a Van Buren County auto repair shop is under investigation. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department says someone broke into Complete Care Automotive on M-43 in Almena Township overnight Wednesday and stole some expensive tools. The department also notes Kalamazoo Fence Company, about two miles to the west, was also broken into that night, although it doesn’t know yet if the crimes are related. Anyone with information on the break-ins is asked to contact police.... ...Read Full Story

A settlement has been announced in a lawsuit filed against the owners of Celebration Cinema. Last month, the National Association of the Deaf and a deaf St. Joseph resident sued Loeks Theaters over the chain’s lack of closed captioning services. The suit alleged a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and sought remedial action. Last week, Celebration Cinema announced it is adding closed captioning technology at all of its locations. It’s also installing descriptive audio devices for the blind. On Thursday of this week, the settlement of the suit was announced, with the CEO of the National Association of the Deaf saying the organization is pleased with Celebration Cinema’s recent changes. The closed captioning tech will be in all of its locations by mid-October.... ...Read Full Story

If you’re interested in law enforcement, the Michigan State Police post in Paw Paw may have the right class for you. It’s offering a citizen’s academy set to start this month. Post Lieutenant Dale Hinz tells WSJM News, for eight weeks, troopers will teach their students all about the tools of their trade.... ...Read Full Story

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey and sheriff’s department chaplain Brian Hall were among the guests on hand for Thursday’s September 11 memorial ceremony at the state House in Lansing. State Representative Al Pscholka tells WSJM News the names of fallen first responders from the last year were read.... ...Read Full Story

A group of six veterans from Berrien County will be among 70 Michigan veterans flying to Washington, D.C. this Saturday as part of the latest Talons Out Honor Flight. The group’s Bobbie Bradley says they’ll get a free flight to see the memorials to the wars they fought. She tells WSJM News it can be an emotional experience.... ...Read Full Story

Anyone in Michigan could report drug overdoses without fear of being prosecuted for illegal possession under legislation nearing Governor
Rick Snyder’s desk. The Senate voted 30-7 for legislation Thursday to expand a law exempting people from prosecution if they report an overdose from an illegal substance. The bills won House approval in May and could get a final vote next week.The protections would extend to people of any age for any controlled substance. A 2015 law protects people under 21 from charges when reporting an overdose or medical emergency arising from prescription drug and painkiller use.Michigan also provides immunity to minors helping someone in danger from
alcohol intoxication. One opponent says the new legislation is tantamount to “de facto” drug legalization.... ...Read Full Story

The name of a man killed in a crash on I-94 near Paw Paw Wednesday has been released. Michigan State Police say 38-year-old Ryan Cramer, of Mattawan, was killed when his van crossed over from the westbound side of the highway into the eastbound lanes around 9 a.m. It hit a semi head-on. Police are still investigating why the van crossed the median. The driver of the semi, a Chicago man, was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries.... ...Read Full Story

More than $34,000 has been raised by the first ever Denise Bohn Strong Golf Outing. The event was held on August 6 at Indian Lake Hills Golf Club in Eau Claire to raise money for the children of Midwest Family Broadcasting’s Denise Bohn, who was murdered in April. Denise’s three kids were left with no parents, and so friends, coworkers, and loved ones organized this month’s golf outing to collect money for their education. Denise’s signature “Save the TaTas” fundraiser for the Komen organization for this year became Denise Bohn Strong. Connie Bohn, Denise’s mother, says the event far exceeded her expectations. She thanked each and every volunteer and golfer who made it all possible.... ...Read Full Story

The 100th anniversary of Ratcliffe Field in South Haven will be commemorated Friday night when the South Haven Rams host the Plainwell Trojans. Tara Wilkenson is the marketing coordinator for the high school and says they’re turning it into a big community party.... ...Read Full Story

A year after her death, the estranged husband of a Grand Junction woman is now on trial for her murder. The trial of Brent Bogseth started this week in Paw Paw, and is expected to continue into next week. Kimberly Bogseth was found naked and in plastic garbage bags near her home on September 9 of last year, a week after she was reported missing. He was arrested in Chicago and extradited to Michigan for the trial. An autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma, with a hammer believed to have been the murder weapon. Prosecutors say that hammer has never been found, but her blood was found in his car along with her cell phone.... ...Read Full Story

Congressman Fred Upton is hoping to see the House take action this month to help cities struggling with lead contamination in their water. Last week, Upton visited Flint, which he says is still trying to make sure its residents have safe drinking water... ...Read Full Story

The dangers of buying alcohol for minors is the focus of a campaign being pushed on college campuses this year by the Michigan Secretary of State. Spokesperson Cathleen Simlar tells WSJM News there are big penalties for giving booze to someone underage.... ...Read Full Story

The Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition is hoping to bring some attention to programs in the area for those who may need help. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Michigan, and the coalition’s Trent Watford tells WSJM News there were 26 suicides investigated in Berrien County in 2014, and he thinks more went unrecorded.... ...Read Full Story

Southwestern Michigan College is working to help students displaced by the closure of ITT Technical Institute this week. The for-profit chain of schools abruptly shut down, leaving many students with no place to go. SMC’s Mike O’Brian tells WSJM News the college is looking into whether any ITT Tech credits could be transferred to SMC.... ...Read Full Story

When the St. Joe Bears take to the field this Friday for their first game at home of the season, they’ll have a brand new, state-of-the art scoreboard installed at Dickinson Stadium. The district announced Wednesday it’s been able to get the new board after the old one’s message center died last year mid-season and couldn’t be repaired. Superintendent Ann Cardon says she’s amazed by the things accomplished by the boosters and sponsors in making the new addition possible. The district thanks Auto-Owners Insurance, Insurance Management Services, the St. Joseph Improvement Association, and the Southwest Michigan Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for their help. The Bears face Portage Northern this Friday for their first game of the year at Dickinson Stadium.... ...Read Full Story

A Benton Harbor minister who passed away this year will be remembered with an honorary street name change in the city. On Monday, commissioners approved renaming Main Street between Fair Avenue and the Bicentennial Bridge in honor of the Reverend Emery Varrie. Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats says Varrie was an important influence.... ...Read Full Story

The Labor Department says job openings soared in July to an all-time record high. There were 5.87 million job openings, which includes more people hiring and more people quitting their jobs. Michigan News Network Business Editor Murray Feldman two sectors are especially hot.... ...Read Full Story

A Niles man has been charged with first degree home invasion and first degree criminal sexual conduct and other charges in Kalamazoo after he allegedly let himself in through the unlocked door of an off-campus apartment near Western Michigan University. WMU Police claim 19-year old Stephen Casper then sexually assaulted the two women who were renting the place. Police say the crime happened at about 4 a.m. Sunday. He is being held on $35,000 bond.... ...Read Full Story

Marijuana won’t be on Michigan’s statewide ballot in November. The state appeals court and the Michigan Supreme Court each turned down appeals Wednesday by a group trying to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. A group called the Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Committee submitted 354,000 signatures, apparently enough to get marijuana on the ballot. But the Board of State Canvassers said more than 200,000 were collected outside a 180-day period, a decision that left the group short of enough names. In August, a judge at the Court of Claims said the state had “no clear legal duty” to count the stale signatures.... ...Read Full Story

The Michigan Court of Appeals has overturned a Berrien County Trial Court ruling allowing sheriff’s deputies to train at a shooting range in Coloma Township. Sheriff Paul Bailey halted all shooting at the facility on Angling Road Wednesday morning.... ...Read Full Story

The next phase of renovations to the South Haven lighthouse is now underway. Ed Appleyard is on the board of the South Haven Historical Association and says scaffolding is going up now and by the end of the week, the lighthouse will be wrapped in plastic to allow for work on the exterior of the structure.... ...Read Full Story

Several St. Joseph sailors are celebrating success at the Tri-State Regatta this past weekend. The weekend-long boat race started Friday in Chicago, going across Lake Michigan to St. Joseph. The second leg took racers from St. Joseph to Michigan City, and the third leg took them back to Chicago. Of the nine racers from St. Joseph, the boat IMAGINE came in ninth place in its round in the race from Chicago to St. Joseph, but won the race from St. Joseph to Michigan City. The boat Captain Blood came in eighth for its round in the first leg, and finished second in the next. Fuzzy Logic came in fourth and third in the first and second legs, respectively. None of the nine St. Joseph boats competed in the race from Michigan City to Chicago.... ...Read Full Story