In today's news:

A developer has plans to bring 120 new homes to Royalton Township.

The Van Buren Conservation District has unveiled a new series of interpretive signs along the Van Buren State Trail. 

A grant from Michigan Gas Utilities will enable South Haven Area Emergency Services to protect its first responders from carbon monoxide when they're out on calls. 

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In today's news:

Michigan will avoid a state government shutdown if lawmakers can take quick action to approve a budget deal announced on Thursday. 

It looks like Berrien County has found its next finance director.

Cornerstone Alliance will hold a grand opening celebration next week for the new Canal Commons, a public plaza now built between the Benton Harbor shipping canal and Emma Hull Flats at 170 Riverview Drive.

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Beautiful Elsa is a husky mix of fur and love. We named her Elsa after "Frozen" because her coat is white and fluffy like the snow in winter. We found it to fit her. We are unsure of her exact age, but we guess that she is about 3 years old. She prefers to hang out on the outside area of her kennel during the mornings when everyone is barking and being noisy. Elsa is pretty low key and will shy away from people initially, but she is very friendly and loving. She enjoys being groomed and petted. She has no problem rolling over onto her back so that you can reach all the best places. She came to us after a fatal chicken incident and was never claimed by her owner. You could tell that she was pretty scared and was quite stand-offish. Now she greets us, she paws at us when we get close to her. All-around, Elsa is just a great dog. She does well with some of the dogs here at the kennel, but not with our resident cat. She loves to explore in our play yard and play with her toys. She has even been caught trying to play with her kennel neighbors under the fence. She has been so good and patient, we just want to tell everyone about how sweet she is. She will gently lick your cheek when she sidles up next to you. Please contact Van Buren County Animal Control at 269-621-4624 or visit the shelter at 58040 County Road 681, Hartford, MI 49057 to learn more about beautiful Elsa!

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Meet Alex and Max, happy little guys who are certain to put a smile on your face! They are playful and adore attention from people. Pure breed Havanese dogs, only 4-1/2 years old. Alex is grey and weighs around 14 pounds. Max is black with white and weighs around 16 pounds. Both boys would like to lose a couple of pounds, but wouldn't we all?!! Alex loves to be held and carried. Max is more independent, preferring to walk and climb up beside you. The boys are crate-trained, however, they are not fully house-trained and will need work with leash-training, but they are smart and have wonderful personalities! The boys are neutered and up-to-date on vaccines. They recently saw their groomer, so their normally longer coats will be growing out soon. Neutered and up-to-date on vaccines. Reach out to Paws of Hope at [email protected] to learn more about adorable Alex and Max.   

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In today's news:

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has been advised to be prepared for a short state government shutdown as the deadline for Michigan lawmakers to approve a budget approaches. 

The Twin Cities Area Transportation Authority has extended its deadline for companies interested in managing Dial a Ride to submit their proposals. 

Berrien County is lowering its asking price for a 36-acre piece of property in Three Oaks that it's been trying to sell. 

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As heard on The Morning Show with Ken & Friends, this is the weekly News from the Bear Den! segment from Kristen Bawks, Superintendent for St. Joseph Public Schools. This podcast is your opportunity to learn more about what's new at St. Joseph Public Schools and what they're celebrating with students, parents, faculty, and the community!

For more information, visit: https://www.sjschools.org/ 

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In today's news:

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is pushing for free school meals to remain in the final state budget. 

A new program is turning Benton Harbor residents into community leaders so they can help make their neighborhoods healthier. 

More than 1,200 extra workers are now on site at the Cook nuclear power plant in Bridgman for Unit 2's 28th refueling outage. 

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In today's news:

Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph had a busy summer, according to new numbers just released by the Berrien County Parks Department. 

Lakeshore Public Schools says it's working with leaders at Kalamazoo Public Schools after an incident during the JV football game between Lakeshore and Kalamazoo Central on Thursday that left a player injured.

Several Southwest Michigan food producers are getting a big boost in the form of more than $400,000 in state grants to grow their operations. 

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In today's news:

Berrien County is getting a larger opioid settlement payout than previously expected. 

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is taking steps to ensure the county is prepared if there's a state government shutdown on October 1.

A group of Michigan lawmakers, including state Representative Joey Andrews has announced a new package of legislation intended to protect unemployment benefits and expand unemployment rights. 

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In today's news:

The Michigan Department of Transportation will hold an open house this month on its plans to reconstruct M-139 in Benton Harbor starting next year. 

Students at Lake Michigan College facing financial hardship and having difficulty purchasing books for classes have received a boost from the Berrien Community Foundation. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has removed the swim buoys from most state parks around the Great Lakes for the season. 

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