Kidnapped 4-year-old girl from Michigan found in Texas, mother facing charges

Van Buren County, MI — Two people are dead from an apparent murder-suicide in Decatur Township in Van Buren County, according to the Michigan State Police. They were identified as Wayne Westphal, 49, of Decatur and Tara Phillips, 34, of Decatur. Initial evidence at the scene, as well as...

A South Bend Police officer discharged his weapon while responding to a shots fired call on Sunday. On Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Prosecutors office determined that the officer was justified in firing his weapon. The investigation was completed by the St. Joseph County Police and Mishawaka Police Departments. After...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — A boost for some local veterans. The St. Joseph County Airport Authority presented a $10,000 check to the Robert L. Miller Veteran's Center. That money comes from the annual "Bears in the Air" at South Bend International Airport. Over the past 11 years, the...

New K-9 troopers are coming to northern Indiana. Troopers Benjamin Beers, William Carlson and Logan Hensley all recently graduated from the Indiana State Police K-9 Academy. They'll be joined by their K-9 partners Zero, Cooper and Kai respectively. The teams all completed over 400 hours of training together over 12...

LANSING, Mich. (WSBT) — A proposed bill in Michigan would help keep some third graders from being held back. Right now, third graders must pass the state's reading assessment or not move to fourth grade. One local superintendent is all for repealing this policy. She says telling a third...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (TND) — A grand jury in New Mexico has indicted a failed Republican state legislative candidate who allegedly was so angry over losing his 2022 midterm election that he conspired with others to shoot the homes and businesses of elected officials in the state's largest city. Solomon...

Despite Mother Nature telling us it is winter-time, farming season is on the mind for growers all year long. Swings in supply and demand, as well as the weather, determine a good season from a not-so-good one. Much of southwest Michigan's economy is grounded in farming. Crops like grapes and...

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the first piece of legislation of the new term on Tuesday morning, a Democrat-introduced supplemental spending bill that will put $1.1 billion toward various state investment costs. The bill signing marks the first time since 1947 that a Michigan governor signed a...

Hoosier hospital officials say 2022 was their worst year financially since the start of the pandemic. The Indiana Hospital Association shared that during a virtual conference Wednesday and outlined some of the challenges ahead. In a worst-case scenario, this could cause some facilities to close. IHA stated that Indiana hospitals...

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Major changes are coming to how elections are handled in St. Joseph County. Commissioners Tuesday night voted that all responsibilities of the Voter Registration Board will now be handled under the clerk's office. Two republicans and two democrats will now report to the...

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer will join others in Lansing on Tuesday at 9 a.m. to sign recently passed legislation that invests in affordable housing, community revitalization, and will support small businesses and entrepreneurs, according to a press release. The $1.1 billion supplemental spending proposal, Senate Bill 7,...