Benton Harbor

Some better news out of Benton Harbor. The state-appointed emergency financial manager said the city may be back on its feet sooner than expected. Joseph Harris held a town hall meeting Thursday evening and said the city may be financially stable by 2012. Harris took charge of Benton Harbor last April and now he claims the city is on the right track to financial stability. But despite the positive news, critics remain skeptical. Some people who live in Benton Harbor are turning to their faith to find some answers at the Progressive Baptist Church.

BENTON HARBOR — Some of the commissioners in Benton Harbor say the voice of the people has been silenced since a state law went into effect.  When the commissioners take their seats and call Monday night's meeting to order, it will be anything but business as usual. On Friday, the eight commissioners and Mayor Wilce Cook received a copy of an order from Joseph Harris, the state-appointed emergency manager in charge. With Governor Rick Snyder's support, their power and authority was stripped, effective immediately.  "For the people we represent, they are truly being disenfranchised," said Commissioner Dennis Knowles, who believes Harris went too far. He believes Benton Harbor is no longer a democracy, but a dictatorship.

BENTON HARBOR — After a weekend filled with debate, Benton Harbor city leaders voted 6-3 Monday night to appeal Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm's decision to take over city finances. Granholm sent a letter to the city of Benton Harbor on Friday declaring that she believes a financial emergency exists in the city, with no satisfactory plan to fix it. The letter called for an emergency financial manager to take control of the city's budget after delinquent property taxes, deteriorated cash supplies, a significant general fund deficit, depleted pension funds and large overdraft charges were discovered during a review of the city's finances by a team from the state's treasury department.

Fire, fed by paper products, got a head start before an alarm brought Benton Charter Township firefighters to Harbor Packaging at 3:37 a.m. Tuesday. “We believe the fire began in the compressor room, but that room is not connected to the building’s fire alarm. So by the time fire broke through the compressor room wall and went out into the main part of the building, it was going pretty good before the alarm went off,” Lt. James Fogarty told WSBT-TV. “We were there right away.

BENTON HARBOR - Top Michigan education officials reportedly appear optimistic Benton Harbor schools will be able to lower their budget deficit by the end of the school year. State Schools Superintendent Mike Flanagan and some officials with the state's Department of Education have released an updated report of nearly 100 school districts that will either clear, lower or raise their deficits by the end of the fiscal year in June. That's according to online news site, Mlive.com . Benton Harbor Area schools were projected to end the fiscal year with a reduced deficit.

Benton Harbor schools are getting a multi-million dollar grant to help students. The school district will get around$675,000 a year for five years. This money is coming from the Michigan Department of Education. It will be used for after school programs and summer academic and enrichment activities at four magnet schools and for some high school students. The Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor will partner with the schools.

BENTON HARBOR - Court appearances will likely occur this week for two suspects in Benton Harbor's first murder of the year. A brother and sister  are accused in this case. 19-year-old Ashley Davis of Grand Forks, North Dakota and 28-year-old Jovan Davis of Benton Harbor are both in the Berrien County Jail charged with open murder. They're accused of a deadly attack that took place at a home at 791 Ogden this weekend. Police say 25-year-old Gary Alilovich was shot several times and died.

  Joseph Harris is out as Benton Harbor's emergency financial manager.   The Local Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board on Friday voted to appoint Tony Saunders II to replace Harris. Saunders' appointment is effective Feb. 1.   Saunders had been working as an adviser on behalf of state Treasury officials with cash-strapped Highland Park, a Detroit enclave.   Then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm placed Harris in charge of Benton Harbor's finances in 2010.

Today (Friday) a new Emergency Financial Manager takes over in Benton Harbor. But will he be able to do what the last one couldn't - fix the city's massive money problems? Tony Saunders comes from Highland Park, Michigan. In less than a year there as financial manager, Saunders turned a more than $1 million deficit into a $850,000 surplus. He's also worked for Detroit's city council. Saunders says he wants to reform Benton Harbor's pension program and get rid of the city's debt.

BENTON HARBOR - Monday was the first day of school of sorts for dozens of Benton Harbor students starting the district's new alternative education program. 35 students are in the program which is being held at the former Sorter Elementary School building on Pipestone Road in Benton Township. Many of the kids have been kicked out of regular school because of disciplinary problems including being involved in fights inside and out of school. The district created the alternative education program as an opportunity for students to turn themselves around and still have a chance at receiving a diploma.