Benton Harbor

BENTON HARBOR - Part of a Berrien County golf course that recently hosted a Senior PGA event could be contaminated and that has some people worried. The Environmental Protection Agency addressed groundwater concerns during a meeting Tuesday night. The EPA says testing shows an unacceptable level of contaminants in groundwater in the area. Some say it's coming from the old Aircraft Components site in downtown Benton Harbor. The company used to coat airplane parts in radon during World War II.  That site was cleaned up more than 10 years ago and turned into the 14th hole at the Jack Nicklaus designed Harbor Shore golf course.

BENTON HARBOR - Benton Harbor is broke, and the city's Emergency Financial Manager says he'll have to make some drastic cuts to get by. The EFM on Monday laid out four options he's considering. Joseph Harris says the financial problems there will get much worse if he doesn't take action. Harris says he has to make his decision by the end of the week to get money in time. Here's why. Between 2000 and 2010, Harris says the city of Benton Harbor spent more than it brought in, causing massive debts.

BENTON HARBOR - A mayor's race in Berrien County is in question Wednesday afternoon. Benton Harbor Mayor Wilce Cooke is expected to ask for a recount. Benton Harbor City Commissioner James Hightower has declared victory but he won by just eight votes. Cooke told us he will put in a formal request with the city clerk today for a recount. There were allegations of intimidation at Benton Harbor polling places on Tuesday and police officers were sent to all of them.

BENTON HARBOR - Dramatic 911 calls from eyewitnesses begging for help for a Benton Harbor firefighter injured in a house fire. LISTEN TO THE CALLS HERE The calls are from March 14 when veteran firefighter, Lieutenant Doug Bell, was trapped and severely burned in a house fire on Jennings Avenue. Bell was the only fulltime firefighter on duty when the call came in. He responded to the scene and then called for backup from public safety officers.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - The man who committed Benton Harbor's only murder last year will spend at least 6 years in prison. William Caldwell pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in the shooting death. 22-year old Xavier Steward was found shot to death on the sidewalk in the 900 block of Lavette Street last May. Police say the shooting happened during a fight between the two. On Monday, a Berrien County judge sentenced Caldwell to 6 to 15 years in prison.

BENTON HARBOR - Commissioners in Benton Harbor are scheduled to hold a meeting tonight. A discussion on a proposed special assessment that would pay to keep the city's police department is on the agenda. State appointed Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris says Benton Harbor can't afford to keep police officers without the assessment after voters rejected two millage renewals on Election Day. Harris held a public meeting last week to get opinions from people who live in the city.

An entertainment icon will be in Southwest Michigan, but not for one of his famous stand-up shows. Comedian and actor Bill Cosby will be in Benton Harbor Wednesday night to speak at the Southwest Michigan Economic Club. The event is for members. Martha Stewart will be next month's speaker, and in May New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow is scheduled.

For the last two years, the community of Benton Harbor has dealt with major fights and violence issues. The high school and police department have done their best to put a stop to them. Today, thanks to a state grant, the high school is rolling out a campaign to combat that with the Think Respect campaign.

One man is dead and a woman is in critical condition after a dispute in Benton Harbor last night. This is the first murder in the city of Benton Harbor since last May. Police say 25-yearold Gary Alilovich was shot several times and died last night when an argument broke out at a home at 791 Odgen around midnight.  Heather Poe, 35, of Benton Harbor is at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. Police say they spoke to the tenant of the house along with other witnesses at the scene who identified a brother and sister who were still inside the residence as suspects -- 28-year-old Jovan Davis of Benton Harbor and 19-year-old Ashley Davis of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The controversy surrounding the Senior PGA tournament coming to Benton Harbor continues. Next month, protesters are organizing an Occupy PGA march during the event. The group made the following statement: "We are committed to escalating the Occupy Movement to support human rights in housing in addition to the push back against bailouts for fraudulent banks. They are stealing our homes and our lives.  "Democracy is non-existent here in Benton Harbor.