Benton Harbor

Benton Harbor High School is getting a $1 million makeover this summer, aimed at changing the way students learn. The third floor of the school located on Colfax Avenue is being remodeled into a New Tech Academy. New Tech is a project based learning program where students work in groups using the latest technology in a corporate-like setting.  Benton Harbor has more than $1.3 million in a capital fund to pay for the million dollars in renovations. School officials are hoping private donors and corporate sponsors come through with the rest to pay for $60,000 in new furniture and more than $80,000 for new computer technology.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - "Fix it, before someone else gets hurt or killed. " That's the message from the Michigan Firefighters Union president about the Benton Harbor's Public Safety Department. The department is under a microscope following a house fire on Jennings Street earlier this month where Lt. Doug Bell was badly burned, likely ending his career. "We have found that the system failed," said Union President Mark Docherty. "That the cross-training of police officers to be firefighters is a complete failure.

    CLYDE, Ohio (AP) - Lawyers in Ohio filed a $750 million class action lawsuit Thursday against Whirlpool Corp. that's related to a child cancer cluster between Toledo and Cleveland.     The lawsuit attempts to link Whirlpool and others to the cancer cluster, though the families of the children who've been diagnosed with cancer aren't involved.     Three families filed the suit, including a man whose wife died at age 23 a year after she was diagnosed with cancer.

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.

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.

"A number of things went wrong. " That's what Benton Harbor's public safety director, Roger Lange, says about the fire at 1034 Jennings that nearly killed Lt. Doug Bell. Lange has interviewed two public safety officers that were on the scene with Bell and admits his initial investigation shows enhanced training is needed. And 9-1-1 calls from the March 14 incident, obtained by WSBT, paint a picture of a possibly chaotic scene. LISTEN TO THE 911 CALLS HERE Woman: "I'm calling 9-1-1 for a fire.

BENTON HARBOR - This weekend, there has been a huge outpouring of support for a Benton Harbor public safety officer who was injured earlier this month fighting a house fire. The fundraiser was a pancake breakfast, and it raised more than $22,000. A banner outside touted the good cause being supported inside the North Berrien fire station. As the pancakes on the griddle were flipped, it was less about getting a good meal and more about supporting Lt. Doug Bell, A Benton Harbor public safety officer who was injured March 14 while fighting a fire.

BENTON HARBOR - A Benton Harbor firefighter severely burned in a house fire is improving. Lt. Douglas Bell is listed in good condition at a Kalamazoo hospital. Bell had severe burns on his hands and less severe burns on his ears, forehead, and back. He was the only firefighter to enter a burning home just after midnight last Thursday. In Benton Harbor, some firefighters have been replaced with cross trained public safety officers, basically police who also fight fires.

Lt. Doug Bell, A Benton Harbor firefighter, is recovering in a Kalamazoo burn unit after reportedley entering a burning house by himself. The homeowner says he didn't think there was enough help from firefighters. And he only saw Bell go inside. A union representative also told us he was in the home by himself when he was injured. Bell has severe burns to his hands, ears, forehead and back, the union rep. confirmed. He was the only firefighter to enter the burning home just after midnight on Thursday.

BENTON HARBOR - Michigan State Police say alcohol was a factor when a driver tried to escape police and ended the night with the car stuck inside a building. An officer with the Niles Post tried to stop the driver for improper lane usage in Benton Township around 11 p.m. Thursday night. Police say the driver sped off into the city of Benton Harbor. The driver lost control on a curve on Union near Empire, say police, struck a building and then struck another building, coming to rest inside it. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital, say police.