John James pitches marijuana tax repeal, courts industry donors
by Simon D. Schuster, Bridge Michigan LANSING — Republican John James is proposing to “repeal or sharply reduce” Michigan’s new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana and courting industry donors as he competes to be Michigan’s next governor. The new tax was a key component of the bipartisan road funding deal Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed […]
With no time to spare, Michigan hatches a Great Lakes whitefish rescue plan
by Kelly House, Bridge Michigan With time running out to save the Great Lakes’ whitefish from a deadly mussel invasion, Michigan officials have a moonshot plan to pluck fish from Lake Michigan and breed them in captivity. With sustained money, effort and luck, the fish’s offspring could one day help repopulate the lake after humans […]
Groups fight to keep 16,000 acres of national forest in Michigan road-free
by Laura Herberg, Bridge Michigan Conservation groups are on a quest to keep thousands of acres of national forest land in Michigan free from permanent roads and logging. The US Forest Service is planning to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects nearly 45 million acres of National Forest System lands across the […]
Push is on to boost career tech in Michigan schools. Not all agree that’s best
by Isabel Lohman, Bridge Michigan In Genesee County, students as young as seventh grade develop career exploration plans. Across four sites in Southeast Michigan, more than 900 students attend night classes at trade school while working construction jobs during the day. And statewide, Michigan is doling out grants to get more career and technical education […]
What to know about Michigan’s Consumers dams sale debate
by Kelly House, Bridge Michigan State utility regulators could soon decide whether Consumers Energy can sell 13 of Michigan’s largest dams to a private equity buyer, in a decision that could have major implications for rivers, rural economies and energy bills. The looming decision — which had been expected this week before Consumers requested a […]
Michigan dam removal prompts relocation of thousands of Huron River mussels
by Laura Herberg, Bridge Michigan This summer, groups of about a dozen people each ventured into the Huron River in Ypsilanti just downstream of Peninsular Paper Dam, donning snorkeling gear. In sections of the river that ranged from a few inches deep to a few feet, they plunged their faces into the water and started […]
Amid ‘mass proliferation,’ Flock cameras emerge as key issue in Michigan election
by Lauren Gibbons, Bridge Michigan As public concern grows around the use of Flock Safety cameras and other automated license plate readers, Michigan political candidates are calling for increased scrutiny and guardrails around the technology. On Wednesday, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson became the latest to weigh in, arguing that “Michiganders deserve to know when […]
Jocelyn Benson outraises John James. See top donors in Michigan governor race
by Simon D. Schuster, Bridge Michigan LANSING — Democrat Jocelyn Benson outraised Republican rival John James and has a decided cash advantage in the Michigan governor’s race, according to new disclosures and statements from the campaigns. As of Aug. 24, Benson had about $5.9 million in her campaign account, while James had about $1.5 million. […]
Warning: Leave threatened venomous snake alone
By ANNA BARNES, Capital News Service LANSING — The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the only native venomous snake in Michigan — but the state Department of Natural Resources says it has not killed anybody here in over a century. One did, however, bite a man trying to take its photo last month in Oakland County, […]
Michigan expands EV infrastructure, but access remains unequal, study finds
by Kyrmyzy Turebayeva, Great Lakes Echo, Bridge Michigan LANSING — Michigan is actively expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and promoting the transition to electric transportation. However, the presence of charging stations does not necessarily mean all residents can equally benefit from electric vehicles. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison found that Michigan’s EV policies place significant […]
