As cleanup efforts target Michigan lakes, debate follows about who benefits
Theo Scheer, Capital News Service (for Bridge Magazine) LANSING — It’s taken over 30 years and $80 million to restore Muskegon Lake and a few nearby smaller bodies of water. Decades of pollution and rapid urbanization created ecological problems so severe that the lake was designated a “Great Lakes Area of Concern” by the U.S. […]
Probe of wolf shot in south Michigan, far from habitat, focuses on trap wounds
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) MARSHALL — The criminal investigation into the January killing of a wolf in southern Michigan — far from its known habitat —includes evidence suggesting it may have been injured by a foothold trap in the weeks before it was shot. The death of the endangered animal near Marshall has puzzled investigators, who question whether […]
Who is running against Debbie Dingell in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District?
Editor’s note: This story was corrected June 22, 2024, to accurately reflect information about Heather Smiley. A previous version incorrectly attributed to her some details about a different political candidate with the same name. by Lauren Gibbons (Bridge Michigan) U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is the favorite for a sixth term in Congress. The Ann Arbor […]
Pro-Palestinian protests spread to Michigan State amid nationwide arrests
by Jordyn Hermani and Isabel Lohman (Bridge Magazine) Pro-Palestinian demonstrations spread to a second Michigan campus Thursday, as students at Michigan State University set up a tent encampment to demand the school end any support for Israel. A similar encampment at the University of Michigan, which began Monday, has emerged as a test between the school’s free […]
Michigan fishers are warned about harmful algae ahead of trout season
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Michigan’s trout fishing season opens on Saturday, and the state is advising people to avoid picking up “aquatic hitchhikers” as they head for the waters. Various trout species, from rainbow to brown trout, can be found in the Great Lakes. But an invasive species of algae found in streams continues to […]
Salt level rising in Michigan groundwaters, endangering crops, homes
by Alex Walters, Capital News Service (Bridge Michigan) A worrisome environmental issue is bubbling up from deep below Michigan’s ground with little public awareness, experts say. The salinity of the state’s groundwater is on the rise, raising concerns about killed crops and corroded pipes. The problem is increasingly severe and requires action, but Michigan residents […]
Squatters’ rights in Michigan: What homeowners should know
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) Lawmakers across the country are cracking down on squatting, or people living in unoccupied properties without permission. Michigan has had a law on the books for 10 years that makes squatting a crime, but homeowners can’t physically remove unwanted occupants from their property. State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, proposed a bill this month […]
As opioid funds flood Michigan, tensions rise over how best to reverse ODs
by Robin Erb (Bridge Michigan) As the street-drug supply in Michigan grows more potent, a proposed state law could open access to treatments that some argue are more powerful than traditional Narcan in saving lives. But others say such naloxone — the drug known by the brand name option, Narcan, and available to the public […]
Democrats retake Michigan House with special election wins
by Jordyn Hermani (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Democrats are back in control of the Michigan House – and the full state government – for the rest of the year after their candidates in two special elections won big Tuesday night. The contests put an end to a months-long partisan stalemate with Republicans in the lower chamber after […]
New push to reform Michigan corporate subsidies, this time from Republicans
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) New proposals from Michigan Republicans take aim at the state’s once-acclaimed $2 billion incentive program and the agency that oversees it. Republicans this week said they plan to introduce legislation this spring to increase oversight of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund, along with adding performance-based funding for the Michigan Economic Development […]
