More than 31,000 pounds of trash collected from Michigan rivers, streams in ’23
by Janelle D James (Bridge Michigan) Electric scooters, an unopened safe and a recliner are just some of the 31,200 pounds of trash that volunteers pulled from Michigan’s rivers and streams in 2023, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Nearly a dozen organizations across the state received funding from EGLE […]
Michigan bet big on online gambling. We’re now No. 1
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan is the No. 1 state for online gambling after an explosive 22% jump last year, according to data compiled by the American Gaming Association and released this week. Bettors wagered a combined $1.92 billion through online gaming in Michigan last year — about $115,000 more than in No. 2 […]
Amid repeal push, Michigan seeks input on solar, wind siting law
by Izzy Ross, IPR (Bridge Michigan) The Michigan Public Service Commission is gathering public input on a controversial new law, Public Act 233, which gives it final authority in approving large renewable energy projects. “We want to make sure that we’re doing it in an open and transparent way, that we’re relying on the expertise of […]
Michigan’s 4-year high school graduation rate rises for second year
by Lori Higgins (Chalkbeat) and Isobel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) The state posted new graduation and dropout rates for the Class of 2023 last Friday morning. The statewide high school graduation rate was 81.77% in 2023, the second year in a row the rates have increased and a promising sign that students are continuing to recover from […]
Piping plover faces new peril, as climate change threatens Great Lakes bird
by Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo (Bridge Michigan) An endangered Great Lakes shorebird that has survived earlier threats to its habitat now faces new challenges. “We’re very concerned about the implications of climate change,” said Francie Cuthbert, a fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology professor at the University of Minnesota and who leads a multi-agency Great Lakes […]
Skunk spray season has arrived in Michigan. And that stinks
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) While Valentine’s Day has passed, male skunks will be looking for love for a few more weeks, and that could mean trouble for dogs or outdoor pets. Experts say skunks are more likely to spray during mating season, which started this month and usually lasts through the end of […]
What to know about the April 8 total solar eclipse in Michigan
by Janelle D James (Bridge Michigan) The total solar eclipse coming on April 8 will be the first one visible from Michigan in 70 years. While most people will have to drive or fly to see it, a small part of the state does fall on the edge of the eclipse’s path. A total solar eclipse occurs when the […]
Who’s running for U.S. Senate in Michigan?
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Tuesday ended his campaign for the U.S. Senate, citing his recent fundraising struggles in the Republican primary. It’s the latest political disappointment for Craig, a high-profile candidate who also ran for governor in 2022 but failed to make the GOP primary […]
Dueling Michigan GOP conventions planned for presidential nomination
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Competing Michigan GOP factions plan separate presidential nominating conventions amid an ongoing leadership feud between Pete Hoekstra and Kristina Karamo, both of whom claim to be state party chair. Hoekstra, who is backed by President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee, said Friday he plans to announce […]
Whitefish are on brink in Michigan. Can they learn to love rivers to survive?
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) MANCELONA — Northern Michigan’s beloved whitefish are in peril. For decades, the fish have struggled to breed on the rocky reefs of lakes Michigan and Huron, where their eggs are under attack by invasive species and other threats. Some scientists fear a collapse in just a few years, which could […]
