Anishinaabe tribes work to save Michigan whitefish
by Lester Graham, Michigan Radio (Bridge Michigan) Commercial fishers are catching fewer whitefish in parts of the Great Lakes — and the Anishinaabe people are trying to figure out why. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is looking into low reproduction rates for the fish. Great Lakes whitefish are pretty popular. Whether it’s […]
Michigan nears ban on handheld cell phone use while driving
by Jonathan Oosting (Bridge Michigan) LANSING — Michigan is getting closer to a ban on handheld cell phones while driving, after the Senate on Wednesday approved long-debated legislation to toughen the state’s distracted driving law. The Democratic proposal, which passed in a series of 27-11 votes with some Republican support, would limit drivers to using hands-free […]
Allergies may be getting worse in Michigan. It’s not just you
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) As the seasons change and temperatures rise, people spend more time doing outdoor activities that they miss during the colder months. What most people don’t miss are seasonal allergies. As many as 60 million people suffer from seasonal allergies each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Michigan’s pitch to lure new residents: nature, high tech, abortion rights
by Ron French, Mike Wilkinson, Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) There may be a new twist on the “Pure Michigan” campaign soon — one that may prove more controversial than the old Tim Allen ads — aimed at getting more young adults to move here, land jobs, have babies and pay taxes. Economic leaders in the […]
Michigan home values among lowest in U.S.
by Mike Wilkinson (Bridge Michigan) Michigan housing values are falling behind the rest of the nation, as the median listing price now ranks 48th among states, down from 45th a year ago. The state’s median listing of $267,000 is higher only than the medians in Ohio and West Virginia, according to March data compiled by Realtor.com. […]
Michigan Senate passes sexual assault reform six years after Nassar conviction
by Yue Stella Yu (Bridge Michigan) A bipartisan legislative package to strengthen penalties for sexual assaults and protect survivors cleared the Michigan Senate almost unanimously Thursday. The legislation will now head to the House. The package was first introduced in 2018 following the conviction of Larry Nassar, a former U.S. women’s gymnastics team doctor and former […]
What is the debt ceiling and why Michigan should care if the U.S. defaults
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Drama continues to mount in Washington, D.C., as House Republicans demand deep spending cuts from the Biden administration in return for their vote to raise the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling and avoid fiscal calamity. At risk is whether the nation will be able to pay its bills, many of which involve […]
Flush with cash, Michigan lawmakers try again to pass state septic code
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly tried, and failed, to end Michigan’s reign as the only state lacking comprehensive regulations to prevent septic systems from polluting its waters. As pollution problems grow more pronounced in communities across the state, Sen. Sam Singh said he believes the umpteenth […]
Ticks in Michigan. What you need to know and how to protect yourself.
by Janelle D. James (Bridge Michigan) The prevalence of ticks in Michigan has increased over the years and climate change hasn’t helped. Warmer winters have resulted in more active ticks, potentially extending the typical April-September season through some of the the winter, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. While ticks are most […]
Proposal to ban solar developments on farmland withdrawn amid confusion
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) A Howell-area mushroom grower wants Michigan voters to ban large-scale solar on Michigan’s farmland. But what counts as large-scale? And what would a ban mean for farmers who already have solar panels on their land? Those questions tripped up members of the State Board of Canvassers Friday as they considered […]
