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 […]
Homeschool parents mobilize to fight Michigan efforts to add oversight
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) MADISON HEIGHTS — The fight for homeschool freedom began with a prayer recently inside a trade school in an industrial park in this Detroit suburb. About 30 parents gathered as speakers called on them to mobilize against what they view as government overreach and interference in their ability to teach and […]
How to get free tuition from Michigan colleges and universities
by Isabel Lohman (Bridge Michigan) Many people looking to attend college or university in Michigan can attend school for virtually free. Several Michigan schools offer tuition-free guarantees that use a combination of federal, state and university funds to pay for tuition. Students may have other costs such as supplies and housing. The new Michigan Achievement Scholarship, […]
Michigan lawmakers weigh $100M tax subsidy plan to create high-paying jobs
by Paula Gardner (Bridge Michigan) Michigan lawmakers are debating a proposal to grow desperately needed higher-wage jobs by allowing some businesses to keep taxes of newly hired workers rather than sending the money to Lansing. The bills — initiated in October during a wave of business incentive-reform legislation — would expand economic development tools in the […]
As Michigan winters vanish, researchers study snow for clues about what’s next
by Kelly House (Bridge Michigan) PELLSTON — It’s February in northern Michigan, a time typically marked by deep snow and a deeper freeze. Normally, this time of year, temperatures stay below freezing and snow is 16 inches deep. But this week, the day was warm as Adam Schubel hiked to a clearing in the forest […]
