Michigan News & Current Events | Public News Service

The National School Lunch Act was signed by former President Harry Truman in 1946. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 26, 2022

USDA Awards Grant to Help MI Build Its School Nutrition Workforce

The Michigan Department of Education has received a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for building and retaining …

Michigan is in the bottom 10 states for fourth-grade reading among Black students. (carline11/Adobe Stock)

Report: Michigan Lags Behind Other States in Reading, Math Indicators

A new report found Michigan kids have remained stagnant across several key indicators of student success, such as fourth-grade reading and eighth-…

Keeping siblings together in foster care is a national best practice. (mytrykau/Adobe Stock)

MI Foster Care Agency: Youths, Families Need Wraparound Services

Michigan is taking steps to improve the child welfare system for National Foster Care Month. In Michigan, nearly a quarter of young people who are …

More than 200 organizations submitted a letter last month urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to halt new construction on Line 5, which runs under the Straits of Mackinac. (Wikimedia Commons)

MI Water Advocate: Pipeline Reroute Puts Tribal Fishing Rights at Risk

CORRECTION: Enbridge is proposing a rerouting of its existing Line 5. An earlier version incorrectly stated the project involved an expansion…

The utility company Consumers Energy has a program to reward consumers who charge electric vehicles during off-peak hours. (TheSupporter/Adobe Stock)

EV Business Leaders Highlight MI Infrastructure, Innovation Progress

Electric vehicle (EV) industry leaders in Michigan are touting the state's progress toward electrifying the transportation sector and improving infras…

Baby formula out-of-stock rates jumped from 30% to 40% over the course of April. (279photo/Adobe Stock)

Baby Formula Shortage Hits Low-Income, Rural Communities Hard

The baby-formula shortage is hitting Michigan families hard, especially those who live in rural areas, are low-income or have kids with digestive or …

Consumers Energy plans to have 8,000 megawatts of utility-scale solar power by 2040. (ALEXSTUDIO/Adobe Stock)

MI Utility Seeks Landowners, Communities to Site Solar Arrays

As Michigan aims to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, with interim 2030 goals, the state's largest utility is working to transition its …

Seven in 10 parents say their kids have interacted with a smartphone before age 11. (dubova/Adobe Stock)

MI Educator: Engage With Your Kids' Social Media Use

During Mental Health Awareness Month, experts, parents and health professionals are spotlighting the effects of screens and social media on young …

Nearly 70% of voters who identify as independents said they oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a WDIV/Detroit News poll released in January. (vivalapenler/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Sound "Trigger" Law Alarm if SCOTUS Overturns Roe

Michigan lawmakers and pro-choice advocates were among those gathering Tuesday at courthouses, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to protect a …

Forty percent of first-generation students in a survey said they filled out the FAFSA forms themselves, compared with 11% of higher-income students. (photo_gonzo/Adobe Stock)

Simplifying the FAFSA: MI Groups Have Some Tips

As the U.S. Department of Education works to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, groups in Michigan have some …

Machelle Pearson, a formerly incarcerated Michigander, speaks at a virtual news conference spotlighting a proposed initiative for a system of "good time" or earned-time credits. (Good Time Initiative Michigan)

Petition: Allow Incarcerated Michiganders to Earn Time Off Sentences

A prospective ballot initiative in Michigan would allow people in prison to earn time off their sentences through work training, earning a college …

Resources will be available at Equality Michigan fairs this week, including peer-support opportunities. (ASDF/Adobe Stock)

Groups Spotlight Services for LGBTQ+ Victims of Crime in MI

It's National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a time to raise awareness of victims' rights and services. Equality Michigan is holding three community …

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that without drastic action, impacts from severe storms and flooding will continue to worsen. (Cory Seeman/Adobe Stock)

MI Group: Oil Pipeline Tunnel Plan Not In Sync with State's Climate Goals

This Earth Month, Michigan leaders took the opportunity to release a new roadmap for a carbon-neutral state economy by 2050. In addition to …

Galls can be the result of a number of different parasites, from bacteria and viruses to insects. (sheilaf2002/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Researchers Explore Novel Groundwater Monitoring Method

Researchers at Wayne State University are developing an alternative method of monitoring groundwater for toxins. The process is typically labor-…

Experts say the earlier, the better when it comes to building financial skills such as saving, borrowing and investment. (BullRun/Adobe Stock)

MI Lawmaker, Credit Unions: Youth Need Financial Education

A bill before the Michigan Legislature would bring financial education into the state's public schools, by requiring high school students to take a …

A proposal from the City Council, if passed by voters in November, would put $1 million annually toward fighting climate change. (Wikimedia Commons)

Ann Arbor Among Cities Making Strong Climate Commitments

Michigan cities are among those working to curb the devastating impacts of climate change, by reducing their carbon footprints and expanding …

Wayne Health Mobile Units have administered more than 14,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Wayne Health)

Report: Mobile Health Clinics Reach Vulnerable MI Communities

An analysis of mobile health clinics launched in the Detroit metro area during the pandemic finds it's a model that can deliver health screenings and …

Students who are forced to delay their college plans are less likely to complete that degree, and the pandemic has had an outsized impact on college-going rates for Black and Latino students. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Report Cites COVID's Outsized Impact on Black, Latino College Plans

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an outsized impact on Black and Latino communities in Michigan, including when it comes to college plans. A new report …

Michigan lost one congressional seat after the 2020 census apportionment. (My Districting Michigan)

MI Good-Government Groups: Check Your Districts Before Election Time

New Michigan voting district maps went into effect last week, and officials now are working to update the voter rolls. Despite ongoing litigation…

United HealthCare experts recommend meditation and mindfulness to help ease stress and bring health benefits as well. (Southworks/Adobe Stock)

MI Counselor: Tips for Managing Return-to-Work Stress

More and more workplaces across Michigan are bringing employees back into the office in-person, and health experts have tips for how to manage any …

Young women who give birth while attending community college are 65% less likely to complete their degree, prompting groups to help more young parents achieve their personal goals. (Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health)

MI Groups Seek to Break Stigma Around Young Parenting

It is Michigan Young Parent Awareness Day, and groups are spotlighting efforts to support expectant and parenting young people, both in taking care …

Fewer than four in ten low-income renters in Michigan live in affordable units, and many are also inaccessible. (cunaplus/Adobe Stock)

MI Report: Invest Rescue Plan Funds in Affordable, Accessible Housing

A new report found older Michiganders and people with disabilities face some of the greatest barriers to housing, and systemic racism has led to …

Eliminating a burdensome retirement-benefit pre-funding requirement could save the U.S. Postal Service $5.65 billion per year. (Bumble Dee/Adobe Stock)

MI Workers: USPS Reform Bill Would Create Opportunity for Postal Banking

Congress has passed a bill to help shore up the U.S. Postal Service, and it's now on to President Joe Biden for a signature. The bill puts six-day-a-…

Breonna Taylor, second from left, is pictured with three of her sisters and a cousin. (De'Andrea Taylor)

Incarcerated Father of Breonna Taylor is a Family Man

By Stephen Silha for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Michigan News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Breonna Taylor was one of Everette Taylor's six children. He's currently incarcerated in a Michigan prison. (De'Andrea Taylor and Ateonia Taylor)

Call to Release Breonna Taylor's Father from Michigan Prison

By Josh Puckett for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Michigan News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Michigan has 97 crisis pregnancy centers, and 21 clinics that offer all reproductive health-care options. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups: "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" Push Anti-Abortion Messages

Michigan reproductive-health advocates are urging residents to be aware of anti-abortion groups known as "crisis pregnancy centers." They offer preg…

The gender wage gap has narrowed in the last year, yet fewer women remain in the workforce post-pandemic than before. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Data Shows MI Women Still Earn Less on Average Than Men

Today is Equal Pay Day, the date symbolizing how far into the year women need to work to earn what men earned in the previous year. In Michigan…

Gas prices have exceeded $4 a gallon in recent days across Michigan. (logoboom/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Back Shutting Down Line 5, Despite Legislative Moves

The Michigan Legislature approved a resolution this week backing energy independence, and asking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to call off attempts to shut …

Voting machines are particularly important for some people with disabilities, including those with sight or dexterity issues. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Disability Rights Champion Spotlights Need for Accessible Housing, Voting

It is Developmental Disability Awareness Month, and groups are spotlighting housing and voting as two major areas of concern. To mark International …

There are more than 200,000 jobs in the auto industry in Michigan, and a new report says building more electric vehicle-charging stations would create more. (paulynn/Adobe Stock)

Groups: More EVs Could Mean Major Benefits for Michigan

Groups working for cleaner air in Michigan say the pressure is on to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), with the state set to …

This redistricting cycle was the first time an independent commission drew new congressional and legislative maps. (Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission)

Litigation Ongoing Over Michigan's New Voting-District Maps

With new voting-district maps finalized by Michigan's new independent commission, it's now on to the litigation phase of redistricting. One lawsuit …

Five people died in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021m riot at the U.S. Capitol. (Wikimedia Commons)

MI Republicans Face Jan. 6th Congressional Committee

Two Michigan Republicans were called to testify on Tuesday before the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and …

Line 5, running under the Straits of Mackinac, is just one of many oil and gas pipelines that environmental groups and Native American tribes contend are threats to sacred and biodiverse waterways. (Kathy/Adobe Stock)

Canadian Report Poses Alternatives to Line 5 Pipelines

New research from Environmental Defence Canada makes the case that there's a path forward to shutting down the Line 5 dual pipelines, which run under …

Michigan is second only to California as the states with the most diverse agriculture industry.(Michael/Adobe Stock)

MI Farmers Encouraged to Apply for New USDA "Climate-Smart" Program

Michigan farmers say the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new, billion-dollar investment in projects by "climate-smart" farmers, ranchers and …

Comins Township was the winner of last year's Put Your Town on the Map Challenge, to build a new town square and event center. (Wikimedia Commons)

Call to MI Small Towns: Submit Proposals to Attract Visitors, New Residents

As small towns struggle to recover from the pandemic, a grant program called Put Your Town on the Map aims to support ideas for revitalization…

Kylie Myrand is a survivor of the Oxford High School shooting that occurred on Nov. 30, 2021. (End Gun Violence Michigan)

MI Coalition Forms to Take Gun-Violence Prevention to Ballot Box

A new coalition is urging the Michigan Legislature to tackle the epidemic of gun violence. Michigan ranks 21st for overall gun homicides, though the …

Michigan would join 16 other states in making sure immigration status isn't a barrier to getting a driver's license if state lawmakers pass a couple of bills they're now considering. (Elroi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Dropping Barriers to Drivers Licenses for MI Immigrants

A coalition of immigrants and allies in Michigan has kicked off a week of action, urging the Legislature to take up bills to restore the ability of …

65% of parents surveyed by Hart Research think low teacher pay is a cause for concern. (Vasyl/Adobe Stock)

Polling Shows Parents Support Teachers', Schools' Handling of COVID

Recent polling shows strong support for educators and schools in Michigan and across the country throughout the COVID-19 crisis. More than 3 in 4 …

Voters age 50 and older represent the majority of people who cast absentee ballots, and during the last three elections, this age group made up from 55% to 60% of Michigan voters. (WESTOCK/Adobe Stock)

Senior Advocates: Don't Require Partial Social Security Numbers to Vote

Advocates for older Michiganders are voicing concerns about a petition that could add barriers to voting and even put a voter's personal information a…

A new Consent Toolkit has tips for educators, caregivers and parents, for instance, how to respond if a student discloses that they've experienced sexual violence. (Bailey Krestakos/Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health)

Toolkit Provides Resources for Teaching Consent in Grades K-5

A new toolkit for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade provides resources for teaching about issues of consent and healthy relationships…

Prescription drugs in the United States on average cost 2.5 times as much as medications in other nations. (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer)

MI Groups Support Repealing Pension Tax, Capping Insulin Costs

Groups advocating for seniors are applauding Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's plans to prioritize repealing the pension tax and placing a cap on out-of-pocket …

Nearly 2.2 million Michigan residents could lose access to abortion services if the precedent-setting 1973 case Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Hamiza Bakirci/Adobe Stock)

Ballot Petition Seeks to Add Abortion Rights to MI Constitution

A coalition of advocates for reproductive freedom has filed a ballot proposal to affirm that every Michigan resident will have reproductive rights…

Many Michigan households say they can't afford to make the necessary repairs to their aging residential sewer lines. (elenabsl/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Urge State House to Pass Water Infrastructure Bill

A bill before the Michigan Legislature would allocate $2.4 billion dollars in federal funds for repairs to the state's aging water infrastructure…

A Canadian gas company operates a pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac, despite an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for it to be shut down. (Richard/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Raise Safety, Financial Concerns Around Line 5 Tunnel Proposal

Advocates for protecting the waters of the Straits of Mackinac are raising safety and financial concerns about a Canadian natural gas company's propos…

Using new genes associated with stuttering for a model, researchers have been able to predict the presence of stuttering 80% of the time. (Frogella.stock/Adobe Stock)

MI Researcher Takes Up the Genetics of Stuttering

More than 2.5 million Americans stutter at some point in their lives, and a Michigan researcher is among those learning more about the genetics of …

44% of Michiganders live in child-care deserts. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Report: MI Kids Eligible but Not Receiving Child-Care Subsides

New state and county data show among Michigan's youngest children, there are gaps and disparities in access to crucial health, nutritional and …

Gas prices have risen sharply over the last year, making a dent on many folks' heating bills. (SkyLine/Adobe Stock)

Utilities: Don't Wait to Seek Heating Help During Cold Winter Months

With Michigan receiving more federal funding for home heating assistance, utility companies are also chipping in to help people stay warm this winter…

Michigan's COVID-19 mortality rate for Black residents is fourth-highest in the nation. Researchers are seeking to improve public-health infrastructure and reduce disparities. (sergiophoto/Adobe Stock)

MI Universities Get Funding to Sequence COVID, Other Infectious Diseases

A new grant will increase the capacity for infectious-disease sequencing and research in Michigan, to improve the state's ability to respond to …

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