Michigan News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to the Pew Research Center, adults in all age groups, except those younger than 30, are far more likely to trust information from national and local news outlets than from social media. (Farknot Architect/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Editor: News Outlets Must Do Better to Regain Consumers' Trust

Americans continue to have little faith in the mainstream news media, with many people under the age of 30 saying they trust information from social …

In a national survey, Michigan was ranked 27th among the 50 states for its cost, access and quality of long-term care supports and services. California was ranked first. (Flickr)

MI State of State: Whitmer Promises Seniors Tax Breaks, Better Care

In her fifth State of the State address this week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer emphasized policies designed to put more money in Michiganders' pockets…

Research shows that cooking with natural gas can emit toxic fumes such as methane and nitrogen dioxide into the home and the atmosphere. (malkovkosta/Adobe Stock)

Consumer Warning on Gas Stove Emissions Sparks Controversy

The health risks associated with gas-burning stoves have caused a recent stir and fears of a government ban on the appliances, but a Michigan …

About 6% of all cars sold in the United States in 2021 were battery-electric powered, but officials say the number of EVs is expected to grow to 25% by 2030. (ARHIT/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Examines EV Impacts on MI Highway Maintenance, Funding

Most experts agree putting more electric vehicles on the road is a major step toward fighting climate change, but a new report says states will also …

The CDC reports about one in every 10 babies born in the United States is a preterm birth. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

New Research in MI on Preterm Births, Environmental Toxins

Wayne State University has received an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how volatile organic compounds contribu…

The surge in union organizing has left the National Labor Relations Board understaffed and short of funds to accomplish its mission. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Unions Push for More NLRB Funding

Labor groups are calling on the new Congress to build on last year's $25 million funding increase for the National Labor Relations Board, an agency …

One of the benefits of silvopasturing is to relieve grazing animals, such as cattle, from the perils of heat stress. (UllrichG/Adobe Stock)

Farmers Mix Trees, Crops, Livestock to Fight Climate Change

By Caroline Miller for Great Lakes Echo. Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Service, reporting for Solutions Journalism/Public …

The massive spill in Kansas marks the 23rd time that the Keystone Pipeline has leaked since it launched in 2010. (anankkll/Adobe Stock)

Group: KS Keystone Spill a Cautionary Tale for MI Pipeline

An environmental watchdog group said the recent Keystone Pipeline oil spill should serve as a warning to Michiganders if a proposed expansion of the E…

The Loud Dam, which impounds the Au Sable River in Iosco County, is one of 13 historic hydropower dams that could be decommissioned or sold. (Flickr)

Power Utility Ponders Fate of 13 Historic Michigan Dams

A number of small dams along Michigan lakes and rivers, some operating for more than a century, are still generating hydropower energy - just not …

According to AARP Michigan, six out of 10 senior voters are concerned they may not be able to afford the cost of a needed prescription medication. (Stock Footage Inc./Adobe Stock)

Michigan Seniors Call for More Government Action to Lower Drug Costs

A new report found three of four Michigan voters 50 and older take one or more prescription drugs on a regular basis, but many find it difficult or …

The number of restaurant workers in the United States fell from 12.6 million to 11.2 million between 2010 and 2021, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Introduce Restaurant Workers' Bill of Rights

In response to massive pandemic-related layoffs, new legislation in Congress would create a bill of rights for restaurant workers. Rashida Tlaib…

Jon Kent (kneeling) and a cadre of volunteers are raising vegetables and feeding the community from their urban farm at Charlevoix and Lakeview streets in East Detroit. (Sanctuary Farms)

Young Farmers of Color: Feed Detroit, Fight Injustice, Protect Climate

By Britny Cordera for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

An estimated 96,000 children in rural Michigan are left out of the full $2,000 federal Child Tax Credit because their families earn too little. (Pexels)

Group Backs Renewal of Child Tax Credit for Rural MI Kids

A coalition of advocates for Michigan families is pushing Congress to permanently install the Child Tax Credit in its end-of-year spending bill…

DTE Energy plans to switch its Belle River plant (above) from coal to fossil fuel in 2025 but could keep the facility in operation past the state's emissions deadline until 2040. (FracTrack Alliance/Flickr)

Activists: DTE Plan Won't Meet MI Renewable-Energy Goals

Michigan regulators have set long-term emission-reduction targets for the state's power utilities, but clean-energy advocates are concerned that one …

A new report on the cost of water bills estimates that 6.7% of Michigan consumers, or 668,000 residents, pay more for water than they can afford. (motiontion/Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Water-Affordability Strategy to Help Low-Income Michiganders

Residential water rates in Michigan are soaring, with an estimated one out of ten households without access to or unable to afford clean water…

Students in the Career Launch Program learn a trade through working several hours a week on a flexible schedule, with competitive wages increased at regular intervals. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Schools See Apprenticeship Programs as Alternatives to College Prep

With the cost of a four-year college education approaching six figures at some institutions, many students are looking at apprenticeships to train …

A study by the Healthcare Cost Institute found the average price of insulin has nearly doubled since 2012. (neirfy/Adobe stock)

New Programs Bring Help for Diabetics Struggling to Afford Insulin

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and more than 900,000 Michiganders have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the American …

The EPA claims that the EES Coke Battery plant has emitted thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide annually beyond its permitted limit of 2,100 tons. (Wikipedia)<br />

Detroit Neighborhood in Court to Hold Industrial Polluter Accountable

Members of a Detroit-area community are intervening in an Environmental Protection Agency lawsuit against a DTE Energy subsidiary charged with dumping…

Conservation efforts by the National Wildlife Federation and other conservation groups restored the U.S. wild turkey population from near extinction to thriving in almost every state in the country. (Mataman/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists: Recovering America's Wildlife Act Critical to Save Species

Environmental groups are calling efforts over the past half-century to restore the wild turkey population from the brink of extinction one of America'…

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty (elvis santana/Adobe Stock)">

Program Aims to Alleviate Stress, Prevent Suicides Among MI First Responders

First responders experience some of the most horrific events in modern life and often carry huge loads of stress home from their jobs. A new program …

The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting record-breaking winter temperatures and warns Michiganders to get ready to

Forecast: Cold, Snowy Winter Could Hit Michiganders in Their Wallets

Forecasters are predicting extreme cold and wet weather for Michigan and the upper Midwest this winter, and experts warn that high energy bills could …

Michigan is one of three states with abortion-rights referendums on the ballot for Tuesday's midterm elections. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock)

MI Study: Banning Abortion Affects Women's Economic Well-Being

The debate surrounding abortion often turns on emotional and moral issues, but a Michigan-based policy institute says the economic impact of …

Michigan elections officials say most of the ballots from next week's midterm elections should be counted within several hours after the polls close, but final results could take a few days. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

MI Election Officials Wary of GOP-Trained Poll Workers Disrupting Midterms

Elections officials in Michigan and other states are on the lookout for organized disruptions of Tuesday's midterm elections, but say they're …

The Guttmacher Institute, a health-policy think tank, says as October began, 66 clinics across 15 states had been forced to stop offering abortions. (rocketimages/Adobe Stock)

Doctors Tell of Patients' Hardships after Roe is Overturned

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

In 2022, almost 250,000 Michigan residents purchased their health coverage online through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. (Maksym Yemelyanov/Adobe Stock)

Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 in Michigan

Open-enrollment season for health insurance is upon us, and Michiganders who want to get the right kinds of coverage have a lot to consider. More …

The 2022 NAEP Long-Term Trend results for 9-year-olds showed the first-ever declines in math and the largest drop in reading achievement since the 1980s. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Educators Urge Action to Reverse Low Student Test Scores

Educators are deeply concerned but not surprised with newly released test results showing how far behind Michigan students have fallen during the pand…

Many people are surprised to learn that American Sign Language is the third-most common language in the United States, after English and Spanish. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Adds American Sign Language to Teaching Curriculum

Deaf people say they sometimes feel like they're living on a different planet from those who can hear, but when both learn to use American Sign …

Access to broadband internet can bring students higher grades, make older adults less isolated, keep nursing home residents out of the hospital, and increase revenues for small businesses, according to the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. (a_korn/Adobe Stock)

Partnership Connects Struggling MI Families with Low-Cost Broadband

Broadband internet has become a necessity for Americans to stay connected, but almost 1 million Michigan residents do not have access or face …

This study finds conservatives and liberals alike underestimate the level of support for climate action among their fellow Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Most Folks Underestimate Support for Climate Mitigation Policies

The political divide over climate change seems well entrenched, but a recent study suggests the conventional wisdom is wrong. The study, published …

The 26,000-foot Mackinac Bridge runs over the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Michigan's Upper Peninsula with the main part of the state. (Kenneth Kiefer/Adobe Stock)

MI Environmental Groups Oppose Oil Pipeline Project Under Great Lakes

The long-running feud between Canadian energy giant Enbridge and a coalition of Michigan environmentalists and tribal nations has reached another mile…

The U.S. Postal Service expects this year it will deliver more than 12 billion letters, cards and packages between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. (lovelyday12/Adobe Stock)

Postal Workers Brace for Rush of Holiday Packages, Letters

The U.S. Postal Service is hiring 28,000 seasonal employees ahead of the surge in end-of-year holiday letters and packages for facilities in Michigan …

Asian carp are known for their jumping ability, and officials are concerned that if their numbers are allowed to grow, they could devastate the entire Great Lakes ecology. (National Wildlife Federation)

Film Chronicles Fight to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

A new film documenting the battle to prevent an invasive species of Asian carp from taking hold in the Great Lakes is drawing large numbers of viewers…

The number of absentee ballots requested by Michigan voters increased by 73% between the 2018 and 2020 elections, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. (JimCanally/Adobe Stock)

Voter Advocates Say Absentee Ballots Take Hassle Out of Election Day

CLARIFICATION: Lynna Kaucheck is the communications manager for Progress Michigan, and the group is not a sponsor of MichiganVoting.org. Dates to …

The energy industry reports a transition to 100% electric vehicle sales and a clean electricity grid by 2035 could save consumers $2.7 trillion. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)

Energy Companies Developing Infrastructure, Grid to Power Electric Vehicles

For some time, electric vehicles have been seen as the wave of the future, but developments in Detroit, Stuttgart, and Nagoya suggest tomorrow has …

The five prize-winners at Saturday's Midland Day of Peace festival will each release a dove to signify the value of peacemaking. (Okea/Adobe Stock)

City of Midland, Groups Plan Celebration of International Day of Peace

In a world filled with conflict, one city in Michigan is celebrating its status as an International City of Peace. A group of nonprofit …

Michigan voters will decide on a number of races and proposals on the Nov. 8 midterm elections. (1STunningART/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Say it's Time to Get Ready to Vote in Midterm Elections

The midterm elections are coming up on Nov. 8, and advocates are reminding Michiganders to plan now on how, when, and where they will cast their …

The area known as Squaw Bay near Alpena in northeast Michigan has been renamed Birdsong Bay by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Pixabay)

Interior Review Finds Hundreds of Place Names with Indigenous Slurs

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Michigan and across the country, containing …

PFAS contamination has been confirmed at 228 sites in Michigan. (Adobe Stock)

Great Lakes Groups Call Proposed EPA PFAS Rule a 'Watershed' Moment

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule that will designate two "forever chemicals" as dangerous. PFOA and PFOS are PFAS chemicals …

The RECOMPETE Act establishes a federal block-grant program to empower small, economically distressed communities. (Atstock/Adobe Stock)

RECOMPETE Act Could Bring New Jobs to Rural Michigan

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural communities a leg up when applying for federal dollars. The CHIPS Act, passed last month, aims to …

The biomass process, also called anaerobic digestion, uses waste products from farm animals and plants to extract methane and generate power. (Olivo/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Call Biomass Proposal 'Flawed, Inefficient'

Environmental advocates are calling a Michigan proposal to use animal and industrial waste as a source of "renewable natural gas" for power generation…

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron have risen during the last decade from around 577 feet to 582 feet. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act Provides Hope for Michigan's Climate-Change Policies

With the Inflation Reduction Act now law, many states are beginning to bring their climate goals to fruition. In the last decade, Michigan has seen …

Judge Douglas Shapiro reinstates $12 minimum wage for all Michigan workers. (David Carillet/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Workers Win Minimum-Wage Increase, Paid Sick Leave

Workers in Michigan won major victories recently as a minimum-wage increase and employer paid sick time program were reinstated by court order…

Roughly 16% of Michigan's 2.1 million children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Reports Offer Holistic View of Child Well-Being in Michigan

A pair of research reports are providing a holistic perspective on how Michigan children are faring in the key measures of well-being. The 50-state 2…

In a recent poll, 51% of Michigan voters said they have skipped or delayed getting the health care they need because they are concerned about how much it will cost. (Damir Khabirov/AdobeStock)

Michiganders: Out-of-Pocket Health-Care Costs Devastating Family Budgets

Congress is considering a major legislative package which could affect not only investments in climate change, but the affordability of health care…

Millions of dollars in outside spending have entered Michigan's primary race. (Adobe Stock)

Progressive Jewish Voters Sound Alarms About Outside Spending in MI Primary

CORRECTION: The organization's name is Jewish Voice for Peace Action. (8:05 a.m. MST, Aug. 1, 2022) Tomorrow is the primary election in Michigan…

One project in Michigan receiving an AARP Community Challenge grant plans to foster an environment of healthy eating and physical activity through community gardening. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Grants Awarded to MI Groups to Make Communities More Age-Friendly

Five projects in Michigan have been awarded grants from AARP to make communities more livable, especially for older residents. Types of projects …

Michigan does not allow split-ticket voting in the primary election. (Adobe Stock)

MI Voting Rights Group: Make a Plan to Vote Next Week

Next Tuesday is the primary election in Michigan, and groups such as the Voting Access for All Coalition are encouraging people to make a plan to …

A report from the USPS Office of the Inspector General finds while upfront costs for electric vehicles may be greater, the Postal Service would save money over time by deploying more EVs. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

EV Advocates: Electrifying USPS Vehicles Benefits Workers, Communities

The U.S. Postal Service is buying nearly 85,000 new vehicles, and estimates about 40% of them will be electric vehicles. That includes 50,000 new …

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