Despite having some of the worst air quality in Chicago, as documented in the city’s most recent Air Quality and Health Report, industry continues to relocate to the Southeast Side.

The post Chicago’s Southeast Side community holds its breath as new industry threatens to move in first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/18/chicagos-southeast-side-community-holds-its-breath-as-new-industry-threatens-to-move-in/

Guest Contributor

Many people, including researchers, have regarded Detroit as a food desert. Yet the term food desert is no longer correct in describing all of Detroit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers a census tract to be a food desert based on its poverty rate and the proportion of residents living more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

The post Detroit’s status as ‘food desert’ challenged first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/17/detroits-status-as-food-desert-challenged/

Guest Contributor

Just 2 miles south of Cohoes, New York, sits the Saratoga Sites public housing community and the Norlite Hazardous Waste Incinerator. Smoke and dust from Norlite's hazardous waste incinerator cause daily problems for Saratoga Sites residents.

The post PFAS incineration and experimental science heighten concerns over environmental discrimination first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/16/pfas-incineration-and-experimental-science-heighten-concerns-over-environmental-discrimination/

Guest Contributor

In some states, the Department of Natural Resources offers an annual seed collection program. Anyone with a dry container can collect pine cones and seeds from trees and redeem them at listed nurseries for cash. The program is available in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Requirements for collection vary by state and species, but all seeds must be collected from trees of natural origin, not planted.

The post Backyard clean-up brings big bucks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/15/backyard-clean-up-brings-big-bucks/

Guest Contributor

By Hope O’Dell Capital News Service In the age of Uber and Lyft, public transportation is still the only viable option for many Michigan residents. “Sometimes on the weekend, or if you catch the right person, you might be able to grab an Uber, but it’s not regular service like that,” said Kelly Getman-Dissette, the […]

The post Dial-a-ride services struggle with driver shortage first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/14/dial-a-ride-services-struggle-with-driver-shortage/

Guest Contributor

A new book explores the interconnected layers of the Great Lakes, from the leadership of local native tribes to the concerning intensity of resource extraction. The book took several years to write to fully and accurately capture a cohesive picture of the Great Lakes and their histories.

The post New book explores ecological odyssey of the Great Lakes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/11/new-book-explores-ecological-odyssey-of-the-great-lakes/

Guest Contributor

The Michigan Public Transit Association has launched an information advocacy campaign to fill hiring needs and increase ridership. The advocacy initiative includes television, radio, billboard and social media campaigns and is expected to continue into May.

The post New advocacy campaign boosts public transit first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/10/new-advocacy-campaign-boosts-public-transit/

Guest Contributor

In a small back room of an aquarium in a Michigan suburban mall lies a tank of endangered corals native to places more than a thousand miles away.

The post Suburban Michigan aquarium an ark for Florida corals first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/09/suburban-michigan-aquarium-an-ark-for-florida-corals/

Guest Contributor

Michigan ranks eighth in the country for potato production and contributes about $1.2 billion annually to the state’s economy. Disease is a common concern among farmers, inspiring research partnerships.

The post Potato research helps grow Michigan crop first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/08/potato-research-helps-grow-michigan-crop/

Guest Contributor

Great Lakes Echo · Decommissioned Nuclear Plants in the Great Lakes Region By Cameryn Cass Editor’s note: This is part of a package of two articles and a podcast about nuclear power in Michigan. As Michigan and other states gradually move away from coal and other brown energy sources, there’s growing interest in carbon-free alternatives, […]

The post Nuclear power concerns outlast decommissioning first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/04/nuclear-power-concerns-outlast-decommissioning/

Guest Contributor

Eight nuclear reactors at six sites have been shut down permanently in the Great Lakes region. Proper decommissioning takes approximately 30 years to complete. Strict procedures and laws set by the NRC and other agencies are intended to ensure that U.S. nuclear plants operate and decommission in a way that is safe for the environment and public. While no accidents at nuclear plants in the Great Lakes region have had a severe impact on water quality, government officials are still debating the proper way to store nuclear fuel and the impacts it can make.

The post Decommissioned nuclear plants are no harm to water if closed properly, experts say first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/03/decommissioned-nuclear-plants-are-no-harm-to-water-if-closed-properly-experts-say/

Guest Contributor

Banning natural gas hookups in new homes and businesses at the local level is the latest example of environmental extremism, according to Michigan state Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Ida, who proposes prohibiting local bans.

The post Michigan lawmaker wants to block ban of natural gas hookups first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/02/michigan-lawmaker-wants-to-block-ban-of-natural-gas-hookups/

Guest Contributor

In the Great Lakes region there are community fridges in such major cities as Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Cleveland and Toronto. Community fridges are working fridges, usually connected to an organization, that provide free food to passersby. The concept is to take what you need and bring what you can.

The post Community fridges: Radical solutions to food insecurity, waste and cultural stigmas first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/02/01/community-fridges-radical-solutions-to-food-insecurity-waste-and-cultural-stigmas/

Guest Contributor

As local governments wrestle with the question of how to spend their share of American Rescue Plan Act money from Washington, some are earmarking it to improve broadband access and affordability for their residents. 

The post Rural internet access competes with other needs for federal aid first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/31/rural-internet-access-competes-with-other-needs-for-federal-aid/

Guest Contributor

By Rachel Duckett As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden made a series of energy-related promises, including net-zero emissions by 2050 and the launch of “a national effort aimed at creating the jobs we need to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure now and deliver an equitable clean energy future.” Last August, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate […]

The post Identifying Michigan’s top energy issues first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/28/identifying-michigans-top-energy-issues-of-2021/

Guest Contributor

103 years after National Geographic published its article on berries, Michigan is witnessing some changes due to climate change and invasive species.

The post Threats to the native berries amongst us first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/27/threats-to-the-native-berries-amongst-us/

Guest Contributor

Michigan students now can test watershed quality and model how groundwater flows in three dimensions with a new state classroom initiative. The Environmental Education Resource Lending Station became available in early December to Michigan educators through the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Classroom Initiative.

The post Michigan classrooms gain access to hands-on help for learning conservation science first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/26/michigan-classrooms-gain-access-to-hands-on-help-for-learning-conservation-science/

Guest Contributor

The National Park Service recently placed Fishtown on the National Register of Historic Places, an official list of over 96,000 historic properties nationwide considered worthy of preservation.

The post Fishing heritage in Leland gets preservation boost first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/25/fishing-heritage-in-leland-gets-preservation-boost/

Guest Contributor

Michigan’s top five safest small cities are all in Oakland County, according to a recent national study. Safety was calculated by factoring in the violent-crime rate, property-crime rate and motor vehicle crash deaths per capita.

The post Oakland County home to many of Michigan’s safest small cities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/21/oakland-county-home-to-many-of-michigans-safest-small-cities/

Guest Contributor

Flint ranked the worst for economic health in Michigan small cities in a recent report by WalletHub, a personal finance organization that tracks financial and other trends. To evaluate economic health, the study looked at population, job and income growth, along with the unemployment rate.

The post Economic health affects other indicators of livability first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/20/economic-health-affects-other-indicators-of-livability/

Guest Contributor

Holland, Michigan ranks number one in the state for quality of life in “Best Small Cities in America,” a study published by WalletHub, a personal finance website that tracks financial and other trends. It is one of five measures the study used to rank the desirability of small cities. Quality of life was assessed by measures like average commute time, city walkability and number of bars, restaurants and cultural centers per capita.

The post Holland ranks first in quality of life for Michigan small cities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/19/holland-ranks-first-in-quality-of-life-for-michigan-small-cities/

Guest Contributor

By Anna Traver, Payton Wells and Hope O’Dell Great Lakes Echo Editor’s note: A recent study evaluated the quality of 1,322 U.S. small cities by five measures. This story is part of a series taking a closer look at one measure as it relates to the 39 Michigan cities in the study. HOLT – It’s […]

The post Some Michigan small cities are more affordable than others first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/18/some-michigan-small-cities-are-more-affordable-than-others/

Guest Contributor

State officials are publishing data from 19 Michigan sewage treatment plants and more than 400 wastewater collection systems to create an early warning system for COVID-19 outbreaks.

The post COVID-19 in sewage is new gauge on state dashboard first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/17/covid-19-in-sewage-is-new-gauge-on-state-dashboard/

Guest Contributor

With art ranging in size from giant mobiles to miniature paintings, artists from across the country are collaborating to face the climate crisis with a new exhibit in metro Detroit.

The post New Detroit art exhibit addresses climate crisis with hope first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/14/new-detroit-art-exhibit-addresses-climate-crisis-with-hope/

Guest Contributor

Reports of wildlife crime have reached their highest levels on record while related arrests are trending downward, according to new data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

The post Illegal hunting complaints reach record numbers during pandemic, arrests down first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/13/illegal-hunting-complaints-reach-record-numbers-during-pandemic-arrests-down/

Guest Contributor

DTE Energy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have teamed up to use nature’s most powerful vacuums to suck up the excess carbon produced and released into the atmosphere that is causing climate change. Those vacuums are trees.

The post Pigeon River Country to help offset Michigan emissions first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/12/pigeon-river-country-to-help-offset-michigan-emissions/

Guest Contributor

Michigan State University and the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians are fighting climate change while preserving Anishinaabeg cultural practices. 

The post Center combines Indigenous and Western knowledge to fight climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/07/center-combines-indigenous-and-western-knowledge-to-fight-climate-change/

Guest Contributor

Low-income households consume three times the energy used by middle class families, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. 

The post Climate challenge: Let the sun power low-income families first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/04/climate-challenge-let-the-sun-power-low-income-families/

Guest Contributor

Sunday morning strolls to the farmers market could include a few stumbles home if distillers are given permits to sell at them. 

The post Michigan farmers markets look to add local distillery samplings first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/30/michigan-farmers-markets-look-to-add-local-distillery-samplings/

Guest Contributor

People charged with neglecting and abusing animals would have to pay for the animals’ shelter expenses during their court proceedings, if recently introduced legislation becomes law.

The post Michigan pet owners mistreating their animals may have to pay shelter costs first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/22/michigan-pet-owners-mistreating-their-animals-may-have-to-pay-shelter-costs/

Guest Contributor

John Vucetich has studied wolves and moose for over 20 years on the pristine, isolated island in Lake Superior. He leads the island National Park’s wolf-moose project.

The post Ecologist ponders fairness to wildlife and the thoughts of moose first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/21/ecologist-ponders-fairness-to-wildlife-and-the-thoughts-of-moose/

Guest Contributor

Pedestrian safety in Michigan has taken a hit as fatalities skyrocketed by 17% in 2020, even though fewer drivers were on the road due to COVID-19 lockdowns. 

The post Michigan pedestrian deaths rise, safety laws questioned first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/20/michigan-pedestrian-deaths-rise-safety-laws-questioned/

Guest Contributor

Researchers are studying a long-vanished village near southern Lake Michigan that a World War II arsenal helped preserve.

The post Great Lakes region WWII armory preserves Indigenous village first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/17/great-lakes-region-wwii-armory-preserves-indigenous-village/

Guest Contributor

Michigan farms that offer agricultural tourism opportunities have seen record-breaking attendance over the past two years.

The post ‘Organic growth’ fuels record-breaking agritourism season, experts say first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/16/organic-growth-fuels-record-breaking-agritourism-season-experts-say/

Guest Contributor

Efforts by politicians to create a hunting season for eastern sandhill cranes in both Wisconsin and Michigan are stirring debates among hunters, farmers and birders.

The post Proposed eastern sandhill cranes hunt in breeding states stirs controversy first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/15/proposed-eastern-sandhill-cranes-hunt-in-breeding-states-stirs-controversy/

Guest Contributor

The highest expense for schools behind faculty salaries is energy, prompting some districts in Michigan to eye solar savings.

The post New solar program might help Michigan K-12 schools curb energy cost first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/14/new-solar-program-might-help-michigan-k-12-schools-curb-energy-cost/

Guest Contributor

Michigan has disposed of more than 50,000 gallons of potentially harmful firefighting foam since 2019. Firefighters and environmental advocates say that isn’t enough.

The post Firefighters, environmental advocates push for safer foam first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/10/firefighters-environmental-advocates-push-for-safer-foam/

Guest Contributor

Michigan farmers across the state say that the use of drones could revolutionize farming, but researchers working with drones say federal laws fail to meet their needs.  

The post Federal regulations hinder farming with drones first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/09/federal-regulations-hinder-farming-with-drones/

Guest Contributor

Increasing numbers of power outages caused by climate-induced weather put pressure on utility companies to strengthen energy grid resilience, experts say.

The post Climate change triggers concern over energy grid reliability first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/08/climate-change-triggers-concern-over-energy-grid-reliability/

Guest Contributor

Park staff say the structures disrupt the natural beach habitat and can even be damaging to some animal species, like the piping plover.

The post Sleeping Bear park officials ask visitors to stop building structures on lakeshore first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/08/sleeping-bear-park-officials-ask-visitors-to-stop-building-structures-on-lakeshore/

Guest Contributor

Grants are available to buy removal supplies, like sponges and towels, or host events teaching boaters how to properly clean off invasive species, according to a Department of Natural Resources press release.

The post Grant program repels Great Lakes invaders first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/07/grant-program-repels-great-lakes-invaders/

Guest Contributor