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In: Advocacy, AP, biden administration, Climate change, Environmental Justice, Equity and Environmental Justice, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Trump Administration, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments
Environmental justice in spotlight as WH official departs

By Drew Costley, Associated Press

The White House’s top official on environmental justice is stepping down a year after President Joe Biden took office with an ambitious plan to help disadvantaged communities and overhaul policies that have historically hurt them.

The departure Friday of Cecilia Martinez, senior director for environmental justice at the Council for Environmental Quality, puts a spotlight on both the administration’s successes and promises yet to be fulfilled.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/ap-environmental-justice-official/

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In: Advocacy, AP, drainage, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Minnesota, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect
Minnesota Supreme Court to review drainage projects ruling

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will review a ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that provided environmental protections for Renville County’s last free-flowing stream.

The October appeals court decision called for an environmental review to determine whether a proposed drainage ditch improvement could harm the stream in the heavily agricultural western county.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-minnesota-supreme-court-drainage-projects/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, AP, Habitat Restoration, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, News, plastic, Protect, recycling, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Science report: US should make less plastic to save oceans

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

America needs to rethink and reduce the way it generates plastics because so much of the material is littering the oceans and other waters, the National Academy of Sciences says in a new report.

The United States, the world’s top plastics waste producer, generates more than 46 million tons (42 million metric tons) a year, and about 2.2 billion pounds (1 million metric tons) ends up in the world’s oceans, according to the academy’s report.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-science-report-plastic-oceans/

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In: Advocacy, AP, New York, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice
NY says no to voting reforms, yes to environmental right

By Marina Villeneuve, Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New Yorkers approved a ballot measure adding the right to a clean environment to the state constitution but rejected other proposed amendments that could have made it easier to vote.

The environmental measure was one of five statewide ballot questions before New York voters Tuesday.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/11/ap-ny-voting-reforms-environmental-right/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Latest News, Michigan, News, plastic, recycling
Great Lakes artists repurposing trash for art

This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Emilie Appleyard, Great Lakes Echo

Artists in the Great Lakes region are taking trash and turning it into art.

Dave Matsen, a retired professional photographer from Ludington, Michigan, found inspiration from his garbage at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/11/great-lakes-artists-trash-art/

Great Lakes Echo

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In: Advocacy, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Climate change, climate policy, Energy, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice
In Climate Talks, Plans to Keep Planet from Overheating Should Not Ignore Water

By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/10/climate-talks-planet-overheating-water/

Circle of Blue

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In: Advocacy, AP, Climate change, COP26, Environmental Justice, Equity and Environmental Justice, Latest News, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice
Billions in environmental justice funds hang in the balance

By Drew Costley, AP Science Writer

Tens of billions of dollars for U.S. environmental justice initiatives originally proposed in a $3.5 trillion domestic spending package now hang in the balance as Democrats decide how to trim the bill down to $2 trillion.

Investments in a wide range of these projects were proposed in the Build Back Better plan, but Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona demanded that the bill be reduced, with Manchin asking for it to be cut by as much as half.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/10/ap-environmental-justice-funds-balance/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, animals, AP, Fish, Birds and Animals, Michigan, Minnesota, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Wisconsin, wolves
Groups fight to keep gray wolf protections for most of US

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife advocates and environmental groups have announced that they are challenging the removal of federal protections for gray wolves across most of the U.S.

Two coalitions of groups filed formal notices over the past several days that they plan to sue the U.S. Interior Department in federal court unless protections are restored.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/11/ap-groups-gray-wolf-protections/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, James Proffitt, lake erie, Latest News, Ohio, Recreational Hunting and Fishing
Dave Spangler: Lake Erie loses tireless full-time advocate

Dave Spangler, a ceaseless advocate for Lake Erie, died Oct. 21, at 74. He spent the last few decades working to make Lake Erie the best body of water he could.

Spangler appeared in Great Lakes Now’s “Unlocking the Lakes” episode to share about how COVID-19 has been affecting tourism and the recreational fishing industry.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/10/dave-spangler-lake-erie-advocate/

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Legal Fees: Toledo residents to pay for LEBOR challenger Drewes Farms

While the roller coaster case garnered national attention with its on-again, off-again Rights of Nature legal battle, Toledo residents are stuck paying legal fees for Drewes Farms Partnerships in its fight against the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, popularly referred to as LEBOR.

Owners of the Wood County crop farm filed a challenge to LEBOR the morning after its landslide February 2019 passage by Toledo voters.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/10/legal-fees-toledo-residents-lebor-drewes-farms/

James Proffitt

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In: Advocacy, canada, Climate change, Collaboration, Forests, Forests and Plants, indigenous communities, Latest News, News, Ontario, Quebec, Research, Research, Data and Technology, science, Science, Technology, Research
One key solution to the world’s climate woes? Canada’s natural landscapes

By Jimmy Thomson, The Narwhal

This story originally appeared in The Narwhal and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.

This is the first part of Carbon Cache, an ongoing series about nature-based climate solutions.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/08/climate-change-carbon-canada-natural-landscapes/

The Narwhal

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Across America, Five Communities in Search of Environmental Justice

By Kristoffer Tigue, Nicholas Kusnetz, Judy Fahys, Ilana Cohen and David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News

This story originally appeared in InsideClimate News and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.

In many ways, Maleta Kimmons defines her neighborhood by what it lacks.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/08/communities-minnesota-new-york-environmental-justice/

InsideClimate News

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In: Advocacy, AP, Chicago, COVID-19, Drinking Water, economy, environment, Equity and Environmental Justice, Illinois, Indiana, infrastructure, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, water
New law mandates Indiana schools test for lead contamination

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Drinking water fountains and taps at public and private schools in Indiana will be required to be tested for lead contamination by 2023 under a new state law.

The law requires schools’ drinking water equipment to be tested by Jan. 1, 2023, and take action if results show lead at higher than 15 parts per billion.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/ap-new-law-indiana-schools-test-lead-contamination/

The Associated Press

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In: Advocacy, Drinking Water, economy, environment, epa, Great Lakes, Indiana, industry, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News, PFAS, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Protect, Ric Mixter, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Waterfront Development, Wisconsin
PFAS News Roundup: Indiana restricts PFAS foam, Wisconsin utility sued, 651 military bases likely polluted

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/pfas-indiana-wisconsin-new-york-landfill-military/

Ric Mixter

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In: Advocacy, Detroit, Equity and Environmental Justice, Feature Detroit, governor, Ian Wendrow, Latest News, mayor, Michigan, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, water, water rights, water shutoffs
Do More: Water rights advocates call for action from Gov. Whitmer, Mayor Duggan for residents without water

With the COVID-19 global pandemic continuing to spread throughout the U.S., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines have stressed the importance of staying hydrated and rigorously washing hands as a preventative health effort. 

But for thousands of residents in Detroit, Flint, Benton Harbor, Hamtramck and other cities around southeast Michigan, following these guidelines is difficult when your water is shut off.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/water-rights-advocates-stations-michigan-governor-mayor/

Ian Wendrow

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In: Advocacy, Better Government Association, Chicago, environment, Great Lakes, Illinois, Latest News, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Protect, water
Student Protesters Demand Lightfoot Live Up To Campaign Promises on Environmental Protection

By Brett Chase, Better Government Association, through the Institute for Nonprofit News network

 

More than two dozen Chicago young activists Friday called on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reinstate a city department of environment to combat heavy pollution in black and Latino neighborhoods and increase efforts to fight climate change.

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https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/student-protesters-chicago-lightfoot-campaign-environmental-protection/

Better Government Association