Catch the latest energy news from around the region. Check back for these bimonthly Energy News Roundups.
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is suing Ohio for letting Tesla open car dealerships in the state but not letting other manufacturers do the same.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/ev-maker-rivian-sues-ohio-claims-state-unfairly-favors-tesla/
The Great Lakes, like the rest of the world, are dealing with a phenomenon of global heating caused mostly by fossil fuel emissions. In an innovative new study from the University of Michigan, the data reveals it’s not just rising average temperatures we need to worry about. Looking back at lake surface temperatures (LST) over forty years, researchers found the Great Lakes have entered a new era of temperature extremes.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/heat-waves-cold-snaps-study-finds-great-lakes-era-of-extremes/
I Speak for the Fish is a column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS. Check out her previous columns.
There’s a fish project in Northern Michigan that is exciting researchers from around the world.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/i-speak-for-the-fish-swiping-right-on-native-fish/
A new study published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, found a correlation between certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, there is often no found cause for more than half the cases of unexplained pregnancy loss. According to researchers in the study, this lack of understanding “poses significant challenges to clinical management and contributes to heightened psychological burden among patients.”
The director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University, Phil Brown, told Newsweek in a recent interview: “We already know that PFAS are associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, reproductive toxicity, preeclampsia, decreased fertility and single occurrence of miscarriage.”
In May, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his intention to rescind PFAS limits that were put in place during the last administration.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/new-study-correlates-unexplained-frequent-miscarriages-to-pfas-exposure/
By Christiana Freitag, Circle of Blue
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/chicagos-quantum-prairie-promises-new-era-of-great-lakes-technology-and-water-use/
Despite being surrounded by the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, Michigan imports the vast majority of its seafood, between 65% and 90%, according to Michigan Sea Grant.
As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are working to build a more sustainable, local supply.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/how-michigans-inland-fish-farmers-cultivate-a-sustainable-future-for-the-great-lakes/
As anglers compete in the 2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite competition on Lake St. Clair from Aug. 7-10, they’ll likely bring some pretty prize catches to weigh-ins. That’s because the catch-and-release method has allowed smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair to grow to much greater sizes, according to new research from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/bassmaster-elite-arrives-as-lake-st-clairs-smallmouth-break-records/
Catch the latest energy news from around the region. Check back for these bimonthly Energy News Roundups.
A mothballed nuclear power plant in Michigan just took a huge step toward being the first in the country to start back up after retiring.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/michigans-historic-nuclear-plant-restart-still-a-go-federal-regulators-say/
The administration of President Donald Trump acted quickly and unilaterally when it launched its blitzkrieg to dramatically downsize and alter the mission of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
There were no bureaucratic task forces, collaborations or obligatory outreach sessions to the public for comment before taking action.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/rethinking-strategy-in-the-era-of-the-trump-epa/
From the new outdoor adventure memoir I Live Underwater: The Thrilling Adventures of a Record-Breaking Diver, Treasure-Hunter, and Deep-Sea Explorer by legendary diver Max Gene Nohl. Below is an adapted chapter from the book, “This is it,” reprinted with permission from the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/the-lake-michigan-dive-that-made-history/
Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS.
As the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy moves forward following an embezzlement crisis, its 2024 visitor survey found that 99.4% of respondents would visit the Detroit Riverwalk again, and 99.3% would recommend it to others.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/08/great-lakes-moment-detroits-waterfront-porch-reaps-substantial-benefits/
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region. Check back for more PFAS news roundups every other week on our website.
A recent study published in eBioMedicine continues to show the correlation between exposure to PFAS and Type 2 diabetes.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/study-shows-correlation-between-forever-chemicals-and-type-2-diabetes/
How did you get to work today?
Maybe, like 14% of Americans, you didn’t have to go anywhere because you work from home. But most people do need some form of transportation to earn a living. By far the biggest group is the 69% of people who drive to work alone.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/why-we-dont-bike-like-the-dutch-yet/
“Nibi Chronicles,” a monthly Great Lakes Now feature, is written by Staci Lola Drouillard. A Grand Portage Ojibwe direct descendant, she lives in Grand Marais on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Her nonfiction books “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe” and “Seven Aunts” were published 2019 and 2022, and the children’s story “A Family Tree” in 2024.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/all-water-is-local/
By Lester Graham, Michigan Public
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/environmental-groups-use-anniversary-of-kalamazoo-river-oil-spill-to-warn-about-enbridge-line-5/
By Ruth Abramovitz, Interlochen Public Radio
Points North is a biweekly podcast about the land, water and inhabitants of the Great Lakes.
This episode was shared here with permission from Interlochen Public Radio.
In February 1998, Congress passed what should have been an uncontroversial bill.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/points-north-a-good-not-great-lake/
By Aishwarya Veerabahu, University of Wisconsin-Madison
is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.
Golden oyster mushrooms, with their sunny yellow caps and nutty flavor, have become wildly popular for being healthy, delicious and easy to grow at home from mushroom kits.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/the-golden-oyster-mushroom-craze-unleashed-an-invasive-species-and-a-worrying-new-study-shows-its-harming-native-fungi/
Catch the latest energy news from around the region. Check back for these bimonthly Energy News Roundups.
Data centers in Ohio will have to pay more up front for electricity after state regulators sided with an electric utility and consumer advocates over tech companies earlier this month.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/ohio-regulators-clamp-down-on-data-center-power-costs-amid-soaring-demand/
I Speak for the Fish is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson, coming out the third Monday of each month. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/i-speak-for-the-fish-think-youre-not-to-blame-for-overfishing-think-again/
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region. Check back for more PFAS news roundups every other week on our website.
According to reporting by MLive, two researchers are studying blood samples from bald eagles across Michigan and the Great Lakes basin for evidence of chemical exposure to things like PFAS, DDT or PCBs — which were both banned in 1972 and 1979.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/baby-bald-eagles-tested-positive-for-pfas-and-other-legacy-contaminants/
By Emilio Perez Ibarguen, Bridge Michigan
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/we-cant-regulate-ourselves-out-of-whitefish-crisis-experts-say/
By Zaria Johnson, Ideastream Public Media
This story was originally published by Ideastream.
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition is exploring the climate resilience of Northeast Ohio by identifying those most at risk and provide possible solutions.
The coalition, through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Ohio State University’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Evaluation Studies, has hosted Reimagining Communities Conversations in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake and Mahoning counties so far to see how prepared residents feel in the face of severe weather made worse by climate change.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/local-health-group-seeks-northeast-ohio-climate-resilience-solutions-from-those-most-at-risk/
Butterfly populations are in decline across the continental U.S., dropping by 22% between 2000 and 2020 according to a study published in the journal Science. Almost a third of the 342 species studied have seen their numbers fall by more than half. To help combat this, the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan launched its Great Lakes Rare Butterfly Program in 2021 to protect the region’s most threatened species.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/john-ball-zoo-fights-for-great-lakes-rarest-butterflies/
A pending court case could impact farmers across the country. At issue is a USDA rule aimed at protecting wetlands called “Swampbuster.” In place since 1985, it’s being challenged in court by an absentee landowner in Iowa.
Under Swampbuster, farmers have to agree not to drain or fill their wetlands, in order to receive farm benefits such as crop insurance, disaster relief and USDA loans.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/this-wetland-fight-could-go-to-the-supreme-court/
It’s the annual peak algal bloom season and the spotlight as usual, is on Lake Erie’s western basin, including Toledo and southeast Michigan.
For the public, that’s because in 2014, Toledo went three days without drinking water as toxic algal blooms forced the city to issue a “do not drink” order.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/advocacy-group-challenges-new-normal-status-of-lake-eries-algal-blooms/
By Keerti Gopal & Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco
This story is a partnership between Grist, Inside Climate News, and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan region. This coverage is made possible through an ongoing partnership between Grist and WBEZ.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/chicago-was-supposed-to-warn-residents-about-toxic-lead-pipes-last-year-most-still-have-no-idea/
By Lester Graham, Michigan Public
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/record-year-for-great-lakes-piping-plovers/
This article is the first in a series called The Great Lakes Promise: Cost, Resilience and Refuge. This series was made possible in partnership between Great Lakes Now and Planet Detroit.
Sherita Hamlin has watched her utility bills more than double in recent years. On Chicago’s West Side, summer air conditioning is a luxury she now rations.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/great-lakes-energy-bills-are-rising-federal-cuts-could-add-to-the-pain/
No matter where you live, a disaster can hit and change your life. This comprehensive toolkit — about everything from food access to FEMA to housing — can help you stay ready, informed, and supported.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/disaster-101-your-guide-to-extreme-weather-preparation-relief-and-recovery/
By Amal Ahmed
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
This is part of the Disaster 101 toolkit, a comprehensive guide to extreme weather preparation, response, and recovery.
Extreme weather seems to make the headlines almost every week, as disasters increasingly strike out of season, break records, and hit places they never have before.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/how-climate-change-may-be-affecting-tornadoes/
By Amal Ahmed
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
This is part of the Disaster 101 toolkit, a comprehensive guide to extreme weather preparation, response, and recovery.
Extreme weather seems to make the headlines almost every week, as disasters increasingly strike out of season, break records, and hit places they never have before.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/how-climate-change-is-worsening-extreme-heat/
By Amal Ahmed
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
This is part of the Disaster 101 toolkit, a comprehensive guide to extreme weather preparation, response, and recovery.
Extreme weather seems to make the headlines almost every week, as disasters increasingly strike out of season, break records, and hit places they never have before.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/how-climate-change-is-worsening-flooding-and-heavy-rainfall/
By Amal Ahmed
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
This is part of the Disaster 101 toolkit, a comprehensive guide to extreme weather preparation, response, and recovery.
Extreme weather seems to make the headlines almost every week, as disasters increasingly strike out of season, break records, and hit places they never have before.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/how-climate-change-is-supercharging-wildfires/
By Morgan Springer
Points North is a biweekly podcast about the land, water and inhabitants of the Great Lakes.
This episode was shared here with permission from Interlochen Public Radio.
Blue moon is this bright, cosmic blue ice cream.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/points-north-once-in-a-blue-moon/
Catch the latest energy news from around the region. Check back for these bimonthly Energy News Roundups.
Community solar is still kicking in Minnesota. State lawmakers introduced a bill in March that would have ended the program, which began in 2013 and lets households sign up for shared solar projects.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/in-minnesota-community-solar-stays-alive/
The Great Lakes, a vital freshwater expanse for millions, face an ongoing environmental crisis. Beneath the vast waters lies a significant threat: pollution stemming largely from agricultural runoff. This flow of excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen contributes to harmful algal blooms and expanding “dead zones,” jeopardizing ecosystems, water quality and public health across the region.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/empowering-environmental-stewardship-how-barn-sanctuary-champions-compassion-and-conservation-in-the-great-lakes/
It’s been 50 years since a freighter sank in the Great Lakes. But in the summer of 2024, one freighter came dangerously close.
On June 8, 2024, the Michipicoten was carrying a load of iron ore across Lake Superior when the crew heard a loud bang. The ship was taking on water.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/has-this-freighter-made-final-voyage/
By Emma McIntosh, The Narwhal
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/how-ontario-could-have-cracked-down-on-chemical-valley-pollution-but-chose-not-to/
Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS.
What is one of the most frequently counted birds by citizen scientists in the annual Detroit River Hawk Watch, but is not a hawk?
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/great-lakes-moment-detroit-river-carrion-scavenger-on-the-increase/
By Katie Thoresen, WXPR
This story was originally published by WXPR. WXPR is a community-licensed public radio station serving north central Wisconsin and adjacent areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Listen to their stories here.
People on private wells in five Oneida County Townships in Wisconsin may be offered free PFAS testing.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/wisconsin-dnr-expands-private-well-pfas-testing-five-oneida-county-townships/
“Nibi Chronicles,” a monthly Great Lakes Now feature, is written by Staci Lola Drouillard. A Grand Portage Ojibwe direct descendant, she lives in Grand Marais on Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Her nonfiction books “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe” and “Seven Aunts” were published 2019 and 2022, and the children’s story “A Family Tree” in 2024.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/where-the-strawberries-still-grow/
By Keerti Gopal & Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco
This story is a partnership between Grist, Inside Climate News, and WBEZ, a public radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan region. This coverage is made possible through an ongoing partnership between Grist and WBEZ.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/chicago-residents-risk-daily-lead-exposure-from-toxic-pipes-replacing-them-will-take-decades/
By Emilio Perez Ibarguen, Bridge Michigan
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/07/great-lakes-scientists-discover-new-lifeform-microbe-name-it-shipgoo1/
By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio
This coverage is made possible through a partnership between Interlochen Public Radio and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Lucas Roff met his then-girlfriend when he was going to college at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/after-trump-cuts-michigan-helps-pay-for-remainder-of-climate-work-program/
This is a part of “A Year in the Wild Kitchen of the Great Lakes,” a series in partnership with expert forager Lisa M. Rose, with the mission of nurturing a deeper connection with the natural world through foraging. To get started with your foraging journey, begin here with our “Framework to Sustainable and Safe Practices.”
As Michigan’s fields burst into berry-laden glory, summer invites us to celebrate nature’s sweet, sun-ripened gifts.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/easy-summer-foraging-adventures-the-whole-family-will-remember/
By Gregory J. Dick, University of Michigan
is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.
Federal scientists released their annual forecast for Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms on June 26, 2025, and they expect a mild to moderate season.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/toxic-algae-blooms-are-lasting-longer-in-lake-erie-why-thats-a-worry-for-people-and-pets/
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region. Check back for more PFAS news roundups every other week on our website.
On June 26, the non-profit group Waterkeeper Alliance announced the results of a study conducted across 19 states, which revealed PFAS contamination in 98% of the waterways tested.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/new-report-shows-pfas-contamination-in-98-of-waterways-tested/
Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.
Sharon Day is enrolled in the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe and makes her home in Minnesota, where she is a founder and the executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force, a vital provider of culturally appropriate health services, programs and housing.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/waves-of-change-meet-ojibwe-leader-activist-and-water-walker-sharon-day/
By Zaria Johnson, Ideastream Public Media
This story was originally published by Ideastream.
Cleveland Metroparks is expanding access to its trail network for visitors with disabilities. It’s acquired two new wheelchairs – one a motorized Action Trackchair, the other, a manual GRIT Freedom Chair, for use on and off the beaten paths.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/cleveland-metroparks-breaks-down-accessibility-barriers-with-all-terrain-wheelchairs/
This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.
By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo
The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging residents to report bat roosts. These are the places where bats sleep and raise their babies like chimneys, trees and bridges.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2025/06/new-state-program-encourages-michigan-residents-to-report-bat-roosts/
