Environment
A prototype of the net system used to trap mallards for relocation.

Researchers pioneer method to combat swimmer’s itch by relocating ducks

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SWIMMER’S ITCH: Researchers from U-M, Hope College and Calvin University have designed a new system to relocate infected mallards from inland lakes where they cause swimmer’s itch. We talk to the Larks Lake Association in Emmet County. Other participating associations are at Higgins Lake in Roscommon County, Crystal Lake in Benzie County and Cheboygan County’s Black and Douglas Lakes. Ducks are being relocated to beaches on Lakes Huron and Michigan. By Alex Walters. FOR PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CRAWFORD COUNTY, CLARE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
A view of the shore of Muskegon Lake

Community input sought for cleaned-up lakes, shorelines

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GREAT LAKES FOR WHOM?: The cleanup of Muskegon Lake, a designated Great Lakes Area of Concern, after 30 years and $89 million is raising questions about the future of the decontaminated area. Some community residents worry it will become costly condos and other high-end uses. We hear from the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership, a Grand Valley State researcher and the Michigan Environmental Council. Other Areas of Concern in Michigan are the Kalamazoo, Clinton, Detroit, Rouge, St. Marys, St. Clair and Manistique rivers, River Raisin, the UP’s Torch Lake and Saginaw Bay and River. By Theo Scheer. FOR LUDINGTON, OCEANA COUNTY, HOLLAND, TRAVERSE CITY, PLANET DETROIT, SAULT STE MARIE, ST. IGNACE, DETROIT, MONROE, ADRIAN, IRON MOUNTAIN, MIDLAND AND ALL POINTS.

Education
Black-legged tick

Climate change makes ticks a year-round pest in Michigan

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TICKS: Climate change is transforming the patterns of disease-carrying ticks, raising public health concerns as winters become warmer and spring weather arrives earlier. We talk to an MSU researcher, an East Lansing dog groomer and an Oakland Township veterinary technician. By Gabrielle Ahlborn. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment
The Vicksburg Union Depot in the past.

Southwest Michigan train depot chugs onto National Register of Historic Places

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HISTORIC DEPOT: A 1904 train depot in Kalamazoo County has arrived on the National Register of Historic Places. The last Grand Trunk Western passenger train stopped at the Vicksburg Union Depot in 1972 and freight service was discontinued two years later but 60 freight trains a day still rumble by the restored depot. By Eric Freedman. FOR STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, COLDWATER AND ALL POINTS.

News

Road rage: How Michigan promotes efforts to keep drivers safe

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ROAD RAGE: Only 0.03% of car crash fatalities in the state are caused by road rage or aggressive driving, making Michigan the fourth-safest state for road rage deaths. However, experts warn that anger still plagues Michigan’s roads. Recent incidents include crashes in Ottawa County, Traverse City and Rockford. Includes references to Hillsdale, Lenawee, Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties. We hear from the State Police and the founder of a Detroit-based road safety group. By Theo Scheer. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GREENVILLE, WKTV, DETROIT, HOLLAND, HILLSDALE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
The fall 2023 orientation for international students at Oakland University.

Universities strive for more growth in international student enrollment

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Enrollment of international students at Michigan’s public universities is rising after a pandemic-related decline, bolstering the state’s economy and diversifying perspectives on campuses. We hear about Ferris State, Oakland and U-M. By Anish Topawila. FOR BIG RAPIDS, DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, IRON MOUNTAIN, MIDLAND, CORP, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

Diversity Issues
The Kirtland’s warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America, living only in Michigan and parts of Wisconsin and Ontario during breeding season.

New names slated for birds, including Kirtland’s warbler

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BIRD NAMES: Michigan’s endangered Kirtland’s warbler is about to be de-Kirtlandized as the American Ornithological Society moves to remove the names of people, some with racist connections, from the names of 70 birds, 21 of them in Michigan, including the Cooper’s hawk, Wilson’s snipe, Bonaparte’s gull and Harris’s sparrow. Bird lovers disagree on that action. By Clara Lincolnhol. FOR CADILLAC, MIDLAND, CLARE, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN, LUDINGTON AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

New book explores a lifetime of Great Lakes resilience

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RESILIENCE: A new memoir by the former director of Michigan’s Sierra Club chapter is the story of a half-century of environmental activism that included bringing a live cormorant with a deformed beak from the U.P. to a congressional hearing live cormorant to a congressional hearing as proof of the effects of toxic air pollution. Jane Elder also played an important role in creation of Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores. By Reese Carlson. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, ALPENA, ALCONA, MONROE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN, SAULT STE. MARIE, LEELANAU, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, OCEANA COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Manistique East Breakwater Light is on the National Register of Historic Places.

U.P.’s tight-knit Schoolcraft County a tourist hot spot with unique issues

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SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY PROFILE: When you ask residents of the UP’s Schoolcraft County to talk about their home, they usually first mention the scenic environment and how close they are to Lake Michigan. But the rural qualities they value present difficulties for the community that other, larger counties, something that affects the area’s concerns, solutions and political landscape. By Jack Armstrong, Wajeeha Kamal, Maya Moore and Sheatlyn Paulis. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, ST. IGNACE, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

NFL draft to bring national spotlight to Detroit

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As the 2024 NFL draft approaches, football fans aren’t the only ones anticipating the big event on April 25. For the first time in history, the NFL draft will be held in Detroit, bringing an estimated 300,000 people to the Motor City, according to the Detroit Sports Commission. This major event brings attention to the award-winning Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza, where the draft will be held, and hopefully increase Detroit’s reputation as a tourist destination.