Some want Michigan to regulate septic tanks to protect water quality 

SEPTIC: Environmental groups are again pushing the Legislature to adopt a statewide sanitary code that would include mandatory inspections of septic systems. Leaking systems can contaminate groundwater, lakes and rivers, causing health problems and deterring water-related recreation. Sponsors include lawmakers from East Grand Rapids, Troy, Detroit, Holt, Walker, St. Joseph and Livonia. We talk to the Michigan Environmental Council, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and a Montmorency County homeowner with a septic tank. By Elijah Taub. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, MONTMORENCY, ALPENA, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CHEBOYGAN, DETROIT, GREENVILLE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, FOWLERVILLE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS AND ALL POINTS.

Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-West Bloomfield, is cosponsoring a bill to empower the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to regulate new chemicals in water.

Michigan hasn’t updated list of dangerous toxins in nearly 20 years. That might change

TOXINS: The state has been stymied in adding new toxic chemicals to the list of those it can regulate in Michigan waters. Lawmakers from West Bloomfield and Northfield Township want to restore that authority to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. We hear from EGLE, the Farm Bureau and the Michigan Environmental Council. By Theo Scheer. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

Michigan has 43 stores on ATF list for selling the most guns used in crimes

CRIME GUNS: Dozens of Michigan businesses are on a national list of stores that sell the most guns used in crimes, highlighting what gun control advocates say is an unaddressed part of violence prevention. Many are in Metro Detroit and the Grand Rapids and Flint areas, including one in Wyoming. We talk to an ex-ATF agent affiliated with a Crimestoppers group in Genesee County and with two gun control advocacy groups. By Theo Scheer. FOR DETROIT, GREENVILLE, WKTV AND ALL POINTS.

Trooper David Versin parks his patrol car in Crandell Park in Charlotte, which he said is a nighttime hangout where local teenagers sometimes go drinking.

On patrol with a State Police trooper

RIDE-ALONG: A Capital News Service reporter sees the nitty-gritty on a ride-along with a state trooper from the Lansing Post. Encounters included a man with a revoked license who was wanted on outstanding warrants, a woman ticketed for talking on her cell phone and a military veteran stopped for running a stop sign. By Owen McCarthy. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Col. James Grady II is the director of the State Police.

State Police still working to improve troopers’ diversity

STATE POLICE ACADEMY: Despite intensified recruitment efforts in recent years, State Police recruits remain disproportionately white. In fact, the proportion of prospective recruits of color is smaller than in the State Police ranks overall. Recruits of color also have a lower academy graduation rate than their white peers. We hear from the department’s director and chief recruiter, as well as an MSU expert. By Alex Walters FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim incidents on the rise in Michigan

HATE INCIDENTS: The number of reported anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents has skyrocketed since the Hamas-Israeli war began Oct. 7. We talk to the Anti-Defamation League and Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Alleged perpetrators from Farmington Hills and Pickford have been arrested. Meanwhile, the governor has proposed more funding to help the Department of Civil Rights handle its backlog of complaints. We also hear from the State Police and Department of Civil Rights. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, LANSING CITY PULSE, AND ALL POINTS.

New criminal laws aim to combat ethnic intimidation

ETHNIC INTIMIDATION: New hate crime laws pushed by the attorney general and a West Bloomfield legislator are intended to reduce ethnic intimidation and protect groups such as the Amish. We hear about a recent attack by a Clare resident on an Amish family in Manistee County and talk to two experts on crimes and harassment against the Amish. Many of Michigan’s Amish live in Hillsdale, Lenawee, Branch, St. Joseph, Oscoda and Calhoun counties. By Sophia Ceru. FOR LUDINGTON, CLARE, LANSING CITY PULSE, HILLSDALE, BLISSFIELD, CLARE, ADRIAN AND ALL POINTS.