News
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is intended to deter drunken and drugged driving during the holiday season

State gives cold reminder during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

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DRUNKEN DRIVING: The Office of Highway Safety Planning, State Police and other agencies are raising awareness of the dangers of drunken and drugged driving during the winter holiday season. In 2022, the state registered 9,331 alcohol-involved crashes, with 322 fatalities, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. By Kayte Marshall. FOR ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Alpena Community College has 16 apartments that are in high demand.

Community college students struggle with affordable housing 

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COMMUNITY COLLEGE HOUSING: Community colleges are urging the Legislature to make it easier for them to afford to build housing for their students, many of them already hard pressed financially to attend. Their association wants $40 million in grants to help pay for construction of housing at about eight campuses. Twelve of the 28 public colleges offer housing, including Monroe Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College, Kirkland Community College, North Central College, Gogebic COmmunity College and Bay College.We hear from the Michigan Community College Association, and the presidents of Alpena and West Shore community colleges. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR ALPENA, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, MONROE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD, LUDINGTON, LAKE COUNTY, OCEANA COUNTY, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, CLARE, CRAWFORD COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Drug testing could hinder driver shortage progress

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DRUG TEST: Mandatory drug testing for bus drivers, including testing for legal medical and recreational marijuana, makes it harder for public transit agencies to recruit and retain drivers. It’s a matter of public safety, but causes problems when many local transit need more drivers. We talk to the Michigan Public Transit Association, the Ionia director of transportation and Harbor Transit in Harbor Springs. By Brandy Muz. FOR IONIA, GREENVILLE, HARBOR SPRINGS, PETOSKEY AND ALL POINTS.

East Lansing

East Lansing residents seek changes to neighborhood speeding concerns

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City residents advocated for change in regard to neighborhood speeding concerns at the Transportation Commission Meeting on Nov. 6.  Public comments to the commission calling for better traffic regulation come less than 24 hours after a fatal hit-and-run near Michigan State University’s campus. While a suspect was arrested in connection to the crash, which killed a 20-year-old Oxford man, it is just one of many road safety concerns, according to the city residents. The residents’ focus? The children.

Business & Economy
Coast Guard station in St. Clair Shores

Charter boat captain faces prison for unlicensed vessel

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UNLICENSED BOAT: A Detroit man faces prison and a fine when sentenced early next year for violating a Coast Guard order to stop his illegal charter boat business on Lake St. Clair. On one occasion, investigators found an insufficient number of personal flotation devices aboard Benjamin Jones’s unlicensed 39-foot PWR TOWER, and on another occasion the vessel caught fire, its passengers were rescued and the boat had to be towed to shore. For news and outdoors sections. By Eric Freedman. FOR DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Autos & Manufacturing
Michigan participates in the national Click It or Ticket campaign

Pandemic bad habits mean fewer are buckling up

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SEAT BELT USE: Seat belt use in the state is unfortunately on the decline, and one factor may be the pandemic, a period when police made fewer traffic stops and when more people drove solo rather than carpooling or sharing rides. Gladwin County had the lowest compliance rate in the Lower Peninsula. The other lowest compliance rates were in Gogebic, Ontonagon, Keweenaw, Baraga, Iron, Schoolcraft and Wayne counties. Even so, Michigan drivers and passengers are more likely to buckle up than their counterparts nationally. We hear from MDOT, AAA Michigan and the Office of Highway Safety Planning. By Liz Nass. FOR GLADWIN COUNTY, DETROIT, MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Environment
Snow plow at work clearing a highway.

Reducing salt use on snowy roads proves challenging

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WINTER DRIVING: The Department of Transportation and country road agencies are using new technology and trying different products to make winter roads safer and to minimize environmental damage from road salt. We hear from the MDOT director and road commissions in Oakland, Marquette and Kent counties. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR DETROIT, MARQUETTE, PLANET DETROIT, WKTV AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
State parks and other facilities where EV chargers are planned for 2024.

Electric vehicle charging stations to be installed at more state parks

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EV CHARGERS: The DNR is installing chargers in more state parks to accommodate the growing number of visitors who drive EVs. The initiative is a partnership with EV manufacturer Revian and national nonprofit Adopt a Charger. We speak to DNR, Adopt a Charger and the superintendent of Holland State Park. Also mentions Belle Isle, Bay City, Leelanau, Orchard Beach and Mears state parks and the Oden Fish Hatchery, By Kayte Marshall. FOR HOLLAND, LEELANAU, TRAVERSE CITY, OCEANA COUNTY, PETOSKEY, MIDLAND, WKTV, HARBOR SPRINGS, PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.