Michigan struggles to fill public bus driver positions

DRIVER SHORTAGE: The pandemic, low wages and stringent drug and alcohol testing are driving an ongoing shortage of bus drivers, who are usually older workers. We talk to the head of the Michigan Public Transit Authority and Kalamazoo Metro Transit about efforts to raise pay and ease drug and alcohol testing. Other systems with shortages include DDOT in Detroit, SMART in Southeast Michigan, Grand Rapids and Lansing. By Brandy Muz. FOR CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, LANSING CITY PULSE, WKTV AND ALL POINTS.

A Great Lakes Central Railroad train crosses the Manistee River Train Bridge.

Rail link upgrade expected to help northern Michigan businesses

RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE: Michigan is getting more money from Washington to improve passenger and freight train safety, efficiency and reliability. One infrastructure project that will benefit is replacement of the Manistee River Train Bridge in Wexford County along the rail line that connects southern Michigan with Traverse City. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR CADILLAC, TRAVERSE CITY, CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.

Grove and Burcham’s rezoning was denied. That may not be the end of this dispute

East Lansing City Council denied Hagan Realty’s rezoning plan for properties on the 700 block of Grove Street in September 2023. The proposal would have changed the neighborhood structure since it would increase the density of the housing options. Hagan reality was “disappointed by the result,” but they aren’t giving up new projects for that area.

Michigan ranks favorably for speed-related road deaths

SPEEDING FATAL CRASHES: Michigan has the country’s ninth-lowest rate of speeding-related fatal crashes, a new analysis shows. Neighboring Indiana ranks even better, while Ohio and Wisconsin are worse. Non-interstates are more deadly than the superhighways. The Office of Highway Safety Planning and State Police offer comments. Imcludes reference to Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR DETROIT, IRON MOUNTAIN, COLDWATER, HILLSDALE, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, MONROE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD AND ALL POINTS.

Michigan has seen a steady increase in railway-related deaths, a new report finds.

Trespasser deaths help drive rise in railway fatalities

RAILROAD DEATHS: Western Michigan University researchers see a need for more information about train-pedestrian and train-motor vehicle fatalities to combat a rising number of deaths nationally. They advocate mandatory audio and video cameras and giving crash investigators access to the recordings. They analyzed 14 West Michigan fatalities, nine involving pedestrians and five involving vehicles. We talk to MDOT and Michigan Operation Lifesaver. By Kayte Marshall. FOR LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, GREENVILLE, OCEANA COUNTY, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, TRAVERSE CITY, HARBOR SPRINGS, WKTV, LAKE COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport's newly expanded Concourse A.

Airport renaissance: new gates near you

AIRPORTS: There are capital improvement projects underway at some of Michigan’s commercial airports at a time when passenger traffic is growing for business and leisure purposes, including the state’s largest, Detroit Metro and Gerald R. Ford. Cherry Capital AIrport in Traverse City is also wracking up higher passenger numbers. Some smaller ones are struggling, however, such as those in Muskegon, Escanaba and Alpena. By Kelsey Lester. FOR CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, LUDINGTON, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, WKTV, ALPENA, ALCONA, MONTMORENCY AND ALL POINTS.

Bicyclists and a horse-drawn carriage pass bright fall foliage on Mackinac Island.

As summer fades, fall colors take center tourism stage

FALL COLORS: Pure Michigan has rolled out the webcams to livestream scenic fall spots around the state and boost tourism. A Detroit poet was commissioned to write “Keep Falling for Michigan.” Mackinac Island is gearing up for its annual Halloween weekend. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, WKTV, DETROIT, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.

Hand removal of frog-bit.

New strategy to combat exotic water plants

EXOTIC WATER PLANTS: The Army Corps of Engineers hopes a new grant strategy will help combat the invasive European frog-bit and its unwelcome water soldier relative that are spreading in the Great Lakes and inland waters. Frog-bit has been found in 12 Michigan counties, including Alpena, Chippewa, Monroe, Wayne, Montmorency, Kent and Macomb. Experts from Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Petoskey, Huron Pines in Gaylord and the Department of Great Lakes, Environment and Energy discuss. By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya. FOR ALPENA, WKTV, MONTMORENCY, MONROE, DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALCONA AND ALL POINTS.