Environment
Map of an area scanned by SAR technology

Mars technologies comes to Michigan to find water leaks

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WATER LEAKS: The Great Lakes Water Authority and an Israeli company are using technology developed to find water on Mars to detect costly leaks in public water systems. The authority provides water to parts or all of Wayne, Monroe, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Genesee, Lapeer and Washtenaw counties. Detroit, Livonia, Pontiac, Redford Township and Walled Lake are participating in the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) project. By Vladislava Sukjanovskaya. FOR DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, MONROE AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment
The American robin, Michigan’s state bird, could be part of a legion of mental health therapists and has been logged over 19 million times on the birdwatching app eBird.

Bird songs may ease the blues

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BIRD & THE BLUES: The Great Lakes region’s more than 300 bird species may provide valuable mental health benefits, according to a new study based on data from the popular birding app eBird. It found fewer mental health-related hospitalizations in Michigan areas with high bird diversity. Coastal communities like Holland and Tawas City tend to have more species reported, while inland communities like Grand Rapids and Roscommon have fewer. By Daniel Schoenherr. FOR HOLLAND, WKTV, ALPENA, ALCONA, MONROE, LUDINGTON, OCEANA COUNTY, TRAVERSE CITY, CHEBOYGAN, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.

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

Airport renaissance: new gates near you

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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.

Agriculture
18 aquatic pathways between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins

Bubbles, electricity, designed to deter invasive carp from Lake Michigan

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INVASIVE CARP: A coalition of organizations is developing an innovative engineering project south of Chicago to block invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan. The $1.146 billion project, paid for by Michigan, Illinois and the federal government is meant to help prevent catastrophic damage to the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery and prevent untold disruption to the $15 billion boating industry. There’s also concern about grass carp in Lake Erie. We hear from U-M, the Army Corps of Engineers and Ohio DNR. By Vladislava Sukhanovskya. FOR MONROE, ALPENA, ALCONA, ST. IGNACE, MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, DETROIT, IRON RIVER, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, BENZIE COUNTY, CHEBOYGAN, OCEANA COUNTY, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, PLANET DETROIT, SAULT STE. MARIE AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

City of Muskegon approves sustainable MDOT road work

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MUSKEGON, Mich. – After some deliberation regarding the financial and practical aspects of sustainable road work, the Muskegon City Commission approved the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) proposal that would fix Sherman Road using recycled rubber. 

During the meeting, Rebecca St. Clair, a city commissioner, said she was concerned about the quality of the project and if the city would be charged twice for rebuilding if the project failed. 

“I love the idea of reusing tires in a new way that isn’t environmentally unfriendly,” St. Clair said. “I understand that this is sort of a pilot test situation.

Business & Economy

Proposed telemedicine rules could limit rural prescriptions

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TELEPRESCRIPTIONS: During the pandemic, doctors were allowed to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine instead of face-to-face appointments. But that option may be coming to an end under a proposed rule by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Doctors serving rural patients want to keep the telemedicine option. We talk to a medical director for the Thumb area, a University of Michigan health policy professor and the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. By Samuel Blatchford. FOR ALL POINTS.

Diversity Issues

Bill proposes universal mandatory lead poisoning testing for Michigan’s children 

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LEAD TESTING: Only 14% of the state’s 6 year old were tested for lead poisoning in 2021. Advocates say all should be. A package of bills would require testing of all children between 9 to 12 months and again at 2-3. High-risk kids, such as those living in pre-1978 housing, would be tested again at 6. We talk to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Alliance for Lead Safe Homes and a national nonprofit. By Jaden Beard. FOR DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS, LANSING AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy
Wind turbines, like these in Cadillac, put Michigan 17th among the states for the share of power generated by wind.

Advocates hope for big year for renewable energy 

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RENEWABLE ENERGY: Michigan ranks 22nd and 17th among the states when it comes to solar and wind-generated energy. Advocates say the state must do better. Raising the cap on the share of energy that comes from solar panels on home rooftops and other sources is one way to improve the state’s renewable energy profile. State senators from Ann Arbor and the U.P. want to require the cap to be lifted. We talk to a leader of a nonprofit promoting renewable energy, the Michigan Environmental Council, an energy business group and DTE. By Jack Timothy Harrison. FOR DETROIT, PLANET DETROIT, CORP!, MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, BAY MILLS, ST. IGNACE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, WKTV, CADILLAC and ALL POINTS.