On March 24, the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center held a de-stress, cow-petting event for the community.Â
Arts & Entertainment
Lightning Robotics brings the fun of STEM to Plymouth
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Photos by Kira Gendjar
PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Each year, Lightning Robotics puts on its annual Robots in the Park event in Plymouth, Michigan. Composed of a team of students, these high schoolers and their numerous supportive mentors worked hard to make this completely free event an engaging learning environment and an overall success. Hosted in Kellogg Park, the grass and nearby gathering area were filled with hands-on activities and demonstrations geared towards elementary children to introduce them to the fun world of STEM. Lightning Robotics has been running out of Canton High School for the past 26 years. The program is primarily comprised of Plymouth-Canton Educational Park students.
Arts & Entertainment
Arts & Scraps: Reusing materials to combat climate changeÂ
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ARTS & SCRAPS: A Detroit nonprofit is working with youth on projects and activities that reuse materials in creative ways, promotes sustainability and reduces waste is part of the city’s effort to combat climate change. By Jada Vasser. FOR ALL POINTS.
Education
Researchers use drones to find elusive Michigan rattlesnakeÂ
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DRONES & SNAKES: Faculty and student researchers from Grand Valley State University are using a drone-mounted camera to locate the rare and secretive eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Michigan’s only venomous snake. We go into the field with them near Hastings to see how it’s done. By Ruth Thorton. FOR ALL POINTS.
Education
Moose lessons: What they can teach us about human aging
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AGING MOOSE: Getting old can be rough. Osteoporosis. Osteoarthritis. Periodontitis – a trio of chronic diseases that make bones fragile, make joints degenerate and make teeth become loose. That triple-whammy also besets moose, say Michigan Technological University and Duke University researchers who’ve studied the bones of 180 moose that died of natural causes in Isle Royale National Park. By Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS.
Arts & Entertainment
Butterflies race for state insect status
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BUTTERFLIES: Three butterflies are racing to become Michigan’s official state insect – and the black swallowtail is ahead, at least politically. The Michigan Garden Clubs and a House committee are among its fans, but the Karner blue and the monarch aren’t out of the running yet. Lawmakers, including ones from Meridian Township, Muskegon and Pontiac, are split. By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya. FOR ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
State pushes to expand free pre-K programs
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FREE PRE-K: The governor is pushing to expand free pre-K programs for 4-year-olds. We hear from the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency and a Wyoming legislator who is enthusiastic about its potential benefits. By Sophia Ceru. FOR GREENVILLE, WKTV, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
Education
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
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.
Autos & Manufacturing
Michigan manufacturers work to expand engineering training to high schools
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PRIME PROGRAM: The Michigan Manufacturers Association plans to expand its PRIME program that teaches high schoolers skills and technologies that are badly needed by the manufacturing sector. We talk to the association and a Grand Haven High School teacher. Among other participating high schools are ones in Alpena, Hancock, Rudyard, Pontiac. Cheboygan, Grand Rapids, Three Rivers and Bay City, with Traverse City slated to join later this year. By Sophia Ceru. FOR CORP!, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, HOLLAND, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, MIDLAND, DETROIT, THREE RIVERS, STURGIS, MARQUETTE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Controversial loan program benefits Michigan collegesÂ
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COLLEGE LOANS: Five Michigan colleges have taken advantage of a USDA loan program for rural and agricultural areas to finance new buildings and facilities. Alma College’s president says the $39.4 million it borrowed has paid off in rising enrollment. Others are Adrian University of Olivet, Glen Oaks Community College and Bay Mills Community College. The Michigan Association of Independent Colleges and Universities says the benefits are visible on participating campuses. Some rural borrowers nationally haven’t seen the expected benefits, however. By Elijah Taub. FOR ADRIAN, BAY MILLS, MARQUETTE, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS AND ALL POINTS.