Arts & Entertainment
Big Randy, the sturgeon in Katie Bryant’s seventh-grade class, is pictured in its tank at LakeVille Middle School. Her class is one of several Michigan science classrooms that incorporate sturgeon into their curriculum, using it to teach children about conservation and natural resources.

Kids raise prehistoric fish as a science lesson

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KIDS & STURGEON: Students at a Genesee County middle school are raising an endangered young sturgeon in their classroom to learn about conservation and environmental stewardship. It will be released into the wild in the Cass River near Frankenmuth, part of a program designed by Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a group involved with the DNR in the annual sturgeon finishing event at Black Lake near Cheboygan. Other schools participating are in Alcona, Cheboygan, Holt, Indian River, Onaway, Zeeland and Frankenmuth. By Jack Armstrong. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, CHEBOYGAN, PETOSKEY, HOLLAND, LANSING CITY PULSE, ALCONA, ALPENA AND ALL POINTS.

Commentary
Despite threats and attacks, Peruvian journalist Manuel Calloquispe continues to cover environmental controversies, saying, “I decided that if I don’t do it, who else will do it?”

Environmental journalism danger commentary

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ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM DANGERS COMMENTARY: Environmental journalism can be a high-risk calling because reporting on such issues and uncovering corruption, illegality and abuse of power threatens the economic and political clout of dishonest and incompetent government officials and corporations. We hear first-person accounts from international and U.S. environmental journalists. Commentary for news and opinion sections. By Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS.

Environment

Lansing Human Relations Department promotes National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week with Community Connect event

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Lansing’s Human Relations and Community Service Department (HRCSD) hosted its Community Connect event at the Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA) downtown transportation center as a part of National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. HRCSD has been doing this outreach event for the homeless for some years now but this is their second year holding the event at the CATA center to accommodate the increase in attendees. 

Environment
Michigan communities with the highest rates ofpPrimary and secondary syphilis

Health experts worry about rising syphilis rates

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SYPHILIS: Syphilis rates are on the rise in Michigan, especially among women, and that worries state health officials. Detroit has the highest rate, followed by Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Washtenaw and Genesee counties. There is a significant difference in rates between Black and white men. A new CDC study traces five cases of Southwest Michigan women infected after having sex with the same man. We talk to the state medical executive and a Kalamazoo County health official. By Kenzie Terpstra. FOR DETROIT, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, HOLLAND, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.

Arts & Entertainment

Great Lakes authors bare their motives

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GREAT LAKES AUTHORS: Books usually speak to readers through words and, sometimes, illustrations. But we can learn what motivated their authors by speaking directly to them,. Seven authors who wrote about Great Lakes environmental issues discuss the motivations and goals underlying their books. For news and feature sections. Edited by Eric Freedman. FOR ALL POINTS.

Education
Michigan State University assistant professor Anne Scott is testing a new method of controlling parasitic sea lampreys in northern Michigan streams.

New compound may expand sea lamprey control

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SEA LAMPREY: A recently discovered chemical compound that makes it difficult for invasive sea lamprey to find their breeding grounds in Northern Michigan streams may be a new tool for controlling a parasite that threatens Great Lakes fish. We hear from the MSU fisheries and wildlife professor who leads the research team and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. By Ben Eiler. FOR LUDINGTON, TRAVERSE CITY, MONROE, MARQUETTE, ALPENA, SAULT STE. MARIE, ALCONA, HOLLAND, OCEANA, LEELANAU, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CADILLAC, CHEBOYGAN, ST. IGNACE, BIG RAPIDS, CRAWFORD COUNTY, BAY MILLS AND ALL POINTS.

Business & Economy

Water consumption drops in Great Lake cities, study finds

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LESS WATER USE: A new study finds that residents of major Great Lakes cities, including Lansing, are using less water, a trend with economic, social and environmental implications. The relationship between per capita water use and socioeconomic factors such as income and race may prove significant as policy makers decide how to deal with inequities in distribution and affordability of water. Researchers are from the Great Lakes Commission, based in Ann Arbor, U-M and Wisconsin Sea Grant. While water use is dropping, rates and fees are rising at almost twice the rate of median household income, and water shut-offs are increasingly common. By Eric Freedman. FOR LANSING CITY PULSE, PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture

Thumb counties hit by high colorectal cancer rates

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CANCER: Residents of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties in the Thumb have a disproportionately high rate of colorectal cancer, including a higher death rate, a new study finds. Risk factors include obesity, smoking, age and an “unhealthy food environment.” Elsewhere, the lowest rate was in Houghton County, followed by Emmet, Mason, Ottawa and Ontonagon counties, Wexford and Mecosta counties were among those with the lowest rates. The highest rate was in Montmorency County, followed by Clare, Gratiot, Oscoda and Osceola counties. Gogebic, Alger and Baraga counties were among those with the highest rates. Study done by MSU faculty and a Grand Rapids physician. By Eric Freedman. FOR CLARE, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, WKTV, MONTMORENCY, MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS, IRON MOUNTAIN, BAY MILLS AND ALL POINTS.

Agriculture
Intense rains from climate change are leading to more flooded farm fields.

Changes in rain patterns create water challenges for farmers

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CLIMATE & FARMERS: Climate change means Michigan farmers not only face more intense rain at times but also drier conditions in the summer. That creates challenges in water management and irrigation practices. We talk to an Ithaca farmer dealing with the challenges,and a Michigan Farm Bureau expert. By Stephanie Rauhe. FOR MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! PLANET DETROIT, MIDLAND, LANSING AND ALL POINTS.

Environment
Deer with chronic wasting disease

Chronic wasting disease found in new county

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CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE: The discovery of CWD in Ogemaw County for the first time is worrisome amid DNR’s concerns that the disease is spreading. Midland County had its first reported case earlier this year. DNR’s rotating test sites this season are in Northwest Michigan in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford counties. For news and outdoors sections. By Kelsey Lester. FOR MIDLAND, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS, CADILLAC, BIG RAPIDS, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, LAKE COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.