Community was the theme of the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission on Mar. 29. The commission invited local and national experts to discuss the use of force by police. The hearing was called after a petition was raised by the people of East Lansing following the shooting of DeAnthony VanAtten in April of last year.
Health
Mental health resources expand for first responders
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LAW ENFORCEMENT MENTAL HEALTH: Law enforcement personnel and other first responders face mental health problems from the demands of their jobs, and there are growing resources to help them. We hear from the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Police Officers Association of Michigan and Frontline Strong Together based at Wayne State. By Anish Topawala. FOR DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Agencies, lawmakers act against child labor abuses
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CHILD LABOR: Federal and state agencies have been taking action against employers who hire underage workers following news reports of child labor abuses at a Kentwood company and elsewhere. Pending legislation is intended to crack down on illegal child labor and protect whistleblowers. We hear from the lead sponsor from East Grand Rapids, Michigan Immigration Rights Center in Grand Rapids and federal and state labor agencies. The other sponsor is from Muskegon. For business and news sections. By Alex Walters. FOR CORP! GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, WKTV, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Environment
Researchers pioneer method to combat swimmer’s itch by relocating ducks
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SWIMMER’S ITCH: Researchers from U-M, Hope College and Calvin University have designed a new system to relocate infected mallards from inland lakes where they cause swimmer’s itch. We talk to the Larks Lake Association in Emmet County. Other participating associations are at Higgins Lake in Roscommon County, Crystal Lake in Benzie County and Cheboygan County’s Black and Douglas Lakes. Ducks are being relocated to beaches on Lakes Huron and Michigan. By Alex Walters. FOR PETOSKEY, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, HARBOR SPRINGS, CRAWFORD COUNTY, CLARE COUNTY, BIG RAPIDS, GLADWIN COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.
News
Road rage: How Michigan promotes efforts to keep drivers safe
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ROAD RAGE: Only 0.03% of car crash fatalities in the state are caused by road rage or aggressive driving, making Michigan the fourth-safest state for road rage deaths. However, experts warn that anger still plagues Michigan’s roads. Recent incidents include crashes in Ottawa County, Traverse City and Rockford. Includes references to Hillsdale, Lenawee, Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties. We hear from the State Police and the founder of a Detroit-based road safety group. By Theo Scheer. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, GREENVILLE, WKTV, DETROIT, HOLLAND, HILLSDALE, ADRIAN, BLISSFIELD AND ALL POINTS.
Arts & Entertainment
Proposal would restrict deepfake images depicting sexual content
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DEEPFAKES: A Vassar lawmaker wants to crack down on deepfakes, which are photos or videos with digitally altered faces or bodies to appear to be someone else, usually used maliciously or to spread false information. The legislation raises First Amendment free speech questions. Cosponsors include representatives from Metro Detroit. An expert at Western Michigan University’s Cooley Law School discusses. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, LANSING CITY PULSE AND ALL POINTS.
Agriculture
Scientists alarmed by high levels of toxic forever chemicals in fishÂ
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TOXICS IN FISH: Every fish studied in the Rouge River and Huron River watersheds contained at least one of a family of toxic and persistent health-threatening chemicals, say researchers at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor and Indiana University. We also talk to experts at MSU and the EPA. By Ruth Thornton. FOR PLANET DETROIT, DETROIT, MONROE, MICHIGAN FARM NEWS AND ALL POINTS.
Environment
Record low Great Lakes ice jump-starts Michigan’s severe weather season
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LOW ICE: Unusually low winter ice levels on the Great Lakes don’t bode well for the spring and summer weather, meteorology experts say. Stormy skies ahead. By Clara Linconhol. FOR MARQUETTE, IRON MOUNTAIN, ALPENA, ALCONA, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, CHEBOYGAN, TRAVERSE CITY, MONROE, TRAVERSE CITY, PETOSKEY, LEELANAU, HARBOR SPRINGS, HOLLAND, LUDINGTON, OCEANA COUNTY AND ALL POINTS.
Greater Lansing Community News
East Lansing City Council approves two major road projects near MSU
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Two new projects have been approved by the City Council that could change traffic patterns for many in the Greater Lansing area. The projects mainly focus on Trowbridge and Hagadorn roads and switching them from four-lane to three-lane roads, with improved crosswalks and biking lanes.
Elections & Politics
Challenges, reduced public trust confront local health agencies
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RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH. Public health agencies and their employee in rural areas have been facing lower public trust in their work since the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk to the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, the district director whose agency covers Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola and Roscommon counties, and the former health officer for Ingham and Kalamazoo counties. Public health departments in the UP and Northern Lower Peninsula are funding TV and social media campaigns that portray their staff as everyday members of the community. Includes Ottawa County reference. By Alex Walters. FOR CLARE, GLADWIN, BIG RAPIDS, MARQUETTE, CADILLAC, BAY MILLS, IRON MOUNTAIN, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, LANSING CITY PULSE PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU, GREENVILLE, CHEBOYGAN, LUDINGTON, HOLLAND, WKTV, MONTMORENCY, ALCONA, ALPENA AND ALL POINTS.
Education
Legislation would require state-funded defibrillators at high school athletic events
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DEFIBRILLATORS: Pending legislation would require all public and charter schools to have cardiac emergency plans and all coaching staff to be trained to use computerized defibrillators called automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. A Detroit high school basketball player died of cardiac arrest. Sponsors include lawmakers from Detroit and Wyoming. Supporters include the Michigan High School Athletic Association, Detroit Lions, state Education Department and Michigan State Medical Society. For news and sports sections. By Sophia Ceru. FOR DETROIT, GREENVILLE, WKTV AND ALL POINTS.