Business & Economy
The menu at Blue Owl Coffee features drinks that take a spin on classic cocktails such as the Mackinac, which is inspired by a Manhattan. Craft coffee shops are a growing part of the coffee market.

Coffee market sees increase from craft shops

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Behind the bar there are a variety of dark colored bottles with handwritten labels and eye droppers to ensure perfect measurements. The handwritten menu has descriptions of coffees and flavorings that baristas mix to order.

The low murmur of customers working together and studying is broken when a barista calls out a name and pushes one of the coffeehouse’s signature coffee cocktails, a Mackinac, to the edge of the bar.

It’s a scene that’s repeating itself across the country as craft shops take a growing share of the coffee market.

Article

Power plants monitor groundwater for coal ash contaminants

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A new national study sharply criticized electric utilities for their handling of coal ash that contains toxic materials.

The state’s two major electric utilities, DTE Energy and Consumer’s Energy, explain how they’re remediating such problems at their coal-fired plants, including ones in Monroe, West Olive and Essexville.

We talk to the lead author of the Environmental Integrity Project study, utility representatives, the Michigan Environmental Council and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

Article

Pulitzer Prize winner Judy Walgren: 5 tips to improve our photojournalism skills

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In 1994, photojournalist Judy Walgren won the Pulitzer Prize for her work documenting female genital mutilation in Africa. Since then, Judy has completed a number of projects depicting war zones, famines, draughts and all kinds of human crisis around the globe. Today we had the opportunity to get to know Judy and ask her about her best tips to create visual impact and convey the drama behind these realities, through a photo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBvOn95XzII&feature=youtu.be

Use your grid: Judy recommends using the grid on your screen or viewfinder while working on the composition of a photo. The idea is to position your main elements on either one of the junctions on the grid.

Environment
The East Lansing Recycling Drop-off Center provides local residents with pre-sorted recycling bins as a supplement to its single-stream curbside recycling program.

Higher costs put community recycling programs at risk

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Sharply higher costs are putting strains on community recycling programs — even pushing some cities to send all of their waste to landfills instead. The problem is due in large part to the trade war with China, once the largest buyer of recyclable materials from the U.S. In January 2018, China imposed tariffs and bans on Americans’ waste materials like cardboard and plastics. That’s led to a steep drop in the price waste companies can get for raw recyclable materials. Recyclers have increased fees for processing cities’ waste to make up for those losses. Lansing paid $6.42 per ton to recycle waste gathered from its curbside recycling program in January 2018.

Health
The Grand Rapids Public Library in downtown Grand Rapids

Michigan libraries seek to stock opioid overdose meds

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Opioid overdoses have increased dramatically in America over the last two decades. A pair of bills moving through the Michigan Legislature would allow librarians to store and administer opioid overdose antidotes with legal immunity, an option many are eager to have.

News

New boat launch coming to Delhi-Holt this summer

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This summer, Delhi Township residents will have a new place for water sports and hiking. Construction has just begun on a new watercraft launch and fishing dock that will be called “Esker Park,” just northeast of the roundabout at Cedar Street and Holbrook Drive in Holt.

News

Taco Tuesday in Williamston?

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From Sunny Side Up Café to the Sun Theater and D&W Fresh Market, city officials brainstorm about what other businesses might be missing in downtown Williamston, Michigan.

“If Downtown Williamston is missing something, it is a Mexican restaurant; that would be at the top of my list,” said City Manager Corey Schmidt.