Environment

Yet another downside to big snow: pollution

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By DARCIE MORAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Hoping for a quick thaw to escape the winter blues? Not so fast. A fast melt of accumulated snow could harm Michigan waters. The problem: Winter application of manure to farm fields. Rapidly melting snow runs off frozen ground and heads toward lakes and streams. It can carrying with it manure that sat on top of the snow.

Business & Economy

No surfing on frozen lakes but snow kiters fly high

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By NICK STANEK
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan’s winter surfing season is in a freeze with record-breaking lows that froze the Great Lakes. Instead of catching some waves this year, winter surfers across the state  will have to wait a few months before catching the next swell. That is because more than 50 percent of Lake Michigan is iced over, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Surfer Ben McNeil hiked over Lake Michigan’s frozen sand bars recently. After he reached the last sand bar, he gazed over the frozen lake he was surfing on this time last year.