Money from a bond voters authorized in 2002 is a big one-time boost for Michigan’s crumbling water infrastructure, but state officials say more is needed.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan environmental issues for Bridge. She joined the Bridge staff in March 2020. Previously, Kelly reported for the Oregonian, where her coverage of the environment and other topics garnered national honors and sparked state efforts to better protect Oregon’s natural resources. She has a master’s degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor’s in journalism from Michigan State University. She is from Harrison and lives in Lansing. You can reach her at khouse@bridgemi.com or on Twitter at @Kelly_M_House.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Hunter should not face charges for killing wolf, Michigan GOP lawmakers say
Twenty-seven lawmakers signed a letter defending the man who killed an endangered gray wolf in January. Wolf advocates accused them of meddling in a criminal investigation.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Good news for Michigan smelt season: PFAS levels lower than feared
State officials warned against eating too much of the silvery panfish due to high PFAS levels. Scientists now say that was an error, but aren’t yet ready to abandon fish consumption advisories altogether.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
New study: Great Lakes beaches are littered with plastic trash
A group analyzed 20 years of beach cleanup data, finding that 86% of litter is composed at least partially of plastic.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Dead wolf mystery in south Michigan deepens, prompts criminal probe
Criminal investigation comes amid questions about a how a wolf from the north woods wound up dead in Calhoun County. A hunter claims he shot the wolf, thinking it was a coyote; others are skeptical.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Meet the invasive plant that’s killing off Michigan’s spring wildflowers
Lesser celandine is spreading rapidly in Michigan’s forests, killing off trilliums and other beloved blooms. But for now, the aggressive invasive plant remains completely unregulated in the state.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
PFAS-tainted foam in Lake Huron prompts citizen outcry
After discovering sky-high PFAS levels in the foam, activists panned state environmental regulators for declining to test it earlier. State officials counter that with hundreds of PFAS sites in Michigan, their resources are stretched thin.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Sault tribe challenges Michigan fishing deal, chides ‘preposterous’ rules
With key species like whitefish nearing the brink of collapse, Michigan’s largest Native American tribe wants fewer restrictions on when, how and where its members can fish. Others contend that would imperil the fishery.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
‘Green burials’ catch on in Michigan. Cemetery controversy follows
Americans are growing more interested in green burial, which eschews embalming and non-biodegradable caskets in favor of natural decomposition. But in west Michigan, controversy over a proposed green cemetery pits neighbor-against-neighbor.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Groups sue Michigan wildlife regulators over shorter coyote hunting season
State wildlife officials shortened the season by three months to keep hunters from orphaning pups in the den. But two hunting and trapping advocacy groups argue that decision was illegal.