As a devastating fungus wipes out hibernating bat species across the country, tens of thousands of bats in a dam in the Manistee River appear largely unaffected. Scientists are racing to understand why.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan's environment for Bridge Michigan, with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change, industrial pollution, water quality and wildlife. She joined Bridge in March 2020 after reporting for the Oregonian, where her coverage earned national honors and sparked efforts to better protect Oregon's natural resources. Kelly holds a master's degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University.
Kelly grew up in Harrison and is based in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Appeals court dismisses effort to charge Rick Snyder in Flint water case
The decision leaves in place a lower court’s dismissal of charges against former Gov. Rick Snyder, but state lawyers could again file to appeal.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan moves to end threat of jail to hunters who fail to report deer kills
New bills with bipartisan support would lower the penalty for failing to report a deer kill, from a misdemeanor to a civil fine. The effort comes on the heels of Michigan’s first year of mandatory deer reporting.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
EPA seeks lower PFAS drinking water standard: What it means for Michigan
The new standards, which could take effect this year, would be stricter than Michigan’s existing standards. EPA officials acknowledged it’s unsafe to drink virtually any of two PFAS compounds, but set proposed limits at the lowest amount technology can detect.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan mallards are in decline. Are domestic ducks weakening their genes?
Commercial game farms have long raised and released domestic ducks for hunters to target. Research shows those ducks are breeding with wild mallards, weakening their genes and possibly threatening their survival.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Few good options for shrinking Michigan’s problem deer herds
Deer are invading Michigan’s suburbs, resulting in car crashes, habitat destruction and disease concerns. But affectedMichigan communities probably can’t sterilize or kill enough deer to reverse the trend.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
U.S. Judge: Flint has 5 months to finish long-overdue lead pipe replacement
The $97 million project was originally supposed to be done by 2020. City officials blame the COVID-19 pandemic, supply shortages and unreliable contractors for the delay.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Court: Nessel can try again to return Line 5 lawsuit to state court
Legal experts say Michigan has a better chance of persuading a state court to shut down the pipeline, while Enbridge is more likely to prevail in federal court.
Posted inTalent & Education
On ‘Spartan Stronger’ website, Michigan State students process their grief
MSU student Kirin Krafthefer created the site as a forum for MSU students to share their experiences from the campus shooting. She said students are too often left out of debates about how to prevent and respond to mass shootings, when they “should be leading this conversation.”
Posted inTalent & Education
MSU returns to class with unease, determination and more empty seats
MSU students described their return to class Monday as anything but normal, yet many called it a necessary step in the long road back to normalcy. Some professors eased students slowly back into academic life, while others proceeded without change.