Pollution from road salt and nutrients has created a “ticking time bomb” in Church Lake. The lake’s predicament shows how the routines of modern life are quietly tainting Michigan’s waters.
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
Four ways Great Lakes winters are changing as scientists search for clues
Next week, scientists from across the Great Lakes will fan out to take a snapshot of winter beneath the ice. Here’s what we know about how climate change is affecting Great Lakes winters, and how research can help.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Lawyers may get close to $180 million in Flint water crisis settlement
Lawyers’ large cut of the $626-million settlement is justified by the years of difficult, good work on the case, a judge said Friday. Critics argue that’s too much, and that more of the money should go directly to Flint residents.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Ann Arbor pours money into green affordable housing. Will others follow?
Low-energy homes are critical to combating climate change, which is why progressive Ann Arbor is helping fund sustainable home building. But experts say good policy, as well as money, is needed for other cities to follow suit.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Attorney General now involved in Lee Chatfield sex assault probe
A spokesperson for Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office said the agency is assisting state and local police following allegations that the former Michigan House speaker sexually assaulted a then-underage student at the Christian school where he taught.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Activists push Michigan for bolder, faster climate efforts
Environmental activists have lauded Michigan’s new climate plan as a positive step toward weaning Michigan off fossil fuels, but urged state regulators to set more aggressive targets for transportation, housing, and other areas of heavy energy consumption.
Posted inChildren & Families
Michigan school run by Lee Chatfield’s family didn’t report past abuse claim
Michigan law requires educators to immediately report suspected abuse. But when a 13-year-old told Northern Michigan Christian Academy officials her teacher sexually assaulted her in 2004, they didn’t call police or child protection workers.
Posted inChildren & Families
Citing likely suit, Lee Chatfield accuser demands church, school save info
Lawyers for Rebekah Chatfield are racing to ensure that no records relating to her claim that Lee Chatfield sexually assaulted her are destroyed as her legal team gathers evidence for a possible lawsuit against the former Michigan House speaker.
Posted inChildren & Families
From pulpit, Lee Chatfield’s father declares ‘the truth will come forward’
“You can’t believe everything you read in a newspaper,” pastor Rusty Chatfield told congregants at his northern Michigan church, two days after Bridge Michigan published a report in which Lee Chatfield was accused of sexually assaulting a teen at the affiliated Christian school.
Posted inChildren & Families
Sister-in-law: Ex-MI House Speaker Lee Chatfield sexually assaulted me as teen
She said Chatfield groomed and then assaulted her when she was a 15- or 16-year-old student at a Chatfield family-run Christian school in northern Michigan where he taught. She said the assaults continued for years before she filed a police report in December.