State officials say they’ve seen success using liquified salt on roadways, and could expand the practice to highways across Michigan. That would be good news for waterways plagued by salt pollution.
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
$1B windfall fuels toxic cleanup of Great Lakes, but uphill battle looms
Cleaning sites like the Detroit River and Saginaw Bay is a priority for spending new funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Advocates say the money is a good start but much more is needed.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Enbridge seeks to move Line 5 suit to federal court in bid to prevent shutdown
When Attorney General Dana Nessel dropped a federal lawsuit over the fate of Line 5 and reactivated a mothballed state-level suit, she had hoped for better odds before a state judge. Enbridge wants to undermine that strategy.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Lower water lead levels a glimmer of good news for Benton Harbor
Samples collected from the residents’ taps dipped below the state regulatory threshold for the first time in more than three years. But residents are still advised to drink only bottled water for now.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
High costs, few customers: Benton Harbor water woes loom for Michigan cities
The southwest Michigan city’s water system faces huge problems, from lead pipes and delayed maintenance to a shrinking population. Those issues could be coming to a Michigan city near you.
Posted inMichigan Government
Bloody drawings, a cry for help and Oxford’s choice before school shooting
It was a judgment call that went horribly wrong. Experts weigh in on the decision by Oxford High School to return a troubled student to class before a shooting rampage. Like many districts, Oxford has a policy to discourage student suspensions.
Posted inTalent & Education
Rumors of impending danger, terror-filled moments in Oxford school shooting
Students said they were aware of ominous social media posts directed toward the school. Then, in an instant, they were texting parents from barricaded classrooms, before being rescued by deputies. “Don’t look to the right,” one class was told.
Posted inTalent & Education
Oxford Michigan school shooting shows limits of heightened security
School leaders say students and staff executed their training when an active shooter struck. But a teen was able to get a handgun into Oxford High to launch a rampage. ‘Everything worked,’ said one official, ‘and it’s still a tragedy.’
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan drops one lawsuit, revisits another in Enbridge Line 5 fight
Attorney General Dana Nessel has dropped the state’s federal suit against Enbridge. But Nessel, at the request of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has reactivated a state court suit seeking to shutdown the oil pipeline.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan wildlife official cries wolf. Gray wolf advocates want him gone.
Wolf advocates want Natural Resources Commissioner James “JR” Richardson to apologize and resign after he blamed wolves for a U.P. dog that vanished. It’s not the first time pro-hunt Yoopers spread unverified wolf tales.