More than 10 percent of students opted out of at least one vaccine in five Michigan counties, leaving areas open to potentially deadly outbreaks. Said one ‘vaccine choice’ leader: Parents know what’s best for their children.
Rural Michigan
Posted inMichigan Government
Barry County to Dar Leaf: Election probe waste of money, defunds detective
Commissioners say election probe is a waste of money, cut funding for a third detective who was to investigate violent crime, not ballots. Separately, Leaf tried to charge a health officer for enforcing COVID orders, prosecutor says.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Nonprofit buys 31,000 forested acres by Copper Harbor to keep land public
The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental group, has paid a New York hedge fund more than $27 million for part of the land, with another purchase to come. The deal appears to put an end to fears of privatization of timberland long open to the public.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan regulators not ready to expand turkey hunting limits
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has been asked to increase annual turkey hunting limits from one bird to two. But regulators are worried that expanding limits will take out too many males, hurting breeding.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan’s housing crisis has spread to Alpena. How $100M can help.
Add northeast lower Michigan to the list of regions where there is not enough affordable housing to meet worker demand. State and local officials are taking public comment on how to spend $100 million in federal rescue funds earmarked for housing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Fresh off Palisades closure, Michigan will study state’s nuclear prospects
While Palisades’ owner considers whether to reopen the shuttered nuclear plant, Michigan will study whether new nuclear plants could make financial and environmental sense.
Posted inTalent & Education
Northern Michigan University’s new president vows to engage rural students
A Michigan native, Brock Tessman comes to the job from Montana. His priorities when he begins Feb. 1 include increasing enrollment, ensuring more students get degrees and improving opportunities for rural students.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
As septic pollution roils Higgins Lake, Michigan lawmakers consider reform
A Lansing bill would require inspection of septic systems when homes are sold. It’s meant to address worries that old systems are failing, leaking E. coli and other bacteria into waterways. The bill faces opposition from the real-estate industry.
Posted inMichigan Government
In Antrim County, economic worries replace election conspiracies among voters
The northern Michigan county was ‘ground zero’ of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election in 2020. Now, voters say their top issues are no different than the rest of the nation.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan farmers using too much fertilizer, hurting water quality efforts
Run-off promotes toxic algae blooms, but farmers and other phosphorus producers are reluctant to alter practices.