Michigan News & Current Events | Public News Service

In 1981, the United Nations adopted a resolution encouraging the need for an International Day of Peace. The celebration was observed for the first time in 1982. (ananaline/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Honoring peace in polarized times: Midland marks International Day of Peace

In cities across the globe, including the Michigan city of Midland, various organizations are commemorating International Day of Peace today…

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy. It has gained momentum since it was first observed in 2012. (Robert Yap/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Today is National Voter Registration Day

Today is National Voter Registration Day. Michiganders have many locations where they can register to vote, such as community colleges, universities…

Tonight: Great Lakes Documentary Premieres in Traverse City

They're calling it an "adventure conservation documentary," and the film has its first showing tonight in Traverse City. "Troubled Water" chronicles …

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing standards to regulate emissions from five unmeasured fugitive and intermittent particulate sources. (Aaron/Adobe Stock)

Comments About EPA's Proposed Rules for Blast Furnaces Ends Today

Emission standards for blast furnaces such as the iron and steel mills in Michigan haven't been updated in years. The Environmental Protection …

The AARP's Andrus Awards are held once a year in each participating state, and also nationally.(piter2121/Adobe Stock)

Last Call for Nominations for AARP-Michigan Volunteer Award

Anyone can nominate a Michigan resident over age 50 for one of AARP's most prestigious awards, but it must be done by Friday. The Andrus Awards are …

Water Equals Life is a coalition of water justice advocates, environmental groups and social justice groups who have come together in a statewide campaign to ensure everyone's basic human need for access to clean, safe, and affordable water is met, regardless of income. (Bovart/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Residents Pay Among Highest Water Bills in U.S.

Michigan water rates have surged more than 40% since 2010, and it is a trend that's expected to continue as cities and utilities work to upgrade …

Fermi 2 is a 1,198 MWe General Electric boiling water reactor that began operations in 1985.(spiritofamerica/Adobe Stock)

DTE Energy Nuclear Plant Closed for Almost 3 Weeks

The Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant has been closed for repairs for almost three weeks. Local residents and advocacy groups in Monroe County are voicing …

An estimated 2.4 million people work on farms and ranches nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. (Stiefi/Adobe Stock)

No Heat Protections for Michigan Outdoor Workers

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by …

Some 70% of Michigan residents are either currently providing care or have provided care in the past for an adult relative or friend. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Adults Strive to Stay Mentally Sharp as They Age

AARP Michigan's Vital Voices survey results are in, and more than 700 Michigan adults 45 and older say they are most concerned with staying mentally …

The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Voting Rights Act and the Helping America Vote Act, as well as Michigan election laws, require accessible voting for all. The policies have been in place for decades. (PondShots/Adobe Stock)

Poll Accessibility Could Mean 60 Million More Voters

In Michigan and across the country, nearly 25% of the population encounters challenges in voting and accessing the polls. The Carter Center and …

Tesla, Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai are the top four sellers of EVs in the United States. Chevrolet and Ford make theirs in Michigan. (uhdenis/Adobe Stock)

MI Makes Electric Vehicles. Are Michiganders Buying Them?

New car prices are dropping, with electric vehicle price tags leading the way. Will more drivers in Michigan decide to buy? Supply chain issues and …

According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct chest-compression rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. (9dreamstudio/Adobe Stock)

From Beyoncé to 'Baby Shark,' the Right Tune Can Save a Life

With popular artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift touring Michigan this summer, the American Heart Association is reminding people that some of …

The new Ben L. Silberstein Institute for Brain Health is expected to expedite neurodiagnostic and treatment breakthroughs for real-world brain disorders, both in children and adults. (Sneihit Photo/Adobe Stock)

Michigan University to Establish Brain Health Institute

Detroit's Wayne State University is gearing up to establish an institute on brain health, thanks to a $20 million donation. The Ben L. Silberstein …

Detroit Action hosts a Black August event where it strives to reimagine a world through an abolitionist point of view and healing-justice policies. (SmartArt/Adobe Stock)

Art Collaboration This Weekend for Black August in Detroit

Communities around the country and in Michigan are celebrating Black August and promoting liberation of all diversities. Anthony Baber, director of …

In 2018, Michigan's Proposal 3 was touted as a

Report Cites 'Flawed' Voter Purges as Unfair

There are many good reasons for states to update their voter rolls in preparation for elections, but a new report contended many are too zealous …

Michigan allocated $70 million and lowered the age restriction to expand Michigan Reconnect. Flint-based Mott Community College is among the state's 31 community and tribal colleges. (Courtesy of Mott Community College)

Michigan Doubles Down on Free Community College

Building on the success of a $140 million investment, Michigan is making community college free to hundreds of thousands more students by expanding …

Some 710,500 households currently receive SNAP benefits in Michigan, including more than 531,000 Michigan children (Maksim Kostenko/ Adobe Stock)

Major Win for Michigan with SNAP Asset Test Gone

Michigan families no longer need to spend down their savings and be restricted to having only $15,000 in assets to receive SNAP benefits. Gov…

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices were 4.7% higher in June than they were at the same time last year. (Voyagerix/Adobe Stock)

MI, Feds to Investigate Possible Food Price Gouging

Attorneys general from more than 30 states, including Michigan, just announced a bipartisan effort to bring down costs and create more choices at the …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Adverse Childhood Experiences can have lasting effects on a person's health, behaviors and life. (TSViPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Hope for Michigan's Victims of Toxic Childhood Stress

Caregivers should be on alert for stressors among youth during the summer when children are spending more time at home. Adverse Childhood …

Harmful algal blooms typically occur in Michigan during the summer months and can last well into the fall. (sunday_morning/Adobe Stock)

Watch for Harmful Algal Blooms in MI Recreational Waters

Michigan residents are being warned to be prepared for another season of harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. The Michigan Department of …

A Nov. 2022 report suggested Michigan fund school transportation needs separately from other education costs, because those needs vary so widely. (oneinchpunch/Adobe Stock)

MI Schools Explore Ways to Battle Chronic Absenteeism

It's hard for kids to think about going back to school quite yet but districts in Michigan are already thinking about how to keep them coming to schoo…

Route Zero Relay recently launched a nine-city tour starting in Los Angeles, California; and made a stop in Motor City, Detroit. The initiative centered around promoting a reduction in pollution from automobiles and more environmentally-friendly transportation and public policy across the country. (chartphoto/Adobe Stock)

Detroit Part of National Tour to Promote Electric Vehicles, New EPA Rules

Cleaner cars and lower emissions across Michigan and the nation are the goals of an event by environmental groups. They are calling attention to an …

Black people, especially women and girls, have endured countless hair services, sometimes painful and damaging to the hair, to maintain hairstyles that might make them less likely to encounter discrimination. (chomplearn_2001/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Latest State to Make the CROWN Act Law

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the CROWN Act into law this month, she tweeted she is "proud to take action to make Michigan a more equitable and …

American families say the lack of cost-effective and available child care is a major problem in their lives, according to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

MI Finishes in Bottom Half of Child Well-Being Rankings

Michigan continues to be ranked in the bottom half of U.S. states for child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book. This year's …

The Urban Wood Network was formally established in 2016 after multiple state chapters were awarded a USDA Forest Service grant. (Adobe Stock)

Wood Products From Urban Sources a Growing Trend

By Liam Jackson for Great Lakes Echo.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Michigan News Connection with support from the Solutions Journalism Network…

Data from the Prison Policy Institute shows that of the approximately 1 million inmates in state prisons across the United States, one in eight, or 13%, is older than 55. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Awarded to Study Improving Health Care for Imprisoned Seniors

Longer sentences handed out for major crimes in Michigan and other states over the past few decades mean a larger portion of people in state and feder…

More than 50 anti-Muslim hate groups were operating in the United States in 2021, according to the Southern Policy Law Center. Many groups target Muslims by the way they dress. (Adobe Stock)

Muslim Rights Group Sues Michigan Sheriff Over Forced Hijab Removal

A Muslim rights group is taking the Kent County Sheriff's Office to court for forcing a Michigan woman to remove her hijab for a booking photo…

Some 17% of formal complaints made to the Department of Civil Rights are related to housing, according to a legislative analysis of Senate Bill 207. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

MI Bills Could Prohibit Landlords' Source-of-Income Discrimination

People cannot be denied a place to live based on their race or disability in Michigan, but some are being turned down based on where they get the …

Michigan reached a historic low in teen pregnancies in 2020, at just over 12 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19. (Nicholas Felix/peopleimages.com)

MI Women's Health Needs Begin in Adolescence

The need for Michigan women to prioritize their health doesn't stop when National Women's Health Month ends this week. One expert said it is time to …

Black employees encounter discrimination against appearance of natural hairstyles including but not limited to braids, dreadlocks, twists and Afros. (Olesia Bilkei/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Senate Passes CROWN Act to Prevent Hair Discrimination

The Michigan Senate has passed legislation to confirm wearing natural hair should not prevent anyone from rising in the workplace, in education or in …

Research has found that about 90% of individuals who die by suicide experience mental illness, which oftentimes is undiagnosed or untreated. (Adobe Stock)

Hospitals Collaborate on Best Suicide Prevention Practices

Trinity Health Michigan is joining a new nationwide network of hospitals collaborating on suicide prevention. Research shows nearly half the people …

Miigwech Inc. represents 12 federally recognized tribes. (Philip Hutchinson/Northern Territory Photography)

Our Vote as Our Voice: Rocking the Native Vote in Michigan

With elections on the horizon, Indigenous groups in Michigan are educating native communities about how they can make their voices heard to make …

Veridian at County Farm is on County Farm Park with 130 acres of woods, trillium-lined trails, gardens and playgrounds. (Romolo Tavani/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Community Paves Way for 'Net-Zero' Living

By Genevieve Fox for Great Lakes Echo.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Michigan News Connection with support from the Solutions Journalism Net…

According to the Lake Carriers' Association, the Great Lakes fleet moves more than 90 million tons of cargo annually. (icholakov/Adobe Stock)

Could Great Lakes’ Cargo Fleet 'Go Green?'

By Audrey Richardson for Great Lakes Echo.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection reporting for Solutions Journalism-Public Ne…

Learning to debate helps develop students' critical thinking skills, according to the American Debate League. (Adobe Stock)

Community Groups Encourage Open Dialogue After Controversy at Michigan High School

After controversy erupted over Palestinian American activist and lawyer Huiwada Arraf's speech at a Michigan high school, community groups are …

More than one in four restaurant workers said they'll leave the profession within a year, according to survey by KURU Footwear, which polled 800 U.S. workers in the food/restaurant service industry last December. (Adobe Stock)

Public Weighs In on How Non-Complete Agreements Impact Workers

Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission said it intends to ban non-compete agreements, and hundreds of people have submitted comments on the …

The Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline runs for four miles on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, carrying millions of gallons of crude each day from Canada to Michigan. (Adobe Stock)

Michigan Tribes, Others File Grievance With UN Over Line 5 Project

Representatives of 51 tribes and First Nations have presented a demand to the United Nations to call on Canada to end its support for the Enbridge Lin…

Currently, Michigan has no statewide law protecting families from discrimination based on their use of Housing Choice Vouchers or other non-wage sources of income. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aims to Curb Discrimination for MI Families with Housing Vouchers

A new report found thousands of Michigan families using Housing Choice Vouchers are often left out in the cold by landlords who refuse to rent to them…

The U.S. Census Bureau says Asian-Pacific Islanders make up a growing part of America's immigrant community. (Adobe Stock)

Community Group Helps Asian-Pacific Island Migrants Adjust to Life in U.S.

Thousands of immigrants arrive in the United States every year, knowing very little about the language, culture and civic ways of their new homeland…

DTE Energy's 52-year-old power station, one of the most polluting coal-fired plants in the country, is scheduled to be decommissioned by 2028. (Wikimedia Commons)

EPA Proposal Would Reduce Emissions from MI Coal Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules to limit emissions of mercury and other pollutants from coal-fired power plants. Experts say …

Ann Arbor's A2Zero program is designed to transform the city of 125,000 to carbon neutrality by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Ann Arbor initiative Aims to Render the City Carbon Neutral by 2030

By Avery Schuyler Nunn for Grist.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collabo…

In 2021, some 241,000 new apprentices entered the national apprenticeship system, but a new policy report says Black workers are still underrepresented. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black Workers Need More Opportunities for Apprenticeships

Labor leaders and various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship …

The Warrior Way Back program at Wayne State University works with older students who may have families or jobs competing for their study time. (digitalskillet/Adobe Stock)

University Makes It Easier for Former Students to Return, Finish Degree

Everyone starts college with pretty much the same dream - to earn a degree and have a better life. But sometimes life gets in the way, and dreams get …

The Enbridge Line 5 pipeline carries oil and gas products from Canada to Michigan, where it is distributed across the Midwest. (Dragon Claws/Adobe Stock)

Feds Postpone Permit to Build Line 5 Tunnel Under Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced an 18-month delay in permitting a controversial oil-tunnel construction project under the Great Lakes…

Senate Bill 4 amends Michigan's 1976 Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It comes after the Michigan State Supreme Court ruled that state law currently provides protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Iliya Mitskavets/Adobe Stock)

MI Approves Extending Civil Rights to LGBTQ Community

Advocates for Michigan's LGBTQ community are calling lawmakers' move to expand the state's civil rights law to include them a victory that's "been a l…

A project to reclaim empty and abandoned lots across Detroit has brought a host of native plants and animals to communities across the city. (amphiphan/Adobe Stock)

Detroit Arboretum, Zoo Lead Connected-Habitat Restoration Project

By Tom Perkins for Planet Detroit.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection with support from the Solutions Journalism Network…

Mexico and Canada are the largest importers of meat into the United States, but other countries such as Brazil, Australia and Japan sell significant amounts of beef, pork and lamb here, as well. (Grecaud Paul/Adobe Stock)

USDA Proposes New Rules on Who Can Use 'Product of USA' Labels

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled "Product of USA." Current regulations allow …

Union representatives hope the labor movement in Michigan will rebound if the legislature repeals the state's

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Michigan Democrats Take Major Step to Roll Back Right-to-Work Law

Michigan Democrats took a major step toward one of their top legislative priorities this week by passing a measure in the House to roll back the state…

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