Michigan News & Current Events | Public News Service

A new report on the cost of water bills estimates that 6.7% of Michigan consumers, or 668,000 residents, pay more for water than they can afford. (motiontion/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Report Urges Water-Affordability Strategy to Help Low-Income Michiganders

Residential water rates in Michigan are soaring, with an estimated one out of ten households without access to or unable to afford clean water…

Students in the Career Launch Program learn a trade through working several hours a week on a flexible schedule, with competitive wages increased at regular intervals. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Schools See Apprenticeship Programs as Alternatives to College Prep

With the cost of a four-year college education approaching six figures at some institutions, many students are looking at apprenticeships to train …

A study by the Healthcare Cost Institute found the average price of insulin has nearly doubled since 2012. (neirfy/Adobe stock)

New Programs Bring Help for Diabetics Struggling to Afford Insulin

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and more than 900,000 Michiganders have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the American …

The EPA claims that the EES Coke Battery plant has emitted thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide annually beyond its permitted limit of 2,100 tons. (Wikipedia)<br />

Detroit Neighborhood in Court to Hold Industrial Polluter Accountable

Members of a Detroit-area community are intervening in an Environmental Protection Agency lawsuit against a DTE Energy subsidiary charged with dumping…

Conservation efforts by the National Wildlife Federation and other conservation groups restored the U.S. wild turkey population from near extinction to thriving in almost every state in the country. (Mataman/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists: Recovering America's Wildlife Act Critical to Save Species

Environmental groups are calling efforts over the past half-century to restore the wild turkey population from the brink of extinction one of America'…

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty (elvis santana/Adobe Stock)">

Program Aims to Alleviate Stress, Prevent Suicides Among MI First Responders

First responders experience some of the most horrific events in modern life and often carry huge loads of stress home from their jobs. A new program …

The Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting record-breaking winter temperatures and warns Michiganders to get ready to

Forecast: Cold, Snowy Winter Could Hit Michiganders in Their Wallets

Forecasters are predicting extreme cold and wet weather for Michigan and the upper Midwest this winter, and experts warn that high energy bills could …

Michigan is one of three states with abortion-rights referendums on the ballot for Tuesday's midterm elections. (Longfin Media/Adobe Stock)

MI Study: Banning Abortion Affects Women's Economic Well-Being

The debate surrounding abortion often turns on emotional and moral issues, but a Michigan-based policy institute says the economic impact of …

Michigan elections officials say most of the ballots from next week's midterm elections should be counted within several hours after the polls close, but final results could take a few days. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

MI Election Officials Wary of GOP-Trained Poll Workers Disrupting Midterms

Elections officials in Michigan and other states are on the lookout for organized disruptions of Tuesday's midterm elections, but say they're …

The Guttmacher Institute, a health-policy think tank, says as October began, 66 clinics across 15 states had been forced to stop offering abortions. (rocketimages/Adobe Stock)

Doctors Tell of Patients' Hardships after Roe is Overturned

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

In 2022, almost 250,000 Michigan residents purchased their health coverage online through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. (Maksym Yemelyanov/Adobe Stock)

Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 in Michigan

Open-enrollment season for health insurance is upon us, and Michiganders who want to get the right kinds of coverage have a lot to consider. More …

The 2022 NAEP Long-Term Trend results for 9-year-olds showed the first-ever declines in math and the largest drop in reading achievement since the 1980s. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Educators Urge Action to Reverse Low Student Test Scores

Educators are deeply concerned but not surprised with newly released test results showing how far behind Michigan students have fallen during the pand…

Many people are surprised to learn that American Sign Language is the third-most common language in the United States, after English and Spanish. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Adds American Sign Language to Teaching Curriculum

Deaf people say they sometimes feel like they're living on a different planet from those who can hear, but when both learn to use American Sign …

Access to broadband internet can bring students higher grades, make older adults less isolated, keep nursing home residents out of the hospital, and increase revenues for small businesses, according to the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office. (a_korn/Adobe Stock)

Partnership Connects Struggling MI Families with Low-Cost Broadband

Broadband internet has become a necessity for Americans to stay connected, but almost 1 million Michigan residents do not have access or face …

This study finds conservatives and liberals alike underestimate the level of support for climate action among their fellow Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Most Folks Underestimate Support for Climate Mitigation Policies

The political divide over climate change seems well entrenched, but a recent study suggests the conventional wisdom is wrong. The study, published …

The 26,000-foot Mackinac Bridge runs over the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Michigan's Upper Peninsula with the main part of the state. (Kenneth Kiefer/Adobe Stock)

MI Environmental Groups Oppose Oil Pipeline Project Under Great Lakes

The long-running feud between Canadian energy giant Enbridge and a coalition of Michigan environmentalists and tribal nations has reached another mile…

The U.S. Postal Service expects this year it will deliver more than 12 billion letters, cards and packages between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. (lovelyday12/Adobe Stock)

Postal Workers Brace for Rush of Holiday Packages, Letters

The U.S. Postal Service is hiring 28,000 seasonal employees ahead of the surge in end-of-year holiday letters and packages for facilities in Michigan …

Asian carp are known for their jumping ability, and officials are concerned that if their numbers are allowed to grow, they could devastate the entire Great Lakes ecology. (National Wildlife Federation)

Film Chronicles Fight to Keep Invasive Carp Out of Great Lakes

A new film documenting the battle to prevent an invasive species of Asian carp from taking hold in the Great Lakes is drawing large numbers of viewers…

The number of absentee ballots requested by Michigan voters increased by 73% between the 2018 and 2020 elections, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. (JimCanally/Adobe Stock)

Voter Advocates Say Absentee Ballots Take Hassle Out of Election Day

CLARIFICATION: Lynna Kaucheck is the communications manager for Progress Michigan, and the group is not a sponsor of MichiganVoting.org. Dates to …

The energy industry reports a transition to 100% electric vehicle sales and a clean electricity grid by 2035 could save consumers $2.7 trillion. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)

Energy Companies Developing Infrastructure, Grid to Power Electric Vehicles

For some time, electric vehicles have been seen as the wave of the future, but developments in Detroit, Stuttgart, and Nagoya suggest tomorrow has …

The five prize-winners at Saturday's Midland Day of Peace festival will each release a dove to signify the value of peacemaking. (Okea/Adobe Stock)

City of Midland, Groups Plan Celebration of International Day of Peace

In a world filled with conflict, one city in Michigan is celebrating its status as an International City of Peace. A group of nonprofit …

Michigan voters will decide on a number of races and proposals on the Nov. 8 midterm elections. (1STunningART/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Say it's Time to Get Ready to Vote in Midterm Elections

The midterm elections are coming up on Nov. 8, and advocates are reminding Michiganders to plan now on how, when, and where they will cast their …

The area known as Squaw Bay near Alpena in northeast Michigan has been renamed Birdsong Bay by the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Pixabay)

Interior Review Finds Hundreds of Place Names with Indigenous Slurs

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Michigan and across the country, containing …

PFAS contamination has been confirmed at 228 sites in Michigan. (Adobe Stock)

Great Lakes Groups Call Proposed EPA PFAS Rule a 'Watershed' Moment

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule that will designate two "forever chemicals" as dangerous. PFOA and PFOS are PFAS chemicals …

The RECOMPETE Act establishes a federal block-grant program to empower small, economically distressed communities. (Atstock/Adobe Stock)

RECOMPETE Act Could Bring New Jobs to Rural Michigan

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural communities a leg up when applying for federal dollars. The CHIPS Act, passed last month, aims to …

The biomass process, also called anaerobic digestion, uses waste products from farm animals and plants to extract methane and generate power. (Olivo/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Call Biomass Proposal 'Flawed, Inefficient'

Environmental advocates are calling a Michigan proposal to use animal and industrial waste as a source of "renewable natural gas" for power generation…

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, water levels in Lakes Michigan and Huron have risen during the last decade from around 577 feet to 582 feet. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act Provides Hope for Michigan's Climate-Change Policies

With the Inflation Reduction Act now law, many states are beginning to bring their climate goals to fruition. In the last decade, Michigan has seen …

Judge Douglas Shapiro reinstates $12 minimum wage for all Michigan workers. (David Carillet/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Workers Win Minimum-Wage Increase, Paid Sick Leave

Workers in Michigan won major victories recently as a minimum-wage increase and employer paid sick time program were reinstated by court order…

Roughly 16% of Michigan's 2.1 million children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Reports Offer Holistic View of Child Well-Being in Michigan

A pair of research reports are providing a holistic perspective on how Michigan children are faring in the key measures of well-being. The 50-state 2…

In a recent poll, 51% of Michigan voters said they have skipped or delayed getting the health care they need because they are concerned about how much it will cost. (Damir Khabirov/AdobeStock)

Michiganders: Out-of-Pocket Health-Care Costs Devastating Family Budgets

Congress is considering a major legislative package which could affect not only investments in climate change, but the affordability of health care…

Millions of dollars in outside spending have entered Michigan's primary race. (Adobe Stock)

Progressive Jewish Voters Sound Alarms About Outside Spending in MI Primary

CORRECTION: The organization's name is Jewish Voice for Peace Action. (8:05 a.m. MST, Aug. 1, 2022) Tomorrow is the primary election in Michigan…

One project in Michigan receiving an AARP Community Challenge grant plans to foster an environment of healthy eating and physical activity through community gardening. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Grants Awarded to MI Groups to Make Communities More Age-Friendly

Five projects in Michigan have been awarded grants from AARP to make communities more livable, especially for older residents. Types of projects …

Michigan does not allow split-ticket voting in the primary election. (Adobe Stock)

MI Voting Rights Group: Make a Plan to Vote Next Week

Next Tuesday is the primary election in Michigan, and groups such as the Voting Access for All Coalition are encouraging people to make a plan to …

A report from the USPS Office of the Inspector General finds while upfront costs for electric vehicles may be greater, the Postal Service would save money over time by deploying more EVs. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

EV Advocates: Electrifying USPS Vehicles Benefits Workers, Communities

The U.S. Postal Service is buying nearly 85,000 new vehicles, and estimates about 40% of them will be electric vehicles. That includes 50,000 new …

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, at podium, is among the members of the Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force. (michigan.gov)

Task Force Urges Policy Reform to Keep MI Kids Out of Juvenile Justice System

Young people who have run-ins with the juvenile justice system are more likely to end up in the adult system. The Michigan Task Force on Juvenile …

Around 38% of Michigan nursing homes are facing staffing shortages. (Dragana Gordic/Adobe Stock)

MI State Budget Includes Funding for Long-Term Care, Direct-Care Workforce

The state budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Wednesday includes funding for bolstering long-term care. It funds a direct-care workforce …

The Michigan Legislature has been controlled by Republicans since redistricting in 2010, despite Democrats doing well in many statewide races. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court to Consider 'Independent State Legislature' Theory

During its next session, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the legal validity of the "Independent State Legislature" theory. The case could cause …

Promote the Vote 2022 announced Monday it has collected nearly 670,000 signatures to get its amendment on the ballot. (Promote the Vote)

MI Voting, Reproductive Freedom Ballot Campaigns Submit Signatures

Two constitutional amendment campaigns submitted signatures Monday to qualify to appear on the November ballot, one called "Promote the Vote 2022" …

One of the Consumers Energy goals is to tap 8,000 megawatts of solar power by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

MI's Largest Utility Plans to Close Coal Plants by 2025

Regulators have approved a plan from Michigan's largest utility to stop burning coal to generate energy by 2025. Consumers Energy aims to get more …

Twice as many voters with disabilities reported experienced difficulty voting in 2020 as voters without a disability. (John Davis/Adobe Stock)

MI Disability Group: Tips for More Inclusive Political Campaigns, Elections

With the 2022 elections nearing, groups in Michigan are working to educate political campaigns on how to become more accessible to voters with …

A study to find out whether sperm age plays a role in pregnancy outcomes involved 379 male partners in couples who discontinued use of contraception for getting pregnant. (Andriy Bezuglov/Adobe Stock)

Study: Sperm Cells' Age May Play Role in Reproductive Success

A new study found an association between what researchers are calling the biological age of sperm and reproductive success. While age is considered …

Juvenile-justice advocates in Michigan urge policy action on the issue of youth and families having too many court fines and fees to pay off. (Alex/Adobe Stock)

Report Warns of False Narratives Surrounding Youth Crime

New research found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from the …

Cyanobacteria and green algae often look similar, like green scum on the water's surface, sometimes compared to green paint. (mivod/Adobe Stock)

Great Lakes Department Official: Watch Out for Algal Blooms

Reports of harmful algal blooms have increased in Michigan in recent years, and state officials have tips on how to keep an eye out for them…

Michigan's new congressional voting district map is available on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistrict Commission's website, along with the state House and Senate maps. (michigan.gov)

Municipal Clerk: What to Know Ahead of Aug. 2 Primary

Mail-in ballots will soon go out to voters who have requested them ahead of the Aug. 2 primary in Michigan. Municipal clerks across the state are …

Only one county in Michigan - Genessee County - offers Election Day opportunities for eligible voters in jail. (WESTOCK/Adobe Stock)

MI Coalition Spotlights Need for Jail-Based Voting Improvements

Voting-rights groups in Michigan are working to increase awareness about and access to voting in jails. In Michigan, anyone not serving a prison …

More than 80 business, religious and social services groups are calling for an increase to Michigan's state Earned Income Tax Credit. (JJ Gouin/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups: New Census Data Underscores Need for Higher EITC

The latest county census data found Michigan's child poverty rate remains at 19%, and groups advocating for children and families say it is time to …

Nearly 40% of Michigan households include at least one member over age 60. (eggeggjiew/Adobe Stock)

Online Platform Helps Older Michiganders Get Connected, Socialize

More than 40% of older Michiganders live alone, and studies show the pandemic has exacerbated loneliness for many. The State of Michigan has renewed …

About 45% of Wayne State University recent graduates started their education at other institutions. (llhedgehodll/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Changes Transfer Credit Policy to Increase Access

A university in Michigan is seeking to make it easier for folks to obtain a bachelor's degree after attending community college, by removing barriers …

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