After many decades of having a “Dingell” represent Dearborn, the city will have a new congressional representative. Michigan’s independent commission has officially re-written its political maps, which will soon cause a shift in political representation. “The vote we have is the fundamental foundation of our democracy and people are trying to undermine people’s confidence in that. You..
There’s More Than One Reason Monarch Butterfly Populations Are Declining
The monarch butterfly population has plummeted to 20% of what it was in the early 1990s, according to a nonprofit that tracks the insects. Researchers are finding there's more than one reason. First, monarchs need native milkweed plants for reproduction and food. They used to be common in farm fields, growing between the rows of..
How Climate Change Shook Michiganders in 2021 — and What Things Could Look Like in the Years Ahead
Each year, the number of stories highlighting the changing climate has increased. In much of the world, there’s reason for that. This year, climate change took a particular toll in Southeast Michigan, where residents experienced one of the worst flooding seasons in its history. “It’s a different reality, it’s a new world in a changing climate. And really what..
Governor Announces Lake Erie Water Quality Improvement Plan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is outlining her strategy to protect Lake Erie from agricultural runoff. The adaptive management plan involves lowering runoff at the source, land conservation, and education aimed at reducing the amount of phosphorus that gets into the lake. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) spokesperson Jennifer Holton said the state is..
Efforts to Replace Michigan’s Lead Water Lines Could Get Big Boost
Earlier this month, the Michigan Senate approved a $3.3 billion water infrastructure bill which allocates $1 billion of those funds to replace lead service lines across the state. As communities like Flint and Benton Harbor continue to suffer from the effects of lead contaminated drinking water, Michigan Democrats are also working to replace the emergency..
Detroit’s 2021-22 Winter Could Be a Little Colder, Wetter and Snowier Than Usual
Metro Detroit got its first taste of a new winter at the end of November when several inches of snow fell over the last four days of the month. The region typically averages almost 3 feet of snow and about 7 inches of rain each winter. The National Weather Service's 2021-22 winter outlook calls for near-..
Solar Power Bulk Buying Program Allows Homeowners and Businesses to Cut Electricity Bills
Homeowners and businesses can generate their own electricity by installing solar panels. That can greatly reduce electric bills. “Right now, DTE is charging between 15 to 18 cents per kilowatt hour for every kilowatt hour you use in electricity. Well, if you're producing that with your solar panels, you are not paying that money,” says..
Sen. Gary Peters Discusses Build Back Better, Semiconductors and the New Omicron Variant
After passing the House, it’s now up to Senate Democrats to determine the fate of President Joe Biden’s signature social spending legislation. The Build Back Better package would make some of the boldest investments in what Democrats are calling “human infrastructure,” including universal pre-K, expanded child care, health care, climate change mitigation and much more...
Author Eric Dean Wilson Talks Climate Change and “The Terrible Cost of Comfort”
Today, there’s a growing debate about what we need to give up in order to abate the warming planet, and it’s opened the door to many questions. How much of our own personal comforts matter in the face of a problem much bigger than any one of us? What do we owe to others —..
Tlaib Explains ‘No’ Vote on Infrastructure, Is Skeptical About Future of Build Back Better
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) is standing by her vote against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, saying that Democrats lost their leverage to pass the larger Build Back Better social spending bill by separating the two pieces of legislation. She says she's now skeptical about the future of Build Back Better. "This was a..