London Free Press

‘More deaths coming’ as city weakens winter homeless outreach: Advocates

7 min read

Londoners are going to die in greater numbers this winter because of city council’s one-two punch that’s cutting beds and outreach at the same time, homelessness leaders warn. “Where are people going to go? To the morgue,” community care worker Dan Oudshoorn of Sanctuary London said Thursday. “There’s a deep feeling of horror on the […]

Owen Sound Owen Sound Sun Times

Peace medalists inspire us to be ‘agents of peace’

4 min read

Acts of kindness and community-mindedness earned Joan John and Barbara Vandenbor this year’s YMCA Peace Medals Thursday in Owen Sound. The annual event has honoured 26 individuals and 13 groups from Grey-Bruce over the past 26 years.  John was nominated by the Grey Highlands Peace Committee for her work which includes founding JunCtian Community Initiatives […]

Owen Sound Sun Times

Owen Sound group makes recommendations to improve city rental stock

10 min read

A local collaborative that has been studying Owen Sound’s rental housing landscape has released a series of recommendations aimed at addressing unhealthy living conditions and providing supports to ensure the existing rental stock in the city is habitable.  The RentSafe Owen Sound Collaborative appeared before a city corporate service committee meeting on Nov. 14, where they […]

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

3 min read

Great Lakes Echo

By Eric Freedman

Capital News Service

Outbreaks of the waterborne bacteria E. coli can lower local real estate values, at least temporarily, a new study says. Those outbreaks, which have become increasingly common, are a growing concern in coastal and inland communities, particularly in rural counties, according to the study by researchers from Saginaw Valley State University, Cornell University and the University of Rhode Island. “In Michigan, the presence of E. coli has become problematic for many areas where agricultural run-off and ineffective policies have made these outbreaks endemic,” the study said. As for the negative economic impact on homes within one mile of an outbreak, the study found that “proximity to E. coli outbreaks leads to an 8.9% price drop for houses sold during the outbreaks, which is over $13,000 for the average home.”

coli can cause serious illness and death, and is increasingly common due to climate change, especially in the Great Lakes region, it said.

How new charging stations are set to drive Michigan’s EV future

By Donté Smith

Capital News Service

As electric vehicles become more common, Michigan is expanding its charging infrastructure to ensure accessibility for drivers statewide. The state’s Department of Transportation, supported by federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds, is accelerating construction of EV charging stations in both urban and rural areas. Currently, there are around 1,660 charging stations across Michigan, 94% of them public.

New marine sanctuary spotlights a ‘submerged museum’ on Lake Ontario 

By Anna Barnes

After seven years of planning, a new marine sanctuary now protects a portion of Lake Ontario rich with history and shipwrecks. The community-driven designation aims to benefit the area through preservation, economic development and conservation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designates marine sanctuaries to preserve sites with national significance, such as important archeology, culture or marine life.

Michigan tourism preps for a colder winter

By Victor Wooddell

Capital News Service

The 2023-24 winter was the warmest on record in the U.S. with average temperatures throughout the state above freezing, with close to average precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. Data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center shows that average daily maximum temperatures in the Midwest were several degrees above normal between December 2023 and February 2024. But this year may be different.

More Headlines

Fraudsters face sentencing in fake green energy venture 
Michigan’s winter festivals adapt as warmer winters test traditions
Audit: Michigan must do better monitoring recreational trails

Great Lakes Now Michigan

Local governments appeal state implementation of renewable siting law

7 min read

Local governments appeal state implementation of renewable siting law

By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

More than 70 townships and several counties are suing the Michigan Public Service Commission, challenging whether the commission went through the right process to put in place a law giving the state authority to approve those projects.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.