Dollar bills and coins represent the DTE cash-only policy impacting vulnerable communities.
Thousands of customers face ‘DTE cash-only’ payment restrictions, sparking concerns about the impact on vulnerable communities. (iStock Photo)

Here’s a weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the stories we’re following. Have a reading recommendation? Let us know at nina@planetdetroit.org.

Cash payments: DTE forces thousands of customers to pay their power bills only in cash, causing significant inconvenience. (MLive)

Jet travel: DTE is looking to stick customers with the bills for private jet travel for its executives as part of a proposed rate increase. (Detroit Free Press)

Energy burden: High utility costs in Detroit burden residents, with DTE contributing significantly to this strain. (Outlier Media)

Radioactive waste: Radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project will be disposed of in Belleville, raising local safety concerns. (Detroit Free Press, Michigan Public Radio) 

Forever chemicals: Toxic “forever chemicals” found in metro Detroit air and rain samples raise environmental and health alarms. (The Guardian) 

Mulch fire: A mulch fire the size of six-football fields on Detroit’s west side impacts local air quality with smoke and odor concerns. (CBC, WXYZ)

Lead lines: Detroit speeds up lead service line replacements with $90 million in state and federal dollars. (WDET)

Flint deadlines: Key deadlines are approaching for Flint residents to submit claims for water crisis settlement funds. (Michigan Public Radio) 

Community garden: Eastpointe’s Urban Seed Community Garden secures a 25-year lease, which could allow for more ADA compliance. (Macomb Daily)

Ford EV: Ford cancels plans for 3-row EVs and delays its electric pickup, marking a $1.9 billion shift in company strategy. (Crain’s Detroit)

EV capital: Washtenaw County leads Michigan in electric vehicle adoption, reflecting a broader concentration of EV investments in wealthier areas. (Bridge Michigan)

E. Coli: Michigan faces urgent need for better testing methods to detect E. coli around public beaches. (Bridge Michigan, Michigan Public Radio) 

Line 5: A federal appeals court keeps the Line 5 pipeline lawsuit in state court, a move supported by environmental advocates. (Michigan Public Radio, WKAR)

Scooters removed: A Lansing-area waterway group removed 260 electric scooters from local rivers, highlighting an ongoing safety and environmental hazard. (MLive) 

EV training: Michigan’s efforts to train EV technicians face challenges as the demand for such jobs is still developing. (Bridge Michigan)

GM renewables: GM purchases enough renewable energy to support three of its plants, two located in Michigan. (Detroit News) 

Recycling goals: Michigan counties collaborate to meet the state’s ambitious goal of a 45% recycling rate. (MLive)

IRA support: A bipartisan group of Ohio mayors expresses support for investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, which is also sending significant clean energy and EV manufacturing investments to Michigan. (Semafor) 

Heat deaths: Heat-related deaths in the Midwest are likely underreported, raising concerns about public health monitoring. (Kansas Public Radio)

Endangered mussels: The endangered snuffbox mussel population in Michigan is at risk due to threats from dams and water quality issues. (Detroit Free Press)

Butterfly comeback: The rare Poweshiek skipperling butterfly is being reintroduced by biologists in some parts of Michigan where it had disappeared, offering hope for its survival. (Bridge Michigan) 

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup focused on producing quality climate, equity, health, and environment journalism that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, and spotlights solutions. Planet Detroit has received awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers since its establishment in 2019. Prior to her journalism career, Nina worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors, holding a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.