⚡ Coal plant survival? Consumer’s Energy planned to close the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan by May 31, 2025, yet it remains open due to emergency 90-day orders from the Trump administration. The latest was issued Feb. 17. The cost to keep Campbell open will be shared among customers in the Midwest electric grid region, according to the utility. 📍 Detroit Free Press
🏭 Mercury limits could be slashed The EPA plans to announce a significant rollback of mercury and air toxic standards for coal- and oil-fired power plants, The New York Times reports, citing internal agency documents. The move would reverse Obama-era protections, potentially leading to higher levels of neurological toxins in the air and water near industrial sites. 📍 The New York Times
⚖️ Detention profits soar The publicly traded owner of a Michigan ICE detention center, GEO Group, reported a $254 million profit last year. The ICE facilities operated by the company include an 1,800-bed detention center in Baldwin, Michigan. 📍 MLive
🚂 Grain spill response Cleanup crews are on-site in Pittsfield Township after a freight train derailed early Wednesday morning, spilling corn and grain across the tracks. While officials say no hazardous chemicals were involved, the incident has led to temporary road closures. 📍 Detroit News
💉 Vaccine meeting delayed The CDC has postponed a meeting of its vaccine advisory committee planned for Feb. 25-27 following a lawsuit challenging the panel’s current composition. The delay creates further uncertainty for health providers navigating recent federal shifts in childhood immunization schedules and recommendations. 📍 The Hill
🍎 Backyard gold? A new community composting collective is recruiting 200 Detroiters to help turn food waste into soil instead of allowing it to rot in landfills. The project aims to reduce methane emissions — a potent greenhouse gas — while providing urban farms with the nutrient-rich compost needed for local food production. 📍 Model D