Southwest Detroit resident Ed Gies reported a petroleum smell at Delray Park on April 12. Despite suggestions the odor may have originated with Marathon Petroleum Corp., Michigan’s environmental regulators could not identify the source, highlighting ongoing pollution challenges in the area.
Posted inNews
Northern Michigan ice storm debris become renewable energy: ‘We were green before green was cool’
In Emmet County, dropoff sites and biomass facilities are transforming ice storm debris into electricity, aiming to cut down on wood decomposition and its greenhouse gas emissions.
Posted inNews
What we’re reading: Detroit breaks 1899 heat record with 86-degree April day
Record-breaking heat swept across Michigan Tuesday, shattering century-old temperature records in cities like Detroit and Flint. Meanwhile, Lafayette Park residents are challenging a steam project they argue endangers their community. And the EPA’s cancellation of 781 environmental justice grants threatens vulnerable populations.
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NSF cancels air pollution research grant focused on Detroit’s most polluted ZIP code
The Trump administration’s decision to cut a $10,000 National Science Foundation grant has halted an air pollution research project in Southwest Detroit.
Posted inNeighborhood Reporting Lab
Is lifelong learning the key to success? This Detroit teacher says yes
Deborah Jenkins, a Detroit educator, champions collaboration between parents and teachers to secure quality education for children, while pursuing her own lifelong learning.
Posted inNews
Trump administration cuts end Michigan’s Healthy Climate Corps, halt community projects
Michigan’s MI Healthy Climate Corps faces a sudden halt as federal AmeriCorps funding is cut, prompting nonprofits and young professionals to navigate unexpected challenges in sustaining their work and livelihoods.
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FEMA cuts leave communities vulnerable to natural disasters with funding drought
Communities like Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, face increased vulnerability to natural disasters after FEMA cut the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which had promised $4 million for crucial infrastructure projects.
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Unhoused in Detroit: Why are more children experiencing homelessness?
In February 2025, two children died of carbon monoxide toxicity in a Detroit casino parking garage. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for housing solutions as the city grapples with a record high number of homeless children.
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Detroit’s riverfront dream delayed by $40 million embezzlement
William Smith, who held sway over the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s finances, faces 19 years in prison for embezzling $40 million intended to enhance the city’s riverfront, impacting community projects and delaying riverwalk developments.
Posted inNews
DTE files for $574 million rate hike, its second-largest request, months after its last increase
DTE Energy’s $574.1 million rate hike proposal aims to boost infrastructure and clean energy, raising Michigan residents’ bills by $13.50 monthly. Critics, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, challenge the plan, demanding proof that DTE’s expenses and rates are fair and justified.