Land

Efforts to bridge digital divide expand in Michigan’s rural areas

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By Donté Smith

Capital News Service

The digital divide remains a pressing issue for Michigan’s rural communities, where broadband access lags due to challenging geography and limited infrastructure. Jason Hamel, the operations manager and product assembler for Hower Tree Baler Corp. in Merritt, says current dial-up connection speeds in the area “aren’t worth it.”

“It was much faster to sit by a window to try and pull something up on our phone than it was to use our dial-up connection,” said Hamel. “Spectrum’s high-speed internet has streamlined things and improved our workflow.”

Spectrum, the nation’s leading rural internet provider, has focused its efforts in areas like Merritt and Cadillac, where connectivity gaps are common. The company recently expanded its reach to 34,000 homes and businesses across Michigan in 2023, aiming to bridge the divide through targeted rural construction projects, says Mike Hogan, the senior director for public relations in the company’s Great Lakes Region.

Land

Animal shelters struggle with challenges

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By Victor Wooddell

Capital News Service

Animal shelters in Michigan are at capacity, even while facing staff and resource shortages. According to experts, more animals are being abandoned and too few pet owners are having their animals spayed or neutered. In 2020, adoption rates soared due to pandemic-related stay-at-home orders across the country, according to an article in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine. A study by the American Humane Association found a dramatic increase in the rate at which previously adopted animals are being returned. Shelter directors in Michigan say that results in long waiting lists for kennel space and more abandoned animals, with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic making the situation worse.

Land

An uncommon wildfire season is exceeding averages 

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By Gabriel S. Martinez

Capital News Service

An unusually busy fall fire season in Michigan has produced more than double the seasonal wildfires originally anticipated so far. About 100 prescribed burns are scheduled on both state and federal land for next year to help reduce damage from future wildfires. According to the state Department of Natural Resources, dry debris is the main cause of wildfires this year, contributing to about 58 more wildfires and 255 more acres burned in September and October than the usual fall average. Jeff Vasher, a DNR fire specialist, said the lack of moisture is a factor in the high number of wildfires. The Ottawa National Forest in the Upper Peninsula reported that the Summit Lake wildfire, started by dry wood underneath the forest floor on Oct.

Land

Steam railroad takes passengers on journey through time

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By Donté Smith

As the crisp autumn air settles over Michigan, the gentle chug of steam engines echoes through Coldwater. The Little River Railroad, a historic steam railway, invites passengers to step back in time for a ride filled with charm and nostalgia. It’s one of 55 steam locomotives in the state, 15 of them still operational, according to Steam Locomotive Information. Among their other locations are Owosso, Benton Harbor, Buckley and Monroe, Dearborn, Lake Linden and Skandia. Heather Kaiser, a stoker for the Little River Railroad, shared the story of the locomotives that power these rides.

Beth Hudson, a left below-knee amputee, can enjoy one of her favorite pastimes, cycling, with her modified tricycle that has a small motor activated with a throttle. Image courtesy Beth Hudson
Land

Disability rights advocates ask Mackinac Island to allow Class 2 e-bikes

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By Gabrielle Nelson

The only things that rival the popularity of bikes on Mackinac Island are horses and fudge. M-185 stretches around the island, hugging the coast with a clear view of Lake Huron’s crystal blue waters. The 8.2 miles is a perfect bike trail because it boasts a unique feature: It’s the only state highway in the country with no motorized vehicles. And that includes e-bikes that riders can operate without pedaling by engaging a throttle. To preserve the no-motor tradition, Mackinac Island placed a ban on throttle assisted e-bikes, but is now facing backlash from e-bike users who say the ban discriminates against people with disabilities who can’t use the iconic road.

In Michigan, e-bikes are banned from state-managed dirt trails, and some e-bikes are banned from paved trails. Image: Shutterstock
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Michigan officials mull more access for e-bikes on state trails

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By Gabrielle Nelson

Electric bicycle use is expanding, welcoming a new group of riders to the cycling community. But under current Michigan state park policies, the bikes are banned from many trails. That could soon change. The Department of Natural Resources has proposed a yearlong pilot program that would open 3,000 miles of trails to e-bikes. The change could take effect as early as July.

Land

Journalists hike urban wilderness of Wissahickon Valley Park

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Nestled in the heart of an urban and busy city, Wissahickon Valley Park of Philadelphia provides a place for city dwellers to enjoy the sanctuary of nature.

A popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, historians and even wedding-goers, the park houses over 50 miles of trails and encompasses over 2,000 protected acres along a stretch of the Wissahickon Creek as it passes through northwest Philadelphia.