Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/echo/)
By Georgia Hill
Legislation in the Michigan House would update fee requirements and simplify regulations for composts, fertilizers and soil conditioners.
By Christian Vazquez
Mass transit systems in rural areas in Michigan are facing major challenges today, the state’s top public transit executive says.
By Lily Cole
Nationally, farmers markets are growing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported 2,863 markets in 2000, with that number rising to more than 8,700 in 2025. In Michigan alone, more than 200 markets offer amenities for patrons, including fresh produce and special events.
By Christian Vazquez
Michigan is awarding $800,000 to 17 school districts in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas to advance STEM education.
By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov
Michigan is expanding efforts to move public schools toward zero-emission energy systems, as new initiatives focus on cutting utility costs and modernizing aging buildings.
By Karlee VanAntwerp
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will give out $400,000 in grants for research about PFAS on farmlands and livestock.
By Samantha Plunkett
For residents of Dearborn, Michigan, creating greenspaces in the community has been an important mission for schools and researchers. In a recent study, academics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn partnered with Salina schools to assess their outdoor play spaces.
Michigan reduced funding for invasive species projects by $1.2 million. Conservation organizations like the regional Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are rethinking their funding priorities for 2026 and beyond.
By Sonja Krohn
Even though the grey wolf is classified as an endangered species, a new study found that the majority of Michigan’s recorded wolf deaths are caused by humans.
By Joshua Kim
A new book, “Wrecked: The Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy” (Michigan State University Press, $29.95), uncovers more of the political and legal aspects of the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck.