Retirements by water and wastewater plant operators are leading to workforce shortages
Across the U.S., drinking water and wastewater utilities are losing experienced workers at an escalating rate. It’s part of the...
Lester Graham reports for The Environment Report at Michigan Radio and previously hosted Stateside on Fridays. He has reported on public policy, politics, and issues regarding race and gender inequity. He was previously with The Environment Report at Michigan Radio from 1998-2010.
He has been a journalist since 1985. Graham has served as a board member of the Public Radio News Directors Inc., and also served as President of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. He is a member of the Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), Society of Professional Journalists and other professional groups.
UM study suggests long term exposure to air pollution could affect how independently seniors can live
New research from the University of Michigan links long term exposure to air pollution to how independently you are able to live...
Why are mallard duck populations falling in the Great Lakes region?
Two major studies are underway to try to better understand why mallard duck populations are declining in the U.S. Researchers...
State lawmakers consider taking away local authority to issue gravel mining permits
The Great Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of water. But water quality, affordability, and aging water infrastructure are...
Will Michigan farmers voluntarily help reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Erie?
The Great Lakes region is blessed with an abundance of water. But water quality, affordability, and aging water infrastructure are...
There’s More Than One Reason Monarch Butterfly Populations Are Declining
The monarch butterfly population has plummeted to 20% of what it was in the early 1990s, according to a nonprofit...
“Water Is Life” Is Theme of Day 1 of Protests to Shut Down Enbridge Line 5
I’m standing next to this little two-lane road in the country, and on one side is the pumping station that...
Plastic Debris Is Getting Into the Great Lakes, Our Drinking Water, and Our Food
There’s been a lot of news about the amount of plastic debris in the oceans. But, plastic pollution is also affecting the Great...
On Eve of Line 5 Shutdown Deadline, Enbridge Vows to Defy Michigan Order
Last November the Department of Natural Resources concluded that Enbridge was in violation of its 1953 easement agreement. That easement...
Is the Line 5 Tunnel a Bridge to Michigan’s Energy Future or a Bad Deal?
The Canadian pipeline company Enbridge Energy plans to spend a $500 million building a 4-mile-long tunnel to encase the part...
Grand Rapids Turns to Natural Infrastructure To Deal With Extreme Rain Events
Climate change in the Great Lakes region means more intense storms. Already some towns are finding they’re flooding where they...
How Wetlands Can Help Prevent Property Damage and Save Lives During Floods
The Great Lakes region is seeing more intense rainstorms. Storms that were once considered 100-year events or even 500-year events...