environment

Environmentalists are criticizing a state permitting decision in favor of a proposed oil and natural gas pipeline tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. Colin Jackson has more.

A new plan from the governor's office to regulate data centers includes new laws and a pledge for companies to sign. Colin Jackson has more.

July is National Park and Recreation Month, and as Washtenaw County honors its 200th anniversary, its park system—which celebrated its own 50th anniversary in 2023—is showcasing how public spaces serve as vital community infrastructure rather than just places for leisure. Rhonda Bouma is Deputy Director of Operations for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. She joined Rebekah Warren to talk about what the county's park service has achieved and what it has planned for the future.

A team of botanists at the University of Michigan developed a phone app capable of identifying native plants that works without an internet connection or cell service. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

The City of Ypsilanti is conducting its first tree inventory in 15 years to help guide future tree management. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

The City of Ann Arbor is changing its approach to its stormwater management to address growing challenges and community needs. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Michigan Medicine’s Kahn Health Care Pavilion in Ann Arbor is now the largest healthcare facility in the world to earn LEED Platinum certification. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell hosted a celebration Wednesday afternoon in Trenton commemorating what would have been her late husband, John Dingell's 100th birthday. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

Every day, the choices we make in our homes and communities connect to much bigger environmental stories. One of those connections is through Plastic Free July, a global movement encouraging people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. But what does that look like right here in Washtenaw County? Lydia McMullen-Laird is the co-founder and deputy director of the Ann Arbor-based Zerowaste.org. She and Rebekah Warren discussed ways residents can reduce their use of everyday plastic and how to participate in the 2026 Plastic Free July Challenge.

The City of Ann Arbor is moving to develop a decarbonization program for commercial businesses to advance its A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality plan. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.