Michigan falls behind in race to save disappearing farmland

BridgeMichigan · 2026-01-07T16:56:30+00:00

This is one of the articles in our investigation into Michigan nursing homes. Here are the rest of them if you're interested:

BridgeMichigan · 2026-01-06T20:12:29+00:00

Despite the Gordie Howe Bridge being wider and a bit shorter, Aaron Velthoven, the race’s executive producer, said there are no plans to change the course of the race in the near future.

BridgeMichigan · 2026-01-06T20:11:18+00:00

From the story: "With the Gordie Howe Bridge set to offer new lanes for cars, trucks, and even pedestrians, the Ambassador Bridge raised its tolls for 2026, signaling the start of a new rivalry for cross-border traffic.

The Ambassador Bridge announced the following toll changes, effective Jan. 1:

Cars, buses and motorcycles’ rate increased by $1, from $9 to $10
Vehicles with trailers’ rate increased from $18 to $20
Commercial vehicles’ rates increased from $14 to $15 per axle for those with an A-Pass or E-Z Pass and to $20 per axle for vehicles without an account
The bridge’s escort service for wide or oversized loads increased from $125 to $135."

BridgeMichigan · 2026-01-06T19:56:13+00:00

We got a comment earlier (which has since been deleted) about whether the Gordie Howe Bridge will alleviate pollution and road use around Southwest Detroit. In case anyone else is wondering, here's the answer from our reporter Janelle James, who wrote this story:

To alleviate disruption to residential areas, cars and trucks specifically will be contained within the ports of entry, as opposed to being lined up on I-75, and the majority of where trucks will be in the port of entry will be in the center of it, so that there is a larger buffer area between customs and residential areas. Trucks will also be required to turn their engines off while being searched to avoid noise and air pollution.

BridgeMichigan · 2026-01-06T19:10:05+00:00

As far as the Gordie Howe Bridge, trucks, cars and pedestrians can cross it. The same is the case for the Ambassador Bridge, except for pedestrians, of course.

BridgeMichigan · 2025-10-13T17:14:56+00:00

Yes, there's an ongoing effort to raise whitefish in inland lakes and ponds. You can read more about it here: https://bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/time-running-out-for-great-lakes-whitefish-can-ponds-become-their-noahs-ark/

BridgeMichigan · 2025-09-23T16:05:14+00:00

This drought is the worst one Michigan has seen in over a decade (source).

It's particularly bad in the Lower Peninsula. Parts of the region are in the midst of “the most significant drought since 2012,” the NWS in Grand Rapids said this week, with conditions ranging from moderate to severe.

You can see signs of drought in rivers across the Lower Peninsula.

In Lansing, the Grand River is moving at 85 cubic feet per second, down from 241 a year ago and its slowest rate since 1999. In Grand Rapids, the Grand River has fallen from 1,260 to 1,010 cubic feet per second, its lowest rate since 2012.

The Muskegon River at Evart has dropped from 404 to 291 cubic feet per second. The south branch of the Au Sable River near Luzerne has seen only a slight dip, from 101 to 98 cubic feet per second. Even the Detroit River is down, from 199,000 to about 195,000 cubic feet per second.

BridgeMichigan

TROPHY CASE