Toxic chemicals contaminating the Army Aviation Support Facility at Abrams Airfield have not spread to surrounding residential wells, according to testing conducted over the summer by the Michigan Army National Guard and Grand Ledge city officials.
Arts & Entertainment
Mountain biking sees popularity climb during pandemic
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MOUNTAIN BIKING: West Michigan mountain biking groups are seeing interest from new riders skyrocket, leading to shortages of bikes. More trails have opened as well. We talk to a new Rockford Rider, the coach of the West Michigan Coyotes youth biking team in Grand Rapids and the Ada-based West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance, an Ada- said By Lindsay McCoy. FOR KUDINGTON, MANISTEE, HOLLAND, OCEANA, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, GREENVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
Autos & Manufacturing
Advancements in electric buses making green transit more accessible
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ELECTRIC BUSES: More public transit systems and school districts are acquiring, or at least considering, electric buses to replace their polluting diesel fleet. Technology has improved electric buses since Traverse City’s troubled experiment with a hybrid electric 15 years ago. Federal lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. Levin and Tlaib are backing legislation to help fund the switch. We talk to Benzie Transport, MDOT and KALAMAZOO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Clare County Transit and the Capital Area Transit Authority have received federal grants. By Chloe Traofatter. FOR BENZIE COUNTY, CLARE COUNTY, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, TRAVERSE CITY, MANISTEE AND ALL POINTS.
Autos & Manufacturing
State promotes more electric car charging stations in UP
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U.P. CHARGING STATIONS: A new report from the UP Energy Task Force urges state support to expand charging stations for electric vehicles, a goal endorsed by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the state Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. It fits with the Biden administration’s new infrastructure proposal that includes creation of a national network of charging stations. By Elaine Mallon. FOR MARQUETTE, BAY MILLS, SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE, CHEBOYGAN AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Small airports suffer big hits amidst pandemic
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AIRPORTS: The pandemic has hurt small airport in Northern Michigan with dropped routes, fewer passengers and less revenue, although CARES Act grants have helped ease the pain. AIrport operators say they’re hopeful for a turnaround this summer when COVID-19 vaccinations will be noe widely available. We hear from Cherry Capital, Chippewa County, MBS, Manistee County Blacker and Sawyer International airport operators. By Sam Blatchford. FOR TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANA, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, MANISTEE, LUDINGTON, SAULT STE. MARIE, MARQUETTE, ST. IGNACE, BAY MILLS, CHEBOYGAN, CADILLAC, PETOSKEY, HARBOR SPRINGS, AND ALL POINTS.
Business & Economy
Drop in state aid means fewer road patrols by sheriffs’ deputies
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ROAD PATROLS: The decrease in speeding tickets means less money to support sheriffs’ secondary road patrols. That’s because they aren’t getting as much revenue from $10 surcharges on speeding tickets. We hear from the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and sheriffs’ officials in Crawford and Livingston counties. By Elaine Mallon. FOR CRAWFORD COUNTY, FOWLERSVILLE AND ALL POINTS.
Capital News Service
Full steam ahead: Amtrak focused on resuming regular service to Michigan routes
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PASSENGER TRAINS: Amtrak trimmed service on its three Michigan routes due to lower passenger demand during the pandemic but has plans to restore service and provide new passenger cars. There’s also some discussion of adding service between Ann Arbor, Howell and Traverse City. We hear from MDOT, Amtrak and an Allen Park legislator. By Samuel Blatchford. FOR HILLSDALE, COLDWATER, STURGIS, THREE RIVERS, FOWLERVILLE, LANSING CITY PULSE, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS, CORP! DETROIT AND ALL POINTS.
Capital News Service
Michigan transit agencies react to new federal mask mandate
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MASKED PASSENGERS: How will small and rural public transit systems enforce the new federal mask mandate. Bus drivers in Detroit and elsewhere in the country have been assaulted for trying to enforce existing requirements, but small systems in Michigan haven’t reported similar problems. We talk to officials at transit systems in Allegan, Delta and Schoolcraft counties and the Michigan Public Transit Association. By Samuel Blatchford. FOR MARQUETTE, SAULT STE. MARIE, HOLLAND AND ALL POINTS.
Capital News Service
Outlook mixed on Michigan’s effort to ‘fix the damn roads’
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ROADS: The governor is again pushing the Legislature for more generous funding of infrastructure projects, although her pleas have fallen on death Republican ears in the past. Advocates of more money to fix deteriorating roads, bridges and sewer lines say they hope the new Biden administration will be more generous than the Trump administration in supporting state and local projects. We hear from the Michigan Municipal League, road officials in Chippewa, Wayne and Montmorency counties and the Michigan Association of Counties. By Shel Krause. FOR MONTMORENCY, SAULT STE. MARIE, DETROIT, GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS AND ALL POINTS.
Government
Motor City mass transit could get push under Biden administration
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MASS TRANSIT: What are the possible impacts of the Biden administration’s transportation priorities on proposals to improve mass transit in Southeast Michigan? We hear from SEMTA, a carless Detroit photographer, the Ferndale mayor, the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Michigan Municipal League. By Sophia Lada. FOR DETROIT, CORP! XXX AND ALL POINTS.
Capital News Service
Michigan transit agencies look to uncertain future as COVID-19 related expenses rise
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Federal funding helped Michigan transit agencies stay in good shape throughout the pandemic. It’s the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2021 that transportation authorities worry about. Concerns that the pandemic will eat up state revenues for the 2022 fiscal year have transit authorities looking for budget solutions.