Vacant lots boost diversity among Detroit’s birds, study finds

Great Lakes Echo
Vacant lots boost diversity among Detroit’s birds, study finds

By Eric Freedman

Empty lots in deindustrialized cities like Detroit may contribute to bird species diversity, says a new study by researchers at MSU and Carleton University in Canada. The study is based on sound recordings collected at 110 sites in 11 Detroit neighborhoods. The study recommends that vacant land management in the city takes a balanced approach that considers the needs of both residents and birds. There are other concerns about vacant land, too, including as sites for solar arrays.

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New book shares how Mackinac Island became Michigan’s tourism gem

Great Lakes Echo
New book shares how Mackinac Island became Michigan’s tourism gem

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueria

Frank Boles, a retired Central Michigan University historian, has spent decades documenting Michigan’s past. His latest book, “Visiting Mackinac: 150 Years of Tourism at Michigan’s Fabled Straits,” explores how Mackinac Island and the surrounding Straits region became a hub for travelers from across the country.

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New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market

Great Lakes Echo
New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market

By Joe Lorenz

Electrification and tariffs mean rural Midwest communities can cash in on their mineral resources. But how can these ventures balance local benefit to the ecological cost?

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