Consumers Energy is moving forward with a plan to cut off flow from the Hodenpyl Dam to the Manistee River for a storm damage inspection. River advocates are not pleased.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan's environment for Bridge Michigan, with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change, industrial pollution, water quality and wildlife. She joined Bridge in March 2020 after reporting for the Oregonian, where her coverage earned national honors and sparked efforts to better protect Oregon's natural resources. Kelly holds a master's degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University.
Kelly grew up in Harrison and is based in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Dana Nessel report defends failed Flint water case. Others unready to forgive
New report acknowledges a failed criminal case means ‘justice has evaded the people of Flint’ and blames a court decision for torpedoing charges. Others say it’s Nessel’s way of saying ‘not my fault’
Posted inMichigan Government
Line 5: Where Jocelyn Benson, John James, Abdul El-Sayed, Mike Rogers stand
Gretchen Whitmer and Dana Nessel are trying to shut down Enbridge Energy’s petroleum pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. What would their potential successors and Michigan’s candidates for US senator do on Line 5?
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Where things stand in Michigan’s Line 5 saga
More than a decade after concerns first emerged about the risk of an oil spill from Line 5, the pipeline’s fate remains unclear. Here’s what to know.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Feds issue Line 5 tunnel permit, call it ‘not contrary to the public interest’
The US Army Corps of Engineers approved construction of Enbridge Energy’s proposed Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac despite expected adverse effects on endangered species and archaeological sites. The project remains tied up in court, with opponents promising new lawsuits.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan Supreme Court vacates key Line 5 permit
The court ruled 6-1 that the Michigan Public Service Commission’s review of a key permit for the petroleum pipeline tunnel was overly narrow, failing to consider whether the tunnel will harm public trust resources.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Consumers Energy may drain part of Manistee River to investigate dam damage
Recent spring floods damaged the tailrace downstream of the Hodenpyl Dam. Other nonfunctioning equipment at the dam has made inspections difficult.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fact-check: How much money did Haley Stevens get from DTE?
In Michigan’s US Senate race, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has criticized rival Haley Stevens for accepting contributions from Michigan’s largest utility. Stevens has countered that her donors don’t own her vote.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fact-check: Millionaire claims in Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens Senate race
Haley Stevens has repeatedly claimed to be the only non-millionaire in Michigan’s US Senate race. While she hasn’t proven the claim, Abdul El-Sayed hasn’t denied it, and past disclosures show he may be.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fact check: Did Haley Stevens really vote to ‘fund and thank’ ICE?
The Democratic US representative voted “yes” on two measures that included funding and thanking the immigration enforcement agency. But ICE was only a small part of the broader measures.