Great Lakes Echo

For residents of Dearborn, Michigan, creating greenspaces in the community has been an important mission for schools and researchers.

By Lily ColeNationally, farmers markets are growing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported 2,863 markets in 2000, with that number rising to more than 8,700 in 2025. In Michigan alone, more than 200 markets offer amenities for patrons, including fresh produce and special events.

Mass transit systems in rural areas in Michigan are facing major challenges today, the state’s top public transit executive says.

By Samantha KuSkin and liver tumors in fish may provide clues to ecosystem health in the Great Lakes region, according to a recent study in the journal Ecotoxicology.

Michigan’s tourism industry is preparing for another busy season, with strong visitor demand expected across the state.

By Isabella Figueroa NogueiraAs the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, cities across North America are preparing for an influx of fans, matches and global attention - including Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) in Canada. Along with the excitement comes growing concern about the tournament’s environmental impact.

By Owen McCarthyA new study finds more natural methods of bolstering Christmas tree survival are more effective than chemical treatments.

Ice covering the Great Lakes does more than just signal winter.

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of stories coming out of the 2026 conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists in Chicago.

By Isabella Figueroa NogueiraAn unknown number of schools across Michigan have taken up composting initiatives, but coalitions of education and anti-food waste groups want to see more. They’ve begun lobbying state legislators in hopes of securing $3 million for a pilot grant program that would allow schools across the state to replicate the composting program at Hayes Elementary School in Livonia.