Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI)

"Feds Order Immediate Inspection Of Cheboygan Dam Powerhouse"

"Federal energy regulators have ordered immediate inspections of the Cheboygan Dam powerhouse and other Michigan dams that faced the risk of failure in this month’s historic flooding. Separately, state officials said they plan to inspect dams under their oversight to check for damage from the high waters that nearly overtook several impoundments last week amid spring snowmelt and heavy rains."

Source: Bridge Michigan, 04/29/2026

Ohio Bill Would Replace All Lead Service Lines. It Could Cost Billions.

"An Ohio bill would require the state replace all lead service lines, but some statewide organizations worry about the costs associated with the bill."

Source: Ohio Capital Journal, 04/29/2026

#SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours

SEJournal is providing full coverage of all eight of the day-long tours from the annual Society of Environmental Journalists’ conference, April 15-18, in Chicago. In Part 2, contributors Meg Duff, Nathaniel Eisen, Nhung Nguyen and Marlowe Starling provide detailed reports from tours focused on the transitioning steel industry, microgrids, climate-friendly crop practices and evolving Midwestern agricultural systems.

Also check out the first round of tour coverage and read all the great work from our team of early-career freelance journalists, part of SEJournal’s live #SEJ2026 Live conference reporting.

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War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago

Nearly as rejuvenating as attending the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering is perusing the après-conference spoof by contributing quipster David Helvarg. While it seemed he was mostly there unabashedly preselling his forthcoming book, he somehow found time to send up SEJ’s earnest sessions, lambast its blown-up tours and rib its beat dinners. Read his Chicago roast.

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Illinois Weighs Warning System For Pesticide Spraying Near Parks, Schools

"A bill in the Illinois General Assembly would require certified pesticide users—anyone licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to use Restricted Use pesticides, such as paraquat or fumigant insecticides—to give written or emailed notice at least 24 hours before application at any school, child care facility or park located within 1,500 feet of application that opted to receive them."

Source: Inside Climate News, 04/20/2026

Congress Votes To Remove Mining Moratorium On Boundary Waters Watershed

"Despite hours of impassioned arguments from Sen. Tina Smith, the U.S. Senate ended a Biden-era moratorium on mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed."

Source: MinnPost, 04/17/2026

Michigan Updates Air Quality Alert System As Wildfire Smoke Season Nears

"After Canadian wildfires brought extremely poor air quality to Detroit in the summers of 2023 and 2025, Michigan is updating how it communicates air quality risks to residents this year."

Source: Planet Detroit, 04/15/2026

Why the Silencing of Protest Matters

As the Trump administration and its allies seek to stifle free speech and paint protest as domestic terrorism, Voices columnist Yessenia Funes argues that environmental journalists must heed the impact on the environmental movement we cover. Start with what happened in Standing Rock, which swept back into the news this spring. Funes explains the connection, and where we may be headed.

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