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Senator Gary Peters Leads Bipartisan Effort to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Funding

Senator Gary Peters Leads Bipartisan Effort to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Funding

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), alongside Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH), has introduced companion legislation in the Senate to bolster federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. This bill, known as the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act, aims to designate the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program. The House version of this bipartisan, bicameral bill was introduced by Congressmen Tom Barrett (MI-07), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Dave Joyce (OH-14). The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has already advanced the Senate's companion legislation. This designation is crucial because, while NOAA administers four Regional Ocean Partnerships across other U.S. coastal regions, the Great Lakes currently lack such a designation...
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Lake-Effect Snow Hits Great Lakes Region

Lake-Effect Snow Hits Great Lakes Region

Lake-effect snow, a localized and intense weather phenomenon, is impacting areas downwind of the Great Lakes, including Buffalo, Watertown, Erie, Cleveland, and parts of western Michigan. This type of snow forms when cold air moves over warmer lake waters, absorbing moisture and heat before releasing it as narrow, heavy snow bands. These bands can produce snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour, with significant accumulation in some areas while nearby locations remain unaffected. The phenomenon is most common in late autumn and early winter, as it diminishes once the lakes freeze over. Forecasting lake-effect snow remains challenging due to its narrow and unpredictable nature, often leading to underestimations in grid-based weather models. [Source time: not specified]
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Representative Walberg Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts

Representative Walberg Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts

On September 28, 2026, Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), David Joyce (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill aims to enhance federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. The legislation proposes designating the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program. This designation is intended to ensure the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, thereby providing federal resources to support the GLC's ongoing work in coordinating Great Lakes research and conservation efforts. Companion legislation has also been advanced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).
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Congressman Walberg Co-Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts

Congressman Walberg Co-Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts

Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05), alongside several other representatives including Tom Barrett (MI-07), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Dave Joyce (OH-14), has co-introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to enhance federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. The legislation proposes to designate the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program. This designation is intended to ensure that the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, thereby providing federal resources to support the GLC's ongoing work in coordinating Great Lakes research and conservation initiatives. Congressman Walberg emphasized that the Great Lakes are central to Michigan's economy, identity, and long-term prosperity, and that the b...
USA TodayUSA Today
Huge 'hybrid storm' will form over the US

Huge 'hybrid storm' will form over the US

The National Weather Service says tropical moisture will surge over the Southwest into the central U.S.
Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
'Fast' meteor shower is set to start. When Orionids will peak

'Fast' meteor shower is set to start. When Orionids will peak

The Orionid meteor shower is set to peak Oct. 21-22, but will be active until Nov. 7, NASA says.
Palm Beach PostPalm Beach Post
El Niño is stifling hurricanes, but it could trigger winter tornadoes

El Niño is stifling hurricanes, but it could trigger winter tornadoes

El Niño is helping halt hurricanes in Florida, but it can trigger other concerns, like persistent rain, dangerous thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
Free Press endorsement: Eli Savit vs. Doug Lloyd for Michigan attorney general

Free Press endorsement: Eli Savit vs. Doug Lloyd for Michigan attorney general

The attorney general race may be Michigan's most important contest.
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Dense Fog Advisory Issued for Northern Michigan

Dense Fog Advisory Issued for Northern Michigan

A Dense Fog Advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in Gaylord, Michigan, on September 29, 2026, at 4:57 AM EDT. The advisory, which expired at 9:00 AM EDT the same day, warned of areas of dense fog across portions of northern Lower Michigan, including Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, and other counties. Visibility was reduced to a quarter-mile or less in affected areas, creating potentially hazardous conditions for drivers. The advisory has since expired and is no longer active, but it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of low visibility caused by fog.
Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
Fall colors are popping in U.P. Houghton festival adds to season

Fall colors are popping in U.P. Houghton festival adds to season

The Canal Colors Festival celebrates fall colors in the heart of the Upper Peninsula.
Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press
Michigan's Tunnel of Trees is a fall favorite. Is it still detoured?

Michigan's Tunnel of Trees is a fall favorite. Is it still detoured?

Some sections of the iconic Tunnel of Trees, M-119, have reopened following weather damage, but two areas are still closed.
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Heavy Lake Effect Snow Hits Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Heavy Lake Effect Snow Hits Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Lake effect snow continues to impact Michigan, particularly the Upper Peninsula and western Lower Michigan regions. This phenomenon occurs when cold air moves over the warmer waters of the Great Lakes, creating narrow, intense snow bands. Areas like Herman in Baraga County and the Marquette NWS office near Negaunee typically experience the highest snowfall totals, with seasonal averages exceeding 200 inches. Snowfall totals vary significantly across the state due to localized lake effect patterns, with towns just miles apart reporting vastly different amounts. Last winter saw above-normal snowfall across the Upper Peninsula, with Herman recording 366 inches, 176% of its seasonal average. Snow depth and snowpack conditions are critical for winter activities like snowmobiling and skiing, as fresh snow can settle or melt quickly depending on ground conditions.