Backcountry pooping 101: How to hide your scat in the woods
When embarking on a backcountry expedition, a plan for your excrement is a must. “Let’s talk about poop!” Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore recently proposed to its social media followers. Human waste contains chemicals and nutrients foreign to nature, so “don’t poop just anywhere!” officials said. If not, the park shared these tips for pooping in the woods:Take 70 big steps (200 feet) away from any water source, trail or campsite. Pack out your used toilet paper.
mlive.com$200M student housing plan finalized at Eastern Michigan University
YPSILANTI, MI - The $200-million plan to overhaul Eastern Michigan University student housing is a go after Thursday’s approval by the university’s Board of Regents. The regents finalized the plan presented to them by Gilbane Development Company of Rhode Island during their June 16 meeting to finance its “Welcome Home 2025″ initiative.
mlive.comStrategic plan for Flint schools to be revisited with several changes
FLINT, MI -- A strategic plan that will guide the next five years of decision-making at Flint Community Schools will soon be revisited by the Board of Education. The strategic plan was tabled after school board members made several requests at previous board meetings earlier this year.
mlive.com4-star QB Katin Houser arrives at Michigan State with ‘it factor’ and plan on earning his spot
Katin Houser’s plan was to stay near the West Coast. The 2022 four-star quarterback from St. John Bosco High School outside of Los Angeles was committed to Boise State but then picked up an offer from Michigan State.
mlive.comJustice Department, EPA and Indiana Amend Agreement with the City of South Bend, Indiana to Treat Sewage and Wastewater
The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) have agreed to amend a 2012 Clean Water Act consent decree with the City of South Bend, Indiana. The amendment requires implementation of a revised long-term plan to reduce and treat sewage and wastewater discharges to meet Indiana’s water quality standard for E. coli. The revised plan will improve public health, better protect the St. Joseph River, a tributary of Lake Michigan, and lower the cost of compliance. The 2012 consent decree required South Bend to reduce discharges to 46.9 million gallons per year and reduce E. coli to 15,000 counts per 100 milliliters. This “smart sewer system” enables South Bend to construct fewer and smaller-sized gray infrastructure measures and, at the same time, achieve a greater level of pollution control.
justice.govKentwood District Court looks to resolve some civil disputes outside courtroom
KENTWOOD, MI -- The 62-B District Court of Kentwood has put a plan in place to resolve some civil disputes outside the courtroom. “Court cases involve a significant financial and emotional investment,” 62-B District Court Judge Amanda Sterkenburg said. “The 62-B District Court remains committed to acknowledging diverse cultures, values and socioeconomic statuses within disputes. Kent County’s 17th Circuit Court has an Alternative Dispute Resolution process for certain cases as well. Applications are available on the State Court Administrative Office website and may be submitted to 62-B District Court ADR Clerk Lakeshia Gilbert via email at gilbertl@kentwood.us.
mlive.comGov. Whitmer visits Bay City Central, announces funding plan to transform K-12 education throughout the state
BAY CITY, MI - Speaking from a school library in Bay County, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her plan to eliminate the educational funding gap thanks to a projected state budget surplus. Whitmer stopped at Bay City Central High School on Bay City’s East Side to announce her plan publicly on Thursday, May 27. “My plan eliminates the funding gap between schools in Michigan, that’s first and foremost. Right now we are positioned to eliminate the funding gap between any district across the state of Michigan.
mlive.comState’s plan to reopen Michigan brings hope to struggling businesses
“We can all throw some burgers on the grill, catch a Tigers game and hit the lake with our friends. We can enjoy our Michigan summer,” said Willpower Fitness Group owner William McCray. “I’m happy, I’m ecstatic and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Column: Instead of vaccine passports, issue mandatory ‘I’M SELFISH!’ T-shirts to those who refuse shots
President Joe Biden announced a surge in COVID-19 vaccinations, but too many remain wary. Columnist Huppke has a plan involving pithy T-shirts that should appeal to folks fearful of vaccines or vaccine passports.
chicagotribune.comMayor Lori Lightfoot says she expects ‘to see some summer festivals’ this year
Despite a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, Mayor Lori Lightfoot again said on Wednesday that she expects to see a more normal summer in Chicago this year than what the city experienced in 2020, including the possibility of summer festivals.
chicagotribune.comIllinois universities aim to reopen completely this fall. Is that a post-pandemic pipe dream or a realistic goal?
Illinois is currently under phase four of Pritzker’s plan, which allows gatherings of 50 people or fewer and for colleges to resume in-person classes in accordance with state health department guidance. All capacity caps would be lifted once the state or individual regions move into phase five, but it’s not clear when that will happen or if additional precautions will be introduced.
chicagotribune.comMichigan Breastfeeding Plan: Here’s what to know
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released a breastfeeding plan to tackle disparities in initiation and duration among mothers. “We are committed to closing the breastfeeding disparity gap, removing systemic barriers to breastfeeding and supporting all family’s ability to meet their breastfeeding goals.”The Michigan Breastfeeding Plan divides strategies into three stages:AdBefore pregnancyDuring pregnancyAfter pregnancy/postpartum. The state has been working to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration and reduce disparities among racial and ethnic groups. While almost 87% of mothers in Michigan reported ever breastfeeding their baby (initiation), only 58% reported breastfeeding at three months (duration), according to state health officials. “Although most infants born in 2017 started breastfeeding (84.1%), only 58.3% of infants were breastfeeding at 6 months.
CPS calls for 2 days of ‘cooling off’ as it reports progress in averting a CTU strike; remote learning continues Tuesday and Wednesday
“We are not locked out today or tomorrow because of our members’ unity, their commitment to their school communities and their fearless solidarity,” Sharkey said. “ ... None of this is easy. The uncertainty and risk our educators, our students and our families confront all take a toll. And all of the progress we’ve made to date in winning real gains at the table is possible because of the tireless work and dedication of our rank-and-file members, our strike captains, our delegates, our parents, our allies and ordinary Chicagoans who trust us to do what’s right by our schoolchildren.”
chicagotribune.comDefying CPS, some Chicago Teachers Union members won’t return to schools Monday, say they will teach remotely ‘until buildings are safe’
CPS and city officials have pushed back reopening plans multiple times but have said their phased-in plan, which would have the bulk of kindergarten through eighth graders returning on Feb. 1 for parents who choose that option, is a cautious approach with many health safeguards in place. They also say remote learning has disproportionately hurt Black and Latino students, though the union has countered that communities of color have also been affected the most by the COVID-19 pandemic.
chicagotribune.comDon't forget to check your retirement plan. Here are moves to make before the year is out
wera Rodsawang | Moment | Getty ImagesAs you check off your to-do list for the end of the year, don't forget to look at your retirement savings. Whether it is an individual retirement account, an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) or a brokerage account, assessing your portfolio is crucial. "We are wrapping up the year and beginning a new year and you have the entire year for these changes to impact your position, your plan," he said. It may also be a good time to see if you can bump up the amount of your contribution for next year. This is called tax-loss harvesting, and it should reduce the amount of capital gains taxes you'll have to pay.
cnbc.comWhere you can vote in Monroe County
Here's a list of precinct locations for Monroe County. Here's a list of precinct locations for Monroe County. Precinct 7: Township hall, 2744 Vivian Rd. Precincts 5, 6: Township hall, 4925 E. Dunbar Rd. City of PetersburgPrecinct 1: City hall, 24 E. Center St., PetersburgRaisinville TownshipPrecincts 1, 2: Township hall, 96 Ida-Maybee Rd.
monroenews.comCoronavirus in Illinois updates: 6,943 new known COVID-19 cases — a single-day record — and 36 additional deaths reported as state surpasses 400,000 total infections
Illinois health officials Friday reported 6,943 new known COVID-19 cases, eclipsing a single-day record set just 24 hours earlier and pushing the total number of confirmed infections since the pandemic began past 400,000. AdvertisementThe state also set a record for testing, with results from 95,111 screenings reported in the previous 24 hours. J.B. Pritzker’s authority to stop indoor service at restaurants and bars amid spikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois State Board of Education released its annual school report card Friday as students across the state adjust to remote and hybrid learning this school year. J.B. Pritzker reinstated a ban on indoor dining in areas of the state where COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations are rising.
chicagotribune.comMichigan governor releases four step plan for police reform
DETROIT After announcing her plan to reform policing in Michigan, Gov. Whitmer proposes 4-pronged police reform plan: What it includesHer plan calls for increased investment in police training and in the communities police departments serve. She added the group working on the plan was made of both activists and law enforcement, led by Lt. Gov. The plan also calls for more social work-like training and investment in communities including incentives for officers to live in the communities they police. The governor defended her plan saying its only a first step.
Australia's Qantas airline to cut 6,000 jobs as virus hits
WELLINGTON Qantas plans to cut at least 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 more workers on extended furloughs as Australia's largest airline tries to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Qantas announced a plan Thursday to reduce costs by billions of dollars and raise fresh capital. The plan includes grounding 100 planes for a year or more and immediately retiring its six remaining Boeing 747 planes. Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline has to become smaller as it braces for several years of much lower revenues. This crisis has still hit us very, very hard and the impact will be felt for a long time," Joyce said.
Cash strapped Thai Airways to seek bankruptcy rehabilitation
BANGKOK Thailands flag carrier Thai Airways International will file a plan for restructuring its business with the Central Bankruptcy Court, a government spokeswoman said Monday. Narumon Pinyosinwat said the plan submitted by the State Enterprise Policy Office to salvage the airline will be submitted Tuesday to for Cabinet approval. The airline initially sought a 54 billion baht ($1.7 billion) bailout loan from the government. Thai Airways logged losses of 12 billion baht ($374.3 million) in 2019, 11.6 billion baht ($361.9 million) in 2018 and 2.11 billion baht ($65.8 million) in 2017. Thai media reports say it is carrying a debt burden of almost 300 billion baht ($9.4 billion).
New plan to cap Porter Ranch gas leak amid lawsuits
There may be some good news at last for residents of a Southern California neighborhood who were forced from their homes by a huge natural gas leak. Since October, more than 80,000 tons of methane, the key ingredient to natural gas, has swept into the air near the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. The gas company says that leak may finally be capped sometime this month, but residents remain very much on edge. Mireya Villarreal reports.
cbsnews.com