Issues of the Environment

David Fair - Retired
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Find Issues of the Environment each week on 89.1 WEMU.

  1. Aug 12

    Issues of the Environment: Monitoring cyanobacteria that's growing in the Huron River Watershed

    Residents in the Middle Huron River Watershed are facing an escalating environmental challenge as warmer summers and severe storm events increasingly trigger harmful cyanobacteria blooms, which threaten recreational water use, local wildlife, and the health of our regional impoundments like Ford Lake. Rebekah Warren discussed the matter and the actions being taken to fight it with Ric Lawson, director of programs for the Huron River Watershed Council.

  2. Aug 5

    Issues of the Environment: Border-To-Border Trail's new 'Dexter Connection' expansion progressing

    The expansion of Washtenaw County's Border-To-Border Trail continues, and the next piece of the puzzle is the "Dexter Connection." This stretch of the trail will connect hikers and bikers to downtown Dexter and is expected to be completed this fall. Roy Townsend serves as Project Manager for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. He spoke to Rebekah Warren about the expansion's current progress and how it may impact Washtenaw County's overall environment and infrastructure.

  3. Jul 29

    Issues of the Environment: Washtenaw County Health Department offers information and safety tips amidst recent cyclosporiasis outbreak

    An outbreak in cyclosporiasis recently spread all over Michigan, and a large number of cases were identified here in Washtenaw County. Kristen Schweighoefer, Director of the Washtenaw County Health Department's environmental health division, joined Rebekah Warren to discuss the source of the outbreak and what precautions residents should take to prevent another.

  4. Jul 22

    Issues of the Environment: Research shows PFAS found in Dexter's waterways come from everyday products

    For years, Washtenaw County’s relationship with the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS has centered on massive industrial pollution along the Huron River, like the Tribar industrial spill upstream. Yet, a two-year, proactive study by the Multi Lake Water and Sewer Authority entirely flips that script, revealing that the low-level PFAS consistently detected in local wastewater isn’t a corporate spill—it's coming from everyday consumer products used inside Dexter and Lyndon Township homes. Rebekah Warren discussed the study and what actions may come from it with Daniel Brown, climate resilient specialist and emerging contaminant for the Huron River Watershed Council.

  5. Jul 15

    Issues of the Environment: Celebrating National Park and Recreation Month alongside Washtenaw County's own bicentennial

    July is National Park and Recreation Month, and as Washtenaw County honors its 200th anniversary, its park system—which celebrated its own 50th anniversary in 2023—is showcasing how public spaces serve as vital community infrastructure rather than just places for leisure. Rhonda Bouma is Deputy Director of Operations for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. She joined Rebekah Warren to talk about what the county's park service has achieved and what it has planned for the future.

  6. Jul 8

    Issues of the Environment: Zerowaste.org's Plastic Free July Challenge and other tips in reducing everyday plastic

    Every day, the choices we make in our homes and communities connect to much bigger environmental stories. One of those connections is through Plastic Free July, a global movement encouraging people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. But what does that look like right here in Washtenaw County? Lydia McMullen-Laird is the co-founder and deputy director of the Ann Arbor-based Zerowaste.org. She and Rebekah Warren discussed ways residents can reduce their use of everyday plastic and how to participate in the 2026 Plastic Free July Challenge.

  7. Jul 1

    Issues of the Environment: Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin continues to work on better PFAS protections

    PFAS. Few environmental issues have affected Michigan communities more directly than these so-called "forever chemicals," which have been found in our waterways, groundwater, and drinking water systems across the state. In her first segment as host of "Issues of the Environment," Rebekah Warren was joined by U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. They discussed what local and national actions have been taken and what is needed to prevent further PFAS contamination.

  8. Jun 24

    Issues of the Environment: A conversation with WEMU's new environmental host, former state lawmaker Rebekah Warren

    Meet the new host of "Issues of the Environment." You know her as a former state Representative and former state Senator from Ann Arbor. Rebekah Warren served as chair of the House Great Lakes and Environment committee and in a number of other environmental leadership roles. Since leaving office, Rebekah has founded, and is President and CEO of Adaptive Strategics, which puts environmental issues front and center. Now, she will steward the conversations about our environment, right here in Washtenaw County. For his last go-round as host, WEMU's David Fair sat down with Rebekah Warren and talked about the future of "Issues of the Environment."

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Find Issues of the Environment each week on 89.1 WEMU.

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