Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Interview Series: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 2d

Interview Series: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019. Great Lakes leadership, Line 5 and a letter from a 7th grader. "They don't care about our partisan politics."
substack.com/home/post/p-...

My 2019 interview in Whitmer's first year in office focused on her water agenda.

Bari Weiss is a weird and worrisome choice as top editor for CBS News | Margaret Sullivan

2

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 3d

@theguardian.com columnist chronicles the decline of CBS News from paragon of network reporting to "one more step on the shameful path that CBS has trod since Donald Trump was elected to a second term."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

When Weiss was named editor-in-chief, it was the latest turn in the network’s confounding departure from its roots

www.theguardian.com

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 3d

Interview Series: Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder weeks before his term ended. Bottled water, wetland protection, leadership and why I didn't ask him about the Flint water crisis.
garyglx5.substack.com?utm_campaign...

Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook | Gary Wilson | Substack

A Substack focused on the Great Lakes, water and environmental justice issues. Click to read Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook, by Gary Wilson, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.

Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook | Gary Wilson | Substack

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 4d

First in a series of notable interviews conducted over 10+ years. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in 2019 just before exiting after his 2nd term. Bottled water, wetlands, invasive carp and Great Lakes leadership.
garyglx5.substack.com

A Substack focused on the Great Lakes, water and environmental justice issues. Click to read Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook, by Gary Wilson, a Substack publication. Launched 2 months ago.

Coming soon: A Series on Interviews

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 4d

Coming soon: A Series on Interviews. Notable interviews I've done with Great Lakes and environmental luminaries.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

One to one with Great Lakes and environmental luminaries

Rust Belt, Third Coast or Fresh Coast?

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 6d

Rust Belt, Third Coast or Fresh Coast? The Great Lakes Region's struggle for an identity. open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

The Great Lakes region's name game struggle for a geographical identity

open.substack.com

Rust Belt, Third Coast or Fresh Coast?

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 8d

Rust Belt, Third Coast or Fresh Coast? As the Great Lakes region struggles for an identity, what's in a name? Maybe nothing. open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

The Great Lakes region's name game struggle for a geographical identity

open.substack.com

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 11d

Milwaukee figured out the toxic waste disposal conundrum years ago and has advice for Detroit. “Every project needs a champion, someone who will step out and garner the troops together. You need that type of person to lead the way.” 2/2
www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/11/wisc...

Wisconsin agency's expanded mission led to record $450 million investment in Milwaukee waterways | Great Lakes Now

Sewerage district leadership sealed the deal to remediate two million cubic yards of contaminated sediment

www.greatlakesnow.org

Compensation, justice remain elusive for Flint residents

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 11d

Lack of disposal space hampers dredging of toxic sediment in Detroit, Rouge rivers @detroitnews.com reports. 1/2
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...

2 2

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 12d

Flint: Toddlers at the beginning of the Flint water crisis are now teens and teens are adults. Both still await compensation for the harm suffered. My thoughts on the injustice here.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Over a decade ago Flint faced the reality that its drinking water was contaminated with lead. Michigan’s $600 million award has been mired in bureaucracy; USEPA continues to deny liability.

Trump has vowed to make coal king again. How's it going?

5

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 12d

Can coal make a comeback as an energy source? Trump is trying but it’s not that easy @hmnorthey.bsky.social reports.

Hannah Northey @hmnorthey.bsky.social · 12d

As we await news from Interior and DOE on their latest attempt to boost the coal sector, take a look at my deep dive into the market realities, complete with some amazeballs charts and whatnot:

www.eenews.net/articles/tru...

Energy analysts say upticks in coal production and demand are only temporary fluctuations, despite the administration barreling ahead with efforts to boost

www.eenews.net

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 13d

Compensation, justice remain elusive for Flint residents harmed during the drinking water crisis from over a decade ago. open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

Compensation, justice remain elusive for Flint residents

Over a decade ago Flint faced the reality that its drinking water was contaminated with lead. Michigan’s $600 million award has been mired in bureaucracy; USEPA continues to deny liability.

open.substack.com

Judge rules EPA can be held liable in Flint water crisis lawsuits

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 16d

For the curious, links to the testimony before Congress by Gov. Snyder and EPA Admin. McCarthy. Lotsa partisan political posturing but that aside, interesting.
www.youtube.com/results?sear...

Anna Clark @annaleighclark.bsky.social · 17d

This is the third time the EPA has lost its attempt to dismiss the negligence claims, first filed in 2017.

Via @mlive.com

A judge has denied the federal government’s latest request to dismiss consolidated Flint water crisis lawsuits brought against it by city residents -- the third time the Environmental Protection Agen...

www.mlive.com

1 1

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 17d

Reminder that EPA Reg 5 (Chicago, Great Lakes) administrator Susan Hedman resigned. Though EPA admin Gina McCarthy (below) defended Hedman when questioned on Flint by Congress.

Anna Clark @annaleighclark.bsky.social · 17d

This is the third time the EPA has lost its attempt to dismiss the negligence claims, first filed in 2017.

Via @mlive.com

Judge rules EPA can be held liable in Flint water crisis lawsuits

A judge has denied the federal government’s latest request to dismiss consolidated Flint water crisis lawsuits brought against it by city residents -- the third time the Environmental Protection Agen...

www.mlive.com

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 19d

'Report: 19% of Lake Michigan shore now armored, limiting public access.' Michigan lakefront property owners brace for the next increase in lake levels but, is that a good thing? Probably not researcher says.
bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Report: 19% of Lake Michigan shore now armored, limiting public access - Bridge Michigan

A new study from MSU researchers used aerial photography to show just how much Michigan’s western shoreline has changed since the high water crisis of 2020. The expansion of hard armoring brings conse...

bridgemi.com

1 1

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 19d

In 2013 anti-pipeline advocates put a spotlight on a little known oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. They declared it a threat to the Great Lakes. Nearing 2026 its fate is mired in legal proceedings that MI Gov. Whitmer said is the "worst case scenario." #Line5
substack.com/home/post/p-...

"The worst case scenario"

A 72 year old Great Lakes oil pipeline’s fate is mired in a legal quagmire. Anti-pipeline advocates say shut it down. The operator says it has a better plan. Michigan agrees, well sorta.

"The worst case scenario"

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 20d

A Michigan governor's "worst case scenario" for an oil pipeline in the Great Lakes is a reality. A few thoughts here.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/the-worst-...

A 72 year old Great Lakes oil pipeline’s fate is mired in a legal quagmire. Anti-pipeline advocates say shut it down. The operator says it has a better plan. Michigan agrees, well sorta.

Data center developer takes Saline Township to court over rezoning decision

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 21d

One of the rewards of judging environmental films crafted by young filmmakers is getting to meet the award winners, like Higher Ground filmmaker Nicole Scimeca. Congrats Nicole!

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 22d

Update: Data center developer pushes back on township‘s zoning decision, files lawsuit. @brianallnutt.bsky.social reports for @planetdetroit.org.
planetdetroit.org/2025/09/sali...

Saline Township faces a lawsuit from a data center developer after denying rezoning of 575 acres of land for the project.

Zug Island pollution lawsuit goes to trial: What it means for DTE Energy

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 25d

Detroit (River Rouge) still clinging to legacy industries and the baggage of pollution lawsuits. Interesting photo: the industrial past in the foreground and the future, Gordie Howe bridge. in the background. Fyi, I worked on Zug decades ago. @planetdetroit.org
planetdetroit.org/2025/09/dte-...

The future of DTE Energy's Zug Island facility, a major Michigan polluter, hinges on a federal trial over Clean Air Act violations.

Saline Township denies data center rezoning request: 'Self-imposed environmental catastrophe'

2

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 25d

Worth noting: Rural Michigan township nixes data center development. A "self-imposed environmental catastrophe." @brianallnutt.bsky.social reports.
planetdetroit.org/2025/09/sali...

Saline Township board votes against rezoning for data center, highlighting concerns about water, energy, and farmland impact.

5 10

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 25d

Detroit followers…. Seen in a boutique Chicago food shop.

Water reads: Notable books from years of environmental reporting

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 28d

ICYMI..... Water reads: Notable books from years of environmental reporting. A history of water, a toxic town and a Canadian advocate opines on the country's water shortcomings.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/water-read...

Authors recognized from Canada, Michigan, Oxford in the U.K. and more

Michigan utility customers suffered nation's longest power outages in 2023: How DTE, Consumers contributed

Gary Wilson @garyglx5.bsky.social · 29d

Michigan's electric utilities have long-been criticized for poor performance on outages. @brianallnutt.bsky.social reports on how the state stacks up v. other states. @planetdetroit.org.
planetdetroit.org/2025/09/dte-...

Michigan utility customers faced the longest power outages in the nation in 2023.