Planet Detroit

Planet Detroit is a weekly email newsletter designed to enhance your knowledge about environmental matters in Detroit and Michigan. Our emphasis is on clear, solution-oriented, and investigative journalism, and we are dedicated to involving the community in discussions about local environmental challenges. We have a strong grasp of the relevant issues and connect with local activists, nonprofit organizations, business leaders, and other media outlets.

Local

English

Research Company/Group

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#873915

United States

#223464

News and Media

#7050

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Tariffs and weather challenge Michigan's cherry growers – Planet Detroit

5 days ago | planetdetroit.org

Tariffs challenge Michigan's cherry industry alongside severe weather, and rising costs. Experts warn of potential job losses.
Army Corps expedites Line 5 tunnel review under emergency permits

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Izzy Ross

Overview: -Enbridge's project seeks to house a new oil pipeline section under the Straits of Mackinac. -Trumpâ€™s executive order allows emergency permits to be used to boost energy supplies, especially fuels like oil and natural gas. -"We will continue to defend the rights of the Great Lakes. See you in court," says Bay Mills Indian Community's president. This coverage is made possible through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Trump tariffs may lead to higher grocery prices for Michiganders

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Brian Allnutt

Overview: -Tariff-driven food price increases could be exacerbated by price gouging and proposed cuts to federal SNAP benefits. -The impact of tariffs is expected to hit lower-income households the hardest. -"The point is chaos," food policy analyst tells Planet Detroit. Michiganders could soon be paying more for groceries as President Donald Trump’s tariffs come into effect, with price hikes affecting low-income residents the most.
What we're reading: Army Corps fast tracks Line 5 tunnel permits despite environmental concerns

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Dustin Blitchok

Overview: -U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expedites permits for Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel project under President Donald Trump's executive order to reduce reliance on foreign energy. -Federal judge orders the Trump administration to unfreeze billions in climate and infrastructure funding that had been paused since January. -Oakland, Macomb officials trade blame for millions of gallons of sewage discharges into Red Run Drain during April 3 storm.
Lifelong advocate steps back — but not away — from Detroit's Regent Park. Her new focus might surprise you.

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Leah Samuel

Overview: -Marcia Spivey says her Detroit neighborhood, Regent Park, needs community engagement. -"I just made the conscious decision and effort to be the change that I wanted to see in my community."-Spivey is a member of Planet Detroit's spring 2025 Neighborhood Reporting Lab. This story is published as part of Planet Detroit’s 2025 Spring Neighborhood Reporting Lab, supported by The Kresge Foundation, to train community-based writers in profile writing.
Detroiters rally against Moroun's concrete plant over pollution fears

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Malachi Barrett |Bridge Detroit

Overview: -A concrete mixing plant in Cadillac Heights is legally allowed to operate due to its industrial zoning. -"My child cannot play in his own yard," says resident Matthew Tomasz. -The plant's owners say their ready-mix facility is eco-friendly, reduces airborne dust compared to manual mixing sites. Detroiters are organizing to shut down an east side concrete mixing plant owned by the powerful Moroun family.
Could Trump's executive orders endanger Michigan's climate laws?

1 week ago | planetdetroit.org | Brian Allnutt

Overview: -Signed April 8, the executive orders include directives to halt the enforcement of state climate laws, cast doubt on climate change. -DTE's Monroe coal plant slated for closure by 2032, while Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell Generating Complex is scheduled to close this year. -âIf coal were so clean, why are they saying they have to eliminate basically all of these regulatory protections in order to try to keep it alive?â environmental advocate says.
Dearborn Heights bears the brunt of Ecorse Creek flooding: 'Nowhere else for the rain to go'

2 weeks ago | planetdetroit.org | Brian Allnutt

Overview: -Dearborn Heights is advocating for additional FEMA funds to buy flood-prone homes and manage Ecorse Creek. -Climate change is intensifying these issues with heavier rainstorms. -"You're slowly watching people's backyards just disappear," a resident tells Planet Detroit. After water from Ecorse Creek flooded his home in 2019, Dearborn Heights resident Randy Lopez worries whenever there’s a major storm.
What we're reading: Michigan's third measles case of 2025 diagnosed in Macomb County

2 weeks ago | planetdetroit.org | Dustin Blitchok

Overview: -Michigan's third measles case of 2025 is linked to outbreak in Ontario. -Detroit City Council approves $3 billion budget for 2025-2026 fiscal year that includes elimination of Land Bank funding. -Michigan forests could be affected by USDA memo ordering clearing of forests for timber production, wildfire management.
Natural skincare products gain ground: 'It's about taking the plastic off my body'

2 weeks ago | planetdetroit.org | Randiah Camille Green

Overview: -Detroit-based skin care brands reflect shift to natural cosmetics. -Scott Boateng founded PREVA Body after a trip to his ancestral homeland of Ghana. -“I saw my brothers and sisters and how beautiful their skin was,” he says. During undergrad, Marissa Robinson had a bad eczema flare-up. It was the first time it had happened that badly since she was a child. She coated her skin with Eucerin and Vaseline every night, but soon, the Eucerin stopped working.