On today's Stateside, the students in Detroit's public schools are starting the year drinking bottled water after high levels of copper and lead were found in some drinking fountains. Plus, trips to Michigan's sand dunes are a classic summer activity, but could climate change reshape the state's beloved natural landmarks?
Listen to the full show above, and find individual stories below.
Whitmer: Literacy will be a priority
The statewide M-STEP test results released last week showed reading scores for Michigan students continue to fall, despite more than $100 million being invested in literacy in recent years. Stateside is asking gubernatorial candidates what they would do to improve reading skills among the state’s kids. Today, we heard from Democratic nominee Gretchen Whitmer.
Detroit schools start today without any water. The latest.
Fifty-thousand students in Michigan's largest school district returned to school buildings today where the drinking water has been shut off. Higher-than-acceptable levels of copper or lead forced Detroit school officials to limit access to water in the buildings. Now, instead of using drinking fountains, students will drink from water coolers or bottles of water. Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek joined Stateside to talk about the district’s rationale and what comes next.
West Michigan Mixtape: Jen Sygit, Pink Sky, plus Tiger and Frame
On today’s Local Spins, we start out with an artist who is from Lansing, but who has made herself an integral part of the West Michigan music scene. We talk to John Sinkevics, editor and publisher of Local Spins, about why they are laying claim to Jen Sygit.
Bacon: ‘No Joy in Mudville’ for Wolverines this weekend
The Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans took to the field for the first game of the college football season this weekend. And, let’s just say, the outcomes weren’t great. But Michigan Radio’s John U. Bacon told Stateside it’s not time to start worrying just yet.
Memorializing the bloodiest battle of the War of 1812
The Battle of the River Raisin was the biggest U.S. defeat in the War of 1812 - and it happened in Monroe. Stateside talked to Toni Cooper, executive director for the River Raisin National Battlefield Park Foundation, about the plans for a $100-million dollar redevelopment of the River Raisin National Battlefield.
Climate change or development: which is a bigger threat to Michigan dunes?
The long Labor Day weekend may marked the unofficial end of summer, but we’ve got one more listener question about the Great Lakes to answer. Listener Jennifer Lareau-Gee wanted to know: “Is climate change affecting the sand dunes in up North Michigan and is it affecting the coastal landscape?” To get the answer, Stateside talked to Alan Arbogast, professor and chair for the Department of Geography at Michigan State University.
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