Newly elected U.S. Sen. JD Vance will co-chair the U.S. Senate’s Great Lakes Task Force, replacing his predecessor Rob Portman at the helm of a group that pushes to protect the world’s largest freshwater lake system. Vance said his priorities in the job will include fully funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, fighting invasive species like invasive carp, and ensuring the Lakes’ aging lock systems and infrastructure stay in good repair to allow the passage of cargo ships. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.