Great Lakes Daily News

In the late 1800s, a Great Lakes ship captain had more to worry about than icy water and temperamental gales. There were pirates on the lakes that had their eyes set on precious cargo like timber, cattle and leather goods. Actor Tom Kastle and director Francisco Torres explain how they bring the centuries-old pirate from the sea to the stage. Read the full story by the Wisconsin Public Radio.

Due to climate change, the Great Lakes are heating up faster than others globally. Of all the lakes in the world, Lake Superior was identified as one of the fastest warming in 2021, and its neighbors aren’t far behind. Read the full story by Pelham Today.

Below Cleveland, Ohio, in a subterranean world many surface dwellers don’t know exists, miners extract a crucial winter mineral — salt. The Whiskey Island salt mine, owned by food giant Cargill, helps supply road salt across the Northeast and Great Lakes, where a colder, snowier-than-usual winter has driven demand. Many municipalities exhausted supplies that typically last through spring. Read the full story by the Associated Press.

According to a recent poll, 55% of Chicago residents say the Lake Michigan shorefront is Chicago’s most distinguishing feature. Lake Michigan is considered important by 94% of adults in the city and suburban Cook County, Illinois, with 59% saying it’s very or extremely important. Read the full story by Crain’s Chicago Business.

The Great Lakes shipping season begins when the Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior with the lower Great Lakes, open for ship traffic just after midnight on Wednesday. But vessels begin to stir several days before the locks open and the first ship of the season left Duluth on Monday. This new season starts with cautious optimism from port officials, who hope for a rebound following a challenging previous year. Read the full story by MPR News.

Lake Huron’s water levels are expected to fall about 11–12 inches below the long-term average and several inches below last year, reflecting a broader trend of declining levels across the Lake Michigan–Huron system. The drop is noticeable along shorelines and could affect navigation and coastal conditions, though it is part of normal variability influenced by weather and climate patterns. Read the full story by the Manitoulin Expositor.  

As the St. Lawrence Seaway began its 68th navigational season this week, questions remain about what its operating season should be. The previous season ended in January, the latest closing date in history, as ice slowed down the waterway. Read the full story by WWNY-TV – Watertown, NY.

The Great Lakes region is wasting large amounts of usable “waste heat” from sources like power plants, data centers, and sewage systems, which could instead be captured to provide clean, low-cost energy for heating and cooling. While the technology exists, progress is slow due to financial, political, and organizational barriers rather than technical limitations. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now. 

A new initiative promising the full use of each fish cleaned in the Great Lakes region has come to Lake Erie, and Walnut Creek has the first station in the region to take the pledge. Read the full story by Erie Times-News. 

Invasive carp, weighing up to 100 pounds and eating 10% of their weight in algae every day, could pose an existential threat to the Great Lakes. A multi‑layered barrier project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam has been stalled after the Trump administration paused the funds, leading state leaders to press for its release. Read the full story by USA Today.