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Great Lakes Daily News is a collection of news articles of interest to the Great Lakes community, curated by Great Lakes Commission staff. This valuable service provides a selection of recent coverage of Great Lakes issues from professional media outlets in the United States and Canada. Subscribers receive a email digest, making it easy and convenient to keep up with important regional news. Sign up now to get Great Lakes Daily News in your inbox!
All views and opinions presented are solely those of the author or attributed source, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Great Lakes Commission or its party states and provinces.
Latest Daily News
Michigan’s aging water infrastructure works to keep up with demand from data centers
Michigan’s aging water infrastructure — much of it over 50 years old and underfunded — faces increasing pressure to support growing demand from new data centers while also addressing wastewater, drinking water, and stormwater challenges. The state is seeking more investment and planning to upgrade systems and manage capacity amid public concern and climate‑related stresses. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio.
Discover the inner workings of the S.S. Badger with new guided tours
New guided tours aboard the historic S.S. Badger will give visitors a behind‑the‑scenes look at areas like the ship’s engine room and pilot house, offering insights into how the last coal‑fired passenger steamship in the U.S. operates. Read the full story by MLive.
Frozen waters cause serious supply chain issues across the Great Lakes
Winter may have come early for the Great Lakes this year, but neither the U.S. nor the Canadian coast guard can keep traffic moving through the ice. Frozen waters are currently impacting commercial traffic between ports across the Great Lakes in places like Toledo, Sandusky, and even ports in Michigan and Minnesota. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Ice is forming on Great Lakes, Coast Guard begins ice-cutting operations
The U.S. Coast Guard has started its winter task of keeping newly formed ice from hindering commercial vessel traffic on the Great Lakes. Overall, the ice formation for winter 2025-26 is trending at about average for the region. Read the full story by CBS News.
Invasive sea lamprey declining as control efforts in the Great Lakes resume
The number of invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes has gone down after regular control and treatment efforts resumed. Lamprey surveys show their numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Ice causing delays in final days of shipping season
As of Sunday afternoon, 13 vessels had yet to pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway’s final lock near Montreal, Québec. The seaway closes Monday. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
After years of safety lapses, feds yank license for Michigan hydro dam
Federal regulators have officially revoked the operating license for the troubled Au Train Dam in Au Train, Michigan, citing the owner’s long-running failure to address safety problems and maintain control of the site. Read the full story by MLive.
Michigan 2026 sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake starts Feb. 7
Will the Black Lake lake sturgeon fishing season again set a time record in 2026? We’ll find out February 7 when the season begins — and most likely also ends. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.
Gordie Howe Bridge to give Michigan a walkable, bikeable link to Canada
Detroit’s Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to change the way people cross the Detroit River. For the first time in decades, residents will be able to walk or bike, in addition to driving, into Canada. Read the full story by Bridge Detroit.
Swimmers brave frigid Lake Michigan for New Year’s Day plunge
Dozens of swimmers took to Lake Michigan in Ogden Dunes, Indiana, as part of an unofficial New Year’s Day polar plunge. The air temperature was 20 while the water temperature was about 35 as swimmers defied the weather to take a brief dip. Read the full story by the Post-Tribune.