9&10 News Focus Podcast

Senator Debbie Stabenow is sponsoring a bill to ensure U.S. Government contracts go to U.S. companies, closing loopholes that send $92 billion taxpayer dollars to foreign countries.

She stopped in Cadillac this week to talk about the plan.

One year ago, two dams failed sending flood waters rushing through parts of Midland and Gladwin Counties. 

On this week's Focus Podcast, we look back on the disaster with those who lived it, and find out how their unique spirit is setting the area up for a comeback.

There's a lot going on with vaccines.

We look at vaccination rates in northern Michigan, the expanded eligibility for vaccinating younger people, and the "MI Vacc to Normal" program with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and doctors from local health departments.

Pure Michigan wouldn’t be nearly as pure without our abundance of trees and forests. There are plenty of threats to different species of trees, and one of them is Oak Wilt.

May is Oak Wilt Awareness Month in Michigan. We learn all about it from arborist Julie Stachecki from the Michigan Oak Wilt Coalition.

COVID-19 variants are part of Michigan's recent surge in cases. So what are they, and how effective are the vaccines on the variants?

Kevin Essebaggers asks those questions and more to Dr. Rosha McCoy, and finds out that we shouldn't fear the variants... yet.

Lake Superior State University was the first in the nation to open a cannabis chemistry program.

The Cannabis Center of Excellence is leading the way, and just announced the first in the nation scholarship for students specifically in the cannabis program.

Kevin Essebaggers asked Dr. Steven Johnson about it. Johnson is the Dean of LSSU’s College of Science and the Environment.

Coastal wetlands around the Great Lakes harbor wildlife and improve water quality for humans. Audubon Great Lakes announced a new, ambitious plan to restore coastal wetland areas under siege from development, pollution, and climate change.

Kevin Essebaggers talks with Conservation Director Nat Miller about the plan, and what it means for birds and people.

While we wait for the COVID-19 vaccines to defeat the pandemic, testing remains an essential way to help fight the spread of the virus. Northern Michigan has a new option for rapid testing.

Kevin Essebaggers asks TC Rapid Testing about the test’s usefulness, reliability, and affordability.

The pandemic is obviously terrible in almost every way. But some medical students are actually benefitting from the hands-on experience COVID-19 is offering.

9&10's David Lyden caught up with Debra Kimball-Christie, the program director of CMU's Physician Assistant program, and PA student Haley McNabb and discussed how students are getting involved in vaccination clinics.

Two things dominated the week in Lansing: The governor’s proposed budget, and more controversial remarks from republican senate majority leader Mike Shirkey.

We get Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s take on both items in this week's Focus Podcast.