1 – Listeners of this segment helped “The Environment Report with Mr. Great Lakes” win the honor of Science Podcast of the Year for 2025.

The so-called Lakies Awards are bestowed by the “Teach Me About the Great Lakes” podcast, put on by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. 

The Lakies Awards didn’t make the list of top stories of the year from Canary Media. But news items that did include … the U.S. Department of Energy ordering coal-fired power plants to stay open past their planned retirement dates, including the J. H. Campbell plant near Holland, Michigan. 

Also on the top stories list was President Trump promoting the restart of some retired nuclear power plants, including Palisades on Lake Michigan.

CanaryMedia.com has the full list.

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2 – There’s no winter or holiday break in the fight against invasive species. 

The folks at the Saginaw Bay CISMA, made up of local conservation districts and other organizations, say prescribed burning is one tool that can help combat invasive Phragmites plants, particularly during the winter months. 

They say fire helps remove dense, dead biomass that can hinder access for follow-up treatments, shade out native vegetation, and trap nutrients in the system. 

By clearing this buildup, prescribed burns can stimulate new plant growth in the spring and help improve conditions for native species to re-establish in infested areas.

But don’t do it yourself. The group says prescribed burns require extensive planning, trained professionals, appropriate weather conditions, and coordination with land managers and local authorities. 

More info on Saginaw Bay CISMA is online at MichiganInvasives.org.

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3 – How can you make a difference? 

The Alliance for the Great Lakes offers training in environmental advocacy. 

The nonprofit Alliance is known for its Adopt a Beach program that organizes shoreline cleanups around the lakes. 

The Alliance invites budding and seasoned activists to a Thursday, Jan. 15, webinar on protecting and preserving the lakes in the coming year. 

The “Waves of Change” webinar will dive into ways to get involved with the Alliance, and major issues facing the lakes in 2026. 

If you can’t make the event, you can register and check out a recording. 

The link to the Jan. 15 webinar is online at greatlakes.org/events/.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM WUCX in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes