Michigan environmental news: Parasite outbreak grows, heat strains DTE grid

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Overview:

Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan jump from 174 to over 300 in three days, six times the state's typical annual total, with no source identified.

Near-record heat strains DTE Energy grid.

Detroit's 98-acre Rogell Park opens on the west side after a decade-long transformation from private golf course to nature space with trails and wetlands.

➡️ Michigan parasite cases nearly double in 3 days A cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan is accelerating rapidly, state officials say. Cases nearly doubled in three days: 174 Tuesday, 228 Wednesday, more than 300 by Thursday—all tied to infections since June 22, roughly six times the state’s typical annual total. The parasitic illness, causing diarrhea and vomiting, has spread across 21 counties, concentrated in Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne, Livingston, Shiawassee, Lenawee, and Jackson. Officials haven’t identified a source. Experts advise washing and refrigerating produce. 📌 Source: The Detroit News

➡️ Heat wave strains Metro Detroit power grid, DTE says Near record-breaking heat is straining metro Detroit’s power grid and caused outages in Warren neighborhoods. Residents described repeated outages, with some relying on generators or leaving home to cope without air conditioning. Neighbors say outages are a chronic problem, not just heat-related. DTE Energy attributes outages to high AC demand straining equipment, says grid upgrades are ongoing, and denies intentionally enacting brownouts to manage demand. 📌 Source: WXYZ-TV

➡️ From fairways to wetlands: Detroit’s Rogell Park debuts A former private golf course on Detroit’s west side is now Rogell Park, a 98-acre nature space with trails, wetlands, meadows, boardwalks, and overlooks. More than a decade in development, the project involved cleaning up golf course chemicals and incorporating community input, which favored a passive, nature-focused design over active recreation. Neighbors describe the park as emotional and long-awaited, hoping it sparks further investment in the area. City officials say more amenities are planned as funding allows. 📌 Source: WDIV-TV

➡️ Lawsuit targets personal data of Michigan’s 1.4 million SNAP recipients The Trump administration filed a lawsuit June 28 seeking injunctions against Michigan and three other Democratic-led states to force them to turn over five years of SNAP applicant data, citing fraud prevention. Roughly 1.4 million Michiganders receive SNAP benefits. States have refused, citing privacy concerns and fears the data could be misused by immigration agencies. A federal judge previously blocked a similar USDA demand last fall, ruling the department lacked adequate safeguards to protect recipients’ personal information. 📌 Source: Michigan Public

➡️ Invasive bloody red shrimp confirmed in all Great Lakes Researchers at the University of Minnesota-Duluth confirmed a self-sustaining population of invasive bloody red shrimp in Lake Superior, meaning the Eastern European species now inhabits all five Great Lakes. First found in Lake Michigan in 2006, the shrimp reached Lake Superior by 2017 but only recently proved it overwinters there. Spread mainly through ballast water from freighter ships, the shrimp’s ecological impact remains unclear—it may compete with native species while also providing new food for fish. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press

➡️ Lake Erie algal bloom to peak in August: NOAA forecast NOAA forecasts a moderate harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie this summer, with a severity of 3.5 — similar to 2024, but higher than 2025. The bloom, driven by phosphorus runoff from the Maumee River watershed, is expected to start in July, peak in August, and continue into September, potentially covering one-third of the western basin. While not an emergency like Toledo’s 2014 water crisis, officials warn toxic scum can still form in calm conditions, posing risks to swimmers and pets. 📌 Source: WTOL-TV

➡️ Fourth inmate dies at women’s Huron Valley prison since May Dalephenia Jones, 62, died July 2 at Trinity Health Hospital, becoming the fourth inmate to die at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Institute since May. Corrections officers found her needing medical help June 19; she suffered a cardiac event, underwent surgery, and died 14 days later. Jones had chronic conditions increasing cardiac risk. Her death follows those of Rebecca Fackler, Khiara Howard, and Ashley Hoath, prompting dozens of lawmakers to call for corrections director Heidi Washington’s resignation. MDOC is investigating. 📌 Source: CBS News