Michigan
Michigan cities rethink
Cities across Michigan are rethinking “No Mow May” policies amid fears that taller grass could attract ticks and growing evidence that skipping mowing for just one month does little to help pollinators.
The annual initiative encourages residents in Michigan and around the world to hold off on mowing in May in order to create more space for bees, butterflies and other pollinators at a time when food is scarce. Some ornamental flowers, like bee balm and sunflower, don’t bloom until mid-June, leaving early-season pollinators with fewer sources of nectar and pollen.
Still, experts say the impact of a one-month pause may be overstated. Research is limited on whether letting grass grow for only a few weeks meaningfully helps pollinators, according to David Lowenstein, a consumer horticulture expert for Michigan State University.
“The science is not there to show it’s going to have a meaningful impact on bees,” Lowenstein told Bridge Michigan. “Bees need two things: food to eat, which comes in the form of pollen and nectar, and a place to nest, which could either be underground for cavity-nesting bees or in logs.”
The concept behind No Mow May took off in 2019, when the British conservation group Plantlife began promoting it as a simple way to support pollinators. Letting clovers, dandelions and other low-growing plants flourish can provide nectar and pollen, while also reducing water use.
But rather than abandoning mowing altogether, Lowenstein suggests a more balanced approach.
“What would be a better rebranding would be something like, ‘Reduced Mow May” … because there are certain kinds of low-growing flowers in lawns like violets and white clover that are good for bees,” Lowenstein said.
“Many bumble bees and smaller bees do visit those and if you were to let your lawn grow a little bit higher, maybe mowing it … every two or three weeks, if you could, would allow for some of those weeds that are good for bees to grow.”
That shift toward longer-term solutions is reflected in East Lansing, where officials recently adopted a resolution redefining what counts as weeds and allowing for year-round pollinator-friendly landscapes.
“No Mow May raised real awareness about pollinators and got a lot of residents thinking differently about their yards,” Cliff Walls, the city’s environmental sustainability and resiliency manager, said in a statement.
“But a one-month mowing enforcement pause was never going to be the long-term answer.”
Under East Lansing’s new rules, plants taller than 6 inches can qualify as a native garden or lawn if they are intentionally planted, clearly defined, made up of native species and properly maintained.
The ordinance “gives us a durable, year-round framework that supports ecological landscaping while keeping clear, fair expectations for property maintenance,” Walls said.
Tick fears
Other Michigan cities are also rethinking how to support pollinators, with several moving away from the one-month model.
Ann Arbor’s city council approved a No Mow May ordinance in 2022, but later replaced it with a broader Pollinator-Aware Yard Care initiative after hearing mixed feedback from residents.
“When we had that ordinance in effect for 2022, we received a lot of public comment from folks, a lot of folks in support of the program and a lot of folks with concerns about the program,” said Sean Reynolds, senior analyst for the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations.
Among those concerns were unintended side effects, including the potential for taller grass to attract ticks.
“Back in 2022, when we had the No Mow May ordinance, there were concerns around infective species, especially ticks, which was a concern that we heard and part of the reason we wanted to transition to something that’s a little more flexible,” Reynolds said.
When the grass grows too high, it creates a more inviting environment for ticks, especially during this time of year when they are most active.
The concern is not theoretical.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ 2026 Lyme Disease Risk Map, 82 of the state’s 83 counties have a known or potential risk for Lyme disease, driven in part by the spread of blacklegged ticks.
Instead of pausing mowing altogether, Ann Arbor now encourages residents to plant native species, shrink traditional turf lawns, limit pesticide use and reduce light pollution.
A “critical time” for pollinators
A similar mix of approaches is playing out elsewhere.
In Jackson, officials launched a limited version of No Mow May in 2023, allowing residents to let backyard grass grow while still requiring front yards and street-facing areas to be maintained. The program was reinstated this year after a brief pause.
“There are usually a lot more prevalent flowers after May, so that’s why May is such a critical time for pollinators because there are fewer options for them,” said Christina Crouch, communications manager for the city. The initiative is making “a small impact over time,” adding more resources and options for pollinators, Crouch said.
Even so, participation comes with clear boundaries: only backyards qualify, while front yards, including strips along the road, must still be mowed.
Meanwhile, Ferndale has taken a different route. After launching its program in 2023, the city ended No Mow May in 2025, citing limited evidence of its effectiveness despite strong initial participation.
More than 700 Ferndale households participated in an initial pilot program, but the city subsequently evaluated whether No Mow May programs are effective.
The conclusion: “They are not.”
“This is mostly due to the lack of pollinator-friendly vegetation present in the typical suburban/urban turfgrass lawn, meaning that the plants that do grow when not being mowed do not contribute to pollinator habitats in any meaningful way,” the city explained on its website.
Ferndale now recommends residents maintain cut grass that is three or four inches tall to outcompete weeds, reduce air and noise pollution by mowing less often and only remove about a third of the grass each time.
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This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
After three consecutive home games, Nebraska football will begin conference play on the road in East Lansing against Michigan State.
The Spartans, after going a combined 9-15 under Jonathan Smith in two years at the helm, are welcoming in a new head coach. Pat Fitzgerald, a familiar name to Husker fans, led the Northwestern Wildcats for 17 years, becoming one of the winningest head coaches in Big Ten history. Now, he’ll look to revive a program that went 11-2 just five years ago.
Here’s an early look at what Michigan State is expected to bring to the table this fall, including key returners, transfer additions, and what Nebraska will need to do to start 1-0 in conference play against a new regime.
Previously Covered: Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota
Offensive Outlook
The Spartans’ offensive struggles in 2025 were well documented, though injuries at quarterback certainly played a role. In 12 games, Michigan State finished the regular season ranked 98th nationally in total offense, averaging 345.5 yards and 24.6 points per game.
Aiden Chiles started the first eight contests of the season and provided the Spartans with a dual-threat presence each and every play. The then-junior threw for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 63.1% of his passes. He also added 227 rushing yards and six scores on the ground before a season-ending injury, suffered after being sacked 21 times, forced him to prematurely end the year.
That opened the door for Alessio Milivojevic, who appeared in nine games and made the first four starts of his career as a redshirt freshman. Milivojevic threw for 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 63.8% of his attempts. Even in his limited role, however, he was sacked 16 times behind a struggling offensive line.
Following the coaching transition, Michigan State aggressively pursued the transfer portal, bringing in 45 new scholarship players ahead of the 2026 season. With a revamped roster and an attempt at improved depth, there’s at least reason for optimism that the Spartans’ offense could take a step forward this fall.
Offensive Player to Watch: Alessio Milivojevic
It’s difficult to argue that any player on Michigan State’s offense will have a greater impact on the program’s success in year one under Fitzgerald than Milivojevic. As a redshirt freshman, the Naperville (IL) native was thrown into action against some of the toughest opponents on the Spartans’ 2025 schedule and gained valuable experience as a result.
Michigan State went 1-3 across his four starts while averaging 21.25 points per game. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound quarterback averaged 246.5 passing yards per contest during that stretch, with seven of his 10 touchdown passes coming as a starter.
Now entering his third season of college football, Milivojevic is more battle-tested than ever and will likely become the centerpiece the Spartans staff leans on throughout 2026. For Nebraska, drawing him early in his first full season as the unquestioned starter could prove beneficial, even if the Huskers already saw flashes of his potential firsthand inside Memorial Stadium last fall.
Defensive Outlook
A season ago, Michigan State fielded the 72nd-ranked defense in the FBS, allowing 378.7 yards and 29.9 points per game. Those numbers are expected to be an area of improvement as the Spartans begin a new era under Fitzgerald’s guidance.
In 2025, MSU surrendered 231.3 passing yards and 147.3 rushing yards per contest while struggling to complement an offense that averaged just 24.6 points per game. The Spartans held only two conference opponents below that scoring mark all season, highlighting the inconsistency that ultimately defined Smith’s tenure in East Lansing.
Still, there’s reason to believe the roster could look significantly different in 2026. Michigan State underwent noteworthy offseason turnover, losing 51 players to the transfer portal while returning only 36 scholarship players from last year’s team. In some ways, the reset may benefit the program. A new coaching staff, a fresh scheme, and an overhauled locker room could allow the Spartans to quickly reshape their identity entering the fall. Fitzgerald has made a career doing less with more and finally has a program with competitive resources to lead.
Defensive Player to Watch: Jordan Hall
Rising senior linebacker Jordan Hall is one of the most important returning pieces for Michigan State entering 2026. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound former IMG Academy star captained the Spartans’ defense last season and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition after leading the team with 88 tackles in 12 games. He also totaled 2.5 sacks, tied for the team lead, while adding a pass breakup, an interception, and three forced fumbles.
Hall has now appeared in 35 career games, including 19 starts, giving Michigan State a proven veteran presence in the middle of its defense. Beyond the production, his decision to remain with the program through multiple coaching changes and difficult seasons speaks volumes about his investment in the team he continually chose.
The then-junior finished 11th in the Big Ten in total tackles during the 2025 regular season and will look to build upon that production this fall. If he takes another step forward in 2026, Hall will almost certainly position himself to become an NFL draft pick, assuming he hasn’t already done so.
Biggest Question Mark Heading in 2026
Fitzgerald led Northwestern to 10 bowl appearances in 17 seasons as head coach, a noteworthy accomplishment considering the challenges tied to recruiting limitations the program has. During his tenure, the Wildcats also produced 11 All-Americans and 22 NFL Draft picks, proving Fitzgerald could develop talent at a high level despite academic restrictions that few other schools face.
Now the conversation shifts toward what he can accomplish with greater resources at Michigan State. While the Spartans have struggled in recent years, the program is not far removed from total success. Michigan State reached the four-team College Football Playoff in 2015 and won 11 games in 2021. Fitzgerald himself guided Northwestern to Big Ten Championship Game appearances in both 2018 and 2020. There’s precedent suggesting he can elevate a program within the Big Ten.
However, college football has changed dramatically since Fitzgerald last coached. The transfer portal, NIL, revenue sharing, and roster management created an entirely different landscape than he once had. Even so, Fitzgerald was selective about where he would return to coaching, and Michigan State ultimately became the program he believed in enough to take over.
The biggest question surrounding the Spartans may not be tied strictly to 2026, but rather the timeline of their rebuild overall. How quickly Fitzgerald can stabilize and reshape MSU will likely determine whether the program can once again emerge as a legitimate contender in the Big Ten.
My Outlook for the Game
Entering year four under Matt Rhule, Nebraska will need to show tangible progress as a program in 2026. The contract extension likely removes any “do-or-die” pressure surrounding the season overall, but opening conference play against a first-year head coach is still the type of game the Huskers simply cannot afford to lose.
NU will, in all likelihood, enter the matchup as the favorite despite being on the road. Now the challenge becomes proving the oddsmakers right in doing so. Staff continuity, roster depth, and overall culture should all work in the Big Red’s favor heading into the game against Michigan State. The Huskers need to capitalize on those advantages.
Starting 1-0 in conference play feels especially important, knowing the schedule only becomes more difficult to follow. This doesn’t project to be a game Nebraska will run away with, but the Huskers already found a way to beat Michigan State in 2025 despite surrendering five sacks. There’s little reason to believe they can’t do it again this fall.
Ideally, NU’s offensive line takes a step forward, and the team plays a cleaner, more disciplined brand of football overall. If that happens, the Huskers should like their chances. It may not come easy, but among Nebraska’s conference matchups in 2026, this remains one of the more favorable opportunities on the schedule. Find a way to get the job done.
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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan house explosion early Tuesday left one person dead and one in critical condition, authorities said.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire and explosion, which happened around 4 a.m. in Plainfield Township, north of Grand Rapids.
When authorities arrived, the home was destroyed and the debris was on fire, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. One person was dead.
Two neighbors pulled a woman out of the home after hearing her yelling.
“I had to get in there and get her out,” one of the neighbors, Tim Johnson, told WOOD-TV. He said they “grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.”
The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The blast shook Johnson’s house and he had second-degree burns on his head and a hand.
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