Lester Graham
Reporter, The Environment ReportLester Graham reports for The Environment Report. He has reported on public policy, politics, and issues regarding race and gender inequity. He was previously with The Environment Report at Michigan Public from 1998-2010.
He has been a journalist since 1985. Graham has served as a board member of the Public Radio News Directors Inc., and also served as President of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. He is a member of the Radio-Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), Society of Professional Journalists and other professional groups.
Lester has received 15 first place national awards for journalism excellence and scores more at the national, regional, and state levels.
Contact Lester: graham@michiganradio.org
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A University of Michigan study looked at data from more than 25,000 participants to see if long term exposure to air pollution had effects on elderly people's health. It found even those without chronic diseases from air pollution needed assistance from family or professionals for everyday living. -
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is using a couple of roving robots on tracks to sift through the sand on beaches, cleaning up debris. -
After legal challenges from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to reconsider its decision to not protect the Kirtland's snake under the Endangered Species Act. -
Michigan has a pilot program to restore a large wetland area to reduce fertilizer runoff from getting into Lake Erie because it feeds toxic cyanobacterial blooms that spread in the western basin each year. -
Floating solar panels are somewhat new in the U.S. In some places, the competition for land makes putting solar panel on plastic rafts feasible. -
The National Science Foundation has given a Marquette, Michigan company a grant to research whether some types of fungi can break down or otherwise destroy PFAS. -
Citizens for Local Choice wants local governments to decide whether solar or wind farms can be built instead of state government. -
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge are expected to be hit by budget cuts. -
Michigan's job growth slowed in 2023, but is expected to add close to 38,000 jobs in 2024 and 57,500 additional jobs in 2025, according to University of Michigan economists. -
Road and bridge builders want the 6% sales tax on fuel to go toward road and bridge infrastructure. The bulk of that tax currently goes to the School Aid Fund.
