I cover the environment, energy, health, and a bunch of other beats.
Investigative Projects
Gelman Plume
My first published investigation, published in spring 2025 after several months of research and incessantly asking “but why?” about the enduring groundwater contamination under Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“It cost us dearly”: The legacy of Ann Arbor’s Gelman Plume
WEB FEATURE AND INFOGRAPHICS
Michigan Public, May 2025
The Gelman plume: Questions about health effects
WEB FEATURE AND INFOGRAPHICS
Michigan Public, May 2025
Gelman site’s future is unclear as Trump proposes EPA cuts
WEB FEATURE AND INFOGRAPHICS
Michigan Public, May 2025
University of Michigan
Calls for U of M to divest any and all investments in Israel are not new. But they escalated in October 2023, and student activists joined the nationwide encampment movement in April and May 2024. The university has responded by firing workers, issuing trespass bans, beefing up private security on campus, and more.
This project follows two of the fired workers, one of whom had graduated and gotten a full time job at the university at the time she was fired.
Fired employee says UM violated her free speech rights when it terminated her employment
Fired employees sue UM alleging violation of free speech, due process rights
UM argues former pro-Palestine workers were fired for their conduct, not politics
Fired pro-Palestine protesters say dissent is free speech in lawsuit against UM
AUDIO AND WEB FEATURE
Michigan Public, February 2026
Environment and Climate Change
Beat Reporting
Returnable bottles, vape pens and food waste: What Michiganders throw away
Watershed council plans to move threatened mussels and sediment for dam removal project
Michigan Environmental Council mulls options for expanding bottle bill
Industry opposition, partisan politics slow state polluter pay bills
Explainers
Features
Should Michigan’s bottle bill be updated?
COLLABORATIVE AUDIO AND WEB FEATURE
Michigan Public, September 2025
What to know about nuclear waste coming to Michigan
AUDIO AND WEB FEATURE
Michigan Public, September 2024
Michigan dam removal could improve environment, recreation and storm protection
WEB FEATURE
Great Lakes Echo, May 2024
Energy and Sustainability
Beat Reporting
Michiganders urge regulators not to rush approval of data center power plan
DTE and Consumers requesting too much money from ratepayers, MI attorney general says
Michigan Public Service Commission grants rate increase to DTE Gas, but with stipulations
Solutions
This Ann Arbor neighborhood is transforming into a sustainable energy hub, thanks to local nonprofit
WEB FEATURE
Concentrate, December 2024
Ann Arbor takes key role in pushing DTE Energy for lower rates and improved infrastructure
WEB FEATURE
Concentrate, June 2025
LGBTQ
Beat Reporting
Name and gender marker change bills are a matter of safety, advocates say
Bill packages would ban gender-affirming care – for transgender minors only
MI health system unpauses gender-affirming care for new pediatric patients
Current political climate negatively affects majority of LGBTQ youth in Michigan, survey finds
Features
Fear and uncertainty for trans Michiganders thanks to Trump’s two sexes passport policies
General Reporting
Infrastructure, health, labor, education, and more. I’m flexible.
elinor epperson | kitchen sink journalism 