in addition to marine mammals and domestic cats have also died from the virus.

What are Michigan researchers learning in regards to the outbreak?

In the case of H5N1 in cows, scientists and animal health experts here in Michigan And across the country are working to know a known disease in a brand new species.

Transmission of the H5N1 avian influenza virus to dairy cows was first confirmed in Texas in March 2024 and has not occurred since Spread to fifteen additional US states, most recently California.

The virus affects milk production and poses significant risks to other bird species, particularly domestic poultry and a few mammals. The CDC has also confirmed this mild cases in humans and a deadly in Louisiana in January 2025.

Diagnostician at Michigan State University and people of the USDA National Network of Animal Health Laboratories provide rapid diagnostics to discover infected flocks and monitor the virus in wild birds and mammals to manage the spread.

Based on sequencing of circulating viruses, we found that a particular virus strain or H5N1 genotype, B3.13, is circulating in cows and poultry. Subtle changes within the virus's genetic makeup over time point to a single one Spillover event. This means the virus was likely transmitted from wild birds to a cow in Texas after which spread from cow to cow. We also know that there’s a separate H5N1 genotype, D1.1, that’s currently circulating in wild birds and domestic poultry.

Researchers at our College of Veterinary Medicine are working with federal and state officials and farmers to seek out out How long do cows produce infectious milk?. The goal is to know how cows turn into infected inside and between herds so we are able to higher contain the spread.

Why is it called bird flu when other animals also get it?

Influenza viruses affect many animals including people, Pigs, dogs And Horses.

There are 4 forms of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D, broadly defined by the species they’ll infect. Avian influenza viruses are considered influenza A viruses. Interestingly, it’s influenza D viruses that primarily infect cattle. But the H5N1 virus currently circulating in dairy cows is similar influenza A virus seen in the continuing outbreak in birds.

This is especially concerning because this has only happened with influenza A viruses associated with human pandemics.

However, avian influenza viruses flow into in wild birds normally don’t cause significant illness. While many avian influenza viruses can infect poultry, the virus is classed as either highly pathogenic or low pathogenic based on its behavior in these hosts. It is significant to notice that this classification doesn’t necessarily indicate how easily it spreads or how likely the virus is to leap to other species.

The strain currently in circulation is classified as highly pathogenic bird fluor HPAI, based on the high mortality it causes in domestic poultry. One of the various unusual features of the present outbreak is the high mortality amongst wild birds; As a result, we now have seen many species of young carnivores and scavengers infected with the virus.

Infection in other species often requires contact with a considerable amount of virus or a weakened or underdeveloped immune system. These are typically “Dead-end innkeepers.” They turn into infected, but play no role within the spread of the virus because either the animal dies or it’s infected but not infectious.

The current outbreak was HPAI H5N1 running since 2021. The outbreak is notable for its duration, wide geographical spread and weird impacts even on non-poultry species. It has caused significant illness and death in wild birds like geese and geese, as well Mammals exposed to infected bird carcasses like cats and skunks.

However, if the USDA unexpectedly confirmed that H5N1 was the explanation for significant disease in dairy cows The virus was first detected in US dairy cattle in early 2024.

What does the virus do to cattle?

Most cows infected with H5N1 recuperate on their very own without treatment. Symptoms include fever and lethargy. In addition, lactating cows experience reduced appetite and a big decrease in milk production, as is the case with the virus concentrates within the mammary glands and milk.

There are three reasons to be concerned in regards to the ongoing H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows:

First, the decline in milk production and the contagiousness of the virus pose challenges for farmers in controlling the infection and lead to economic losses. In addition to production losses, there are additional labor and provide costs to administer the outbreak within the herd, including separation and supportive care of sick cows. Workers must also wear personal protective equipment to forestall the virus from spreading to healthy animals and protect themselves from possible infection.

Second, dairy cows produce large amounts of the virus of their milk, which is very contagious. While pasteurization kills the virus, raw milk stays a serious infection risk. Significant variety of wild mammals and domestic cats on dairy farms died from the virus after consuming raw milk. It also poses a risk to dairy employees.

The virus has also spread from dairy farms to poultry farms. leading to high bird mortality. are experts explore the likelihood that clothing, shoes, trucks, equipment and other items which have been contaminated with raw milk containing the virus can result in accidental and fatal exposure of poultry.

Third, prolonged circulation in cattle increases the danger of the virus adapting to mammals. including people.

To monitor this risk, all H5N1-positive samples are sent to the USDA for genetic sequencing to discover mutations that would increase the virus's ability to contaminate mammals and to offer necessary details about how the virus spreads inside and spread between populations.

How can we manage H5N1 in the longer term?

Biosecurity for poultry and dairy farms is more necessary than ever. Biosecurity measures include limiting the number of tourists to farms and facilities; disinfection tools, shoes and equipment; avoiding contact between infected and uninfected species; and isolating sick animals.

These measures play a very important role in each containing the virus and keeping it away from other animals, properties and folks.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The task was easy: Find the one who would get the very best tattoo to have fun Michigan's 2023 national championship.

Not surprisingly, there have been many candidates. Michigan fans are a passionate bunch and greater than a number of of them wanted an indelible reminder of the Wolverines' perfect season tattooed on their skin. A tattoo spotted in an Instagram post tagged Ann Arbor's Lucky Monkey Tattoo Parlor stood out from the remaining. It was clear that this story wouldn't be complete without chatting with the person who had the cartoon drawing of Jim Harbaugh holding a chicken and drinking a glass of milk on his calf.

That can be Jimmy McLaughlin, a 36-year-old nurse from Toledo, Ohio. Over the course of reporting on this story, it became apparent that the Harbaugh tattoo was not the fanciest piece of body art McLaughlin acquired within the wake of the Michigan championship.

“Plus a wolverine goes to the bathroom on a horseshoe shaped toilet lol,” McLaughlin wrote in a text message.

“I always thought the Horseshoe looked like a toilet,” McLaughlin explained over the phone. “I had this idea while cooking for ten years, but I had to wait to make it happen. You can’t get a tattoo like that on a 10-year losing streak.”

The tattoo is just about exactly as McLaughlin described it: colourful, campy and intensely on-brand for considered one of college football's craziest rivalries. McLaughlin lives in Toledo, a number of miles south of the Michigan state line, and is surrounded by fans of each teams. Encouraged by Michigan's three-year winning streak against the Buckeyes, he put into motion his plan to have Ohio Stadium tattooed on his thigh in the form of a porcelain dresser.

Something like this looks as if an amazing idea when your team is 15-0 and basking within the afterglow of a national championship. But what in case your team is a 6-5, 21-point underdog within the stadium you mocked in your leg? That's a rather different story.

After chatting with proud tattoo owners before the season, I reached out to them again this week to see how they're holding up in Michigan's difficult season. A tattoo is a lifelong commitment, something that lasts through thick and thin – identical to the fans who show it off. Even though McLaughlin has experienced some pain from Ohio State fans throughout his life, he isn’t discouraged. His annual tally features a natty, two recent tattoos and nil regrets.

“We’re still state champions until we’re not,” he said. “By the time the clock hits zero, expect every Ohio State fan in the area to hear about it.”

Another one that probably doesn't regret his national championship tattoo is Harbaugh, whose Los Angeles Chargers played John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. Under Harbaugh's Chargers hoodie, He had a Skinny M tattoo on his shoulder Michigan's 15-0 record is the results of a promise he made to his players.

Stephen Bateman, the Grand Rapids-based artist who did Harbaugh's tattoo, has tattooed NFL cornerback Jalen Ramsey, NBA player Andre Drummond and several other former Michigan players. One of his regular customers is Braiden McGregor, the previous Michigan defensive end and current New York Jet, who has much of his body covered in tattoos.

After the season, McGregor visited Bateman to have a rose and a College Football Playoff trophy hung from the block M on his shoulder. The topic of Harbaugh's tattoo promise got here up, and McGregor made sure Bateman did the honors when members of the championship team met in Ann Arbor for Michigan's spring game. The design wasn't technically demanding, but tattooing a famous football coach in front of the team was a bit stressful.

“They all had their phones out, probably about 20 of them,” Bateman said. “He just bent over backwards and said he was immune to pain.”

Bateman got several other championship tattoos, including one for Dillon Gates, a 32-year-old Michigan fan from Grand Rapids. Gates' arm is roofed from elbow to shoulder with a scene of Tom Brady, JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum and other Michigan greats walking up the stadium tunnel. According to Gates, the tattoo took 30 hours to finish, spread over three sessions.

Gates has cousins ​​in Columbus who’re Ohio State fans, but even they’d to confess the tattoo was a formidable murals. Gates received similar reactions when he traveled around Big Ten country buying used musical instruments for his job.

“I was actually in Pennsylvania, and a guy at the front desk of the hotel asked me to hold up my arm,” Gates said. “He said, 'Dude, I don't even like Michigan, but that's a great tattoo.' Most of the time it’s like a badge of honor for me.”

Gates got the tattoo as part of a pact with a friend, Michigan fan Patrick Coleman. Coleman has a scene on his arm of McCarthy, Corum, Will Johnson and Donovan Edwards celebrating in front of the CFP trophy. When thinking about how to celebrate the national championship, Coleman decided that a tattoo was the most enduring symbol.

“I got all the memorabilia,” Coleman said. “I received posters and flags. I got the t-shirts. Given all the hard times we had to go through to finally get to the top, you have to write it on your skin so you can always remember it.”

When it involves creativity, McLaughlin's tattoos are hard to beat. He wanted something nobody else would have, something that captured a novel aspect of Michigan's season. Harbaugh often spoke concerning the chickens he raised in his backyard, and the concept of ​​him holding a bird under his arm seemed a fitting tribute.

This tattoo receives many comments as McLaughlin meets other Michigan fans. Someone spotted the tattoo as McLaughlin walked through the parking zone before the Michigan-Oregon game a number of weeks ago and before he knew it, he was getting free food and beer at a tailgate.

“Almost everyone reacts the same way,” McLaughlin said. “Everyone starts laughing. A lot of people are like, 'What's wrong with the chicken?' I have to explain it and they're like, 'Okay, that's pretty funny.'”

Life after the national championship wasn't exactly rosy for Michigan. The Wolverines have suffered five regular-season losses for the first time since 2014 and are three touchdown underdogs heading into Saturday's game against the Buckeyes. For fans like McLaughlin, that meant hearing more trash talk from rival fans who couldn't say much as Michigan dominated the Big Ten.

McLaughlin said he handled the season with flying colors. His group chats got going last week when Michigan signed five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, and excitement for the future is already building. As for Saturday, McLaughlin plans to watch the game from his garage instead of showing off the toilet bowl tattoo in Columbus. The season didn't go as planned, but if he could turn back time, McLaughlin wouldn't change a thing.

“For me it’s not a regret at all,” McLaughlin said. “I went to the Rose Bowl. I celebrated after the natty. Nothing will ever take that feeling away from me.”

It's been a tricky yr for the defending national champions, but on Thursday the Wolverines got some great news: the nation's No. 1 recruit, quarterback Bryce Underwood – an athletic 17-year-old who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 205 kilos – announced he would transfer his commitment from LSU to Michigan.

After being committed to the Tigers for nearly a yr, the move sent shockwaves throughout the school football recruiting world. However, football legend and Michigan alum Tom Brady might need seen it coming.

An enormous a part of Underwood's promise to the Wolverines, based on a program source, was Brady participating in multiple Zoom meetings with Underwood and becoming an ideal resource for the young quarterback.

Underwood grew up a Michigan fan and is from Belleville, Michigan, just 20 minutes outside of Ann Arbor. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore preaches and recruits by the motto, “The best players in Michigan, go to Michigan.”

But former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh didn't seem particularly desirous about pursuing Underwood, as other top programs have. Not long after Harbaugh took the highest job with the Los Angeles Chargers in January, Sean Magee returned to Ann Arbor to turn into Michigan's general manager after working within the Chicago Bears' front office.

And Magee and Moore placed great emphasis on Underwood.

Yes, sir! The best players in Michigan, go to Michigan!! #ProcessOverPrize25 #GoBlue

– Sherrone Moore (@Coach_SMoore) November 20, 2024

The two worked for months to repair their relationship with the star QB. Things kicked into high gear this week as Underwood spent two days at Michigan and felt very comfortable with the direction this system is now headed.

The Wolverines, lower than a yr faraway from a national championship, are currently 5-5 and out of playoff contention.

“Everyone assumes we’re just handing this kid an eight-figure sum, but that’s not true,” the source said.

pic.twitter.com/owaL5uEIfP

– Bryce Jay Underwood (@BryceUnderwoo16) November 22, 2024

Now that the Wolverines have their QB of the longer term, they’ll expect to make lots more noise on the recruiting front with the early signing deadline lower than two weeks away.

Required reading

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana junior receiver Elijah Sarratt, a zero-star recruit as a high schooler in Virginia, gave Michigan sophomore cornerback and former four-star recruit Jyaire Hill a figurative roast, leaving returned it to the open field and sailed under a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kurtis Rourke.

Indiana junior defensive end Mikail Kamara, a non-star recruit as a high schooler in Virginia, found himself caught between Michigan senior right guard Giovanni El-Hadi and sophomore right tackle Evan Link and right into the face of quarterback Davis Warren. Both of the Wolverines' linemen finished their prep careers with 4 stars next to their name, and each were needed to take care of Kamara. Eight stars vs. none. Nobody won.

Indiana, the worst-losing major college football program, beat Michigan, the winningest program, 20-15 on Saturday before 53,082 born-again November basketball ignoramuses at Memorial Stadium. That's 10 wins for the primary time in Indiana history. That's 11 all-time wins against Michigan in 73 tries. That makes it difficult to assume a scenario by which first-year coach Curt Cignetti and his Hoosiers should not among the many teams chosen for the primary 12 College Football Playoffs.

And I swear to you, as sure as Bob Knight could throw a chair, these people acted like they’d something to reply for on Saturday.

“I’m glad we won,” Cignetti said. “I’m not happy with the way we played.”

He said this in quite a lot of ways while praising his defense and team for being “courageous,” and he did so after being asked concerning the little emotion he expressed within the on-field interview with CBS after it had shown at the tip – while Indiana The students stood happily within the stands and didn't rush across the sector, because apparently that's exactly what they're doing now, beating the reigning national champions.

Those few seconds on the sector taking all of it in, a few of the smiles Cignetti shared with family and friends as he walked past the huge IU weight room to the presser, the incontrovertible fact that nearly 20 family and friends crowded there… these are the clues to a huge moment.

Cignetti and his No They needed to stop a two-pointer and one other UM push within the fourth quarter, which the IU defense managed to do. Indiana should steamroll this Michigan team that appears like a Quick Lane Bowl, identical to Indiana steamrolled everyone, and that didn't occur.

Covered 7-8 Indiana football games. Today's tailgating scene surpasses all of them combined. Bad photo that also doesn't tell the story. pic.twitter.com/HqmoweWGmm

— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) November 9, 2024

That's okay, Hoosiers. There's a Big Ten championship in play. Next up is the sport of the season at No. 2 Ohio State University after a well-timed week off. The incontrovertible fact that 's Austin Mock has the Hoosiers at 92 percent to make the playoffs and their regular-season finale shall be against formidable rival Purdue needn't cause a public sigh of relief. Especially after this version of Michigan outplayed Indiana within the second half.

But those of us outside this system don’t must play along. We can rub our eyes and shake our heads and laugh almost uncomfortably on the incontrovertible fact that in November we, as a university football nation, are wondering if these Hoosiers…

We wonder how Michigan was capable of delay so well against Indiana. We give the Wolverines an enormous pat on the back for that, and what if coach Sherrone Moore hadn't blown 31 seconds before calling a timeout late, or spent much of the second half pretending he did just attempting to avoid a day out? Blowout? After Saturday's press conferences, people were back within the press box watching the Alabama-LSU game and talking about what impact it could have on IU's playoff draw.

Are we within the Upside Down? How removed from Bloomington is Hawkins, Indiana, the supernatural setting of Stranger Things?

We could be amazed. We can be excited. Because Indiana football in 2024 reminds us that this sport is just not nearly math and science. If it were, the Hoosiers wouldn't have dominated the sport in the primary half and searched for answers after a shaky second half. They, like most Indiana teams, would have been pitted against most Michigan teams over the a long time.

The 247Sports Team Talent Compositewhich evaluates rosters based on recruiting rankings, tells us that Michigan, which lost big last yr to the Jim Harbaugh-led Natty, remains to be No. 5 within the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally. Indiana is No. 16 within the Big Ten and No. 57 nationally. There is a talent gap between these teams.

Look on the starting lineups, and Michigan's offense had a 3.45-star average – despite the zero-star quarterback and former walk-on Warren – and its defense had a 3.73-star average. Indiana's offense had a mean of two.81 stars and its defense had a mean of two.0 stars. So, yes, Michigan is almost a star per player higher with its on-field defense against Indiana's offense — even without its best player, injured cornerback and five-star Will Johnson — and we wonder how the Wolverines are got all these stops done.

Eight of Indiana's starting lineup, including Sarratt and Kamara, played for Cignetti at James Madison on Saturday. Players move up from Group 5 programs to Power 4 leagues and usually leave their mark. But a slew of James Madison players and a former Mid-American Conference quarterback,

Recruiting rankings mean something, after all, and largely correlate with program success, but they are saying nothing about how a player will grow, work and fit right into a program. These rankings say nothing about how people will get along. Or how they’re coached and developed. You can't predict the selections that shall be made in a dorm on a Thursday night when joyful hour is just across the corner but as a substitute a young man is reaching for the squat or the books.

It's not only science and math, it's art. And an Indiana program known for poor recreations of “Dogs Playing Poker” is getting calls from the oldsters on the Guggenheim.

Yes, Saturday may need given this team that also hasn't had an excellent game a taste of the battles to come back against the game's best. The lack of left guard Drew Evans — one other non-star recruit who has developed right into a standout player — to an Achilles tendon injury in practice last week can’t be ignored given Michigan's 4 sacks and frequent pressure within the second half . The math says Indiana's depth is poor.

Still, the consequence of Saturday's game must be good for Indiana. For one thing, nobody shall be crying disrespect on behalf of the Hoosiers when the rankings are released on Tuesday. More likely, they're wondering why Indiana is so high. There is little question that Cignetti will love and use this.

And he just saw how his players faced unwanted pressure and responded to it. The defense did it over and once again. The special teams made an enormous play: Ke'Shawn Williams' 22-yard punt return to the Michigan 39 arrange a Nicolas Radicic field goal and gave them respiration room. Rourke made an important throw to get IU close enough and later ran for the primary down against a read-option keeper, which ultimately made the winning formation possible.

“We knew it would be a close game at the end and we had to see what we were capable of,” said Rourke.

“If you're a good team and you stay confident, you stay balanced in those moments, then no moment is too big,” Williams said.

Enjoy it for twenty-four hours. Watch the film. Make improvements. The Hoosiers appeared like every other winning team competing in one other championship race on Saturday. However, Williams admitted that in the ultimate seconds he looked around the gang and thought, “This is crazy.”

It was. And that's it.

“I can’t praise these guys enough,” Cignetti said. “I don’t throw a lot of bouquets out there; You know that. But these guys have achieved a lot.”

No, he doesn't throw bouquets. He takes clay that shouldn't be of the very best quality and shapes it into something very top quality. Leonardo da Cignetti said he would take a much-needed day without work on Sunday. Then it's back to the masterpiece.

My three daughters and I got here to Michigan from Pakistan in 2000.

Moving here was my decision and I followed the legal process. Before moving, I used to be often within the USA. I used to be aware of the culture and spoke English fluently, so I assumed I used to be prepared.

Resuming my medical profession within the United States was arduous, but I ultimately passed all of the qualifying exams and accomplished a psychiatric residency at Michigan State University in 2006. After completing my studies, I remained working as a lecturer.

Of course, there’s nothing latest or particularly unique about my family's experience. Immigration, whether voluntary or forced through conflict, has all the time existed Part of the American experience. Finally, the US Constitution was signed by seven first-generation immigrants.

Experts will inform you that immigration makes our country stronger economically, cultural and in Areas like science And medicine. Since I’m a physician, I’m well aware of this 26% of licensed U.S. physicians and surgeons are immigrants.

But it's also true that immigrants like me face stress that harms us
mental and mental health.

I teach Cultural psychiatry for medical students and residentsspecifically, how one can provide culturally appropriate care to Muslim patients. After greater than 20 years in Michigan, I even have deep roots within the Muslim and immigrant community and have seen firsthand how anxious and unsure my community is regarding the 2024 presidential election.

Panic attacks and depression

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has described immigrants as “bloodthirsty criminals” and that “most violent people on earth.” That’s what he claims Immigrants “poisoned the blood of our country.”.” Research shows, and I even have personally seen, the impact a majority of these conversations can have Anxiety and depression each undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants.

Undocumented immigrants and their familieswho live in it precarious conditions And for fear of deportationThey are particularly vulnerable to Trumps calls for mass deportations.

History has taught us that a politician's hateful words can result in violence.

In the primary half of 2024, the Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations was documented 239 complaints of discrimination against Muslimsan 81% increase over the identical period in 2023. In the report, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid attributed the rise to “the policies of elected officials, the rhetoric of candidates running for office, and the finger-pointing of some political pundits to the victims”.

Adding to the situation are the worsening crises in Gaza and Lebanon, forcing Muslims in Michigan, particularly those with relatives within the Middle East, reeling from palpable sadness.

The Rise in Islamophobia and fear of an uncertain future takes its toll. American Muslims are twice as more likely to attempt suicide in comparison with people of other faiths.

Fear within the voting booth

How 73% of all AmericansImmigrants are afraid of the selection.

With the politicization of unsubstantiated claims about undocumented immigrants votingThe fact is that naturalized residents – who’ve every right to participate within the election – Are an enormous voter blocwhich accounts for 1 in 10 of the nation's eligible voters and about 5% in Michigan.

What's more, Naturalized residents are inclined to vote at higher rates as native-born residents.

Still, it's difficult for a lot of Muslims in Michigan to know how one can vote this yr. I don't trust any of the key parties.

Michigan's Muslims feel devalued and disenfranchised.

A serious Arab-American political motion committee based in Michigan refused consent Both candidates this cycle. Although the PAC typically supports Democrats, this yr it said: “Neither candidate represents our hopes and dreams as Arab Americans.”

In late September, a nationwide group of three dozen Muslim American scholars and imams met signed an open letter Calling on Muslims to not vote for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

“We want to be clear,” the letter says: “Don’t stay home and skip the vote. Make a statement this year by voting third in the presidential election.”

A gaggle called Listen to Michigan gained attention in the course of the primaries by getting greater than 100,000 people to vote “non-binding” to protest President Joe Biden's funding of the Gaza war. The group has stopped supporting Harris but urged voters to “cast their ballot just for them.”

Despite it, a few of my neighbors I made a decision to return back Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

I do know that my vote is my voice and I fully intend to take part in the electoral process. But I can't trust any candidate to create a refuge for my family – a spot where my daughters and I can thrive and live our American dream.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – Kalel Mullings' teammates all the time teased him because he didn't look that fast.

Mullings, a former linebacker, is 6-foot-2 and 235 kilos. If Michigan's players were in the very best positions on the goal line and running a 100-yard dash, he probably wouldn't win. He began this season within the shadow of Donovan Edwards, the star of last yr's national championship game, and wasn't mentioned among the many Big Ten's best running backs.

Late within the fourth quarter against USC, Michigan ran out of ideas to revive a comatose offense, however the Wolverines finally found something that worked. They gave the ball to Mullings, who ran through the arms of USC's John Humphrey for a 63-yard gain. They gave it to him again. And again. And again. With 41 seconds on the clock, Michigan faced fourth down and needed yet another play to take the lead.

Hmm… what should I call it? Naked Bootleg? Philly Special? Or how about giving it to Mullings again?

!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HMTgB8YgGI

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) 21 September 2024

“We all knew what was going to happen,” said quarterback Alex Orji.

Mullings took the handoff and plowed into the top zone, giving No. 18 Michigan a 27-24 win over the No. 11 Trojans. This was Michigan's most improbable win in years, sparked by a running back who shouldn't have been the primary alternative. It's clear now that each week will probably be a battle for this Michigan team, but sometimes the battle ends in celebration.

“I think that's an expression of who we are: We always give it our all until the end,” Mullings said. “During the whole trip it was just grit.”

Before that final drive, Michigan had the ball five times within the second half without getting a primary down. The Wolverines gained 6 yards within the third quarter and had 32 passing yards for your entire game. None of that’s within the handbook for the best way to beat a top-15 opponent.

Somehow, Michigan found a way. It was largely due to Mullings, who rushed for 159 yards on 17 carries, his second straight game with greater than 150 yards. Michigan's offense can depend on few things, however the Wolverines have learned that they will depend on Mullings.

“He did everything for us,” said coach Sherrone Moore.

At the very least, Michigan's try to construct a complete offense of linemen, tight ends and former linebackers will probably be an interesting test of the Wolverines' offensive morale. Michigan has been a run-first team in recent times, but with Orji at quarterback, it's now a run-first team, too.

What Michigan did on Saturday, beating a higher-ranked opponent while attempting 12 passes, might be not sustainable. At this point, the Wolverines aren't in search of sustainability. They're in search of anything that might help them win on a given Saturday. If meaning running the ball 40-plus times per game, Moore will probably be the happiest person within the stadium.

“That's my dream,” Moore said. “Yeah, I want to throw the ball, but if you can run the ball effectively, it weakens (the defense) a little bit.”

Saturday was USC's first conference game as a member of the Big Ten, and it delivered exactly what the Big Ten wanted when it added 4 teams from the West Coast: an amazing scene, great drama, a clash of two iconic programs with contrasting styles.

Michigan's advantage within the trenches was considerable. USC's passing game was explosive; Michigan's was nonexistent. The game had wild momentum swings, including Will Johnson's 42-yard interception return for a touchdown and Kenneth Grant's fumble recovery that was recovered by USC's Woody Marks.

Michigan appeared to be in big trouble after Edwards caused a fumble and USC scored midway through the fourth quarter to take a 24-20 lead. The offense stalled within the second half and the switch from Davis Warren to Orji at quarterback didn’t appear to be a dramatic improvement.

Warren was reasonably efficient within the short and intermediate passing game, but threw six interceptions in three starts. The Wolverines rarely tried to throw the ball past the road of scrimmage with Orji, but he played turnover-free football, running 13 times for 43 yards.

“A lot of people asked me what I was hoping to achieve in my first start,” Orji said. “I wanted a ball-safe win, and that's what we got.”

Despite its struggles, Michigan is 3-1 with a loss to No. 1 Texas and a win against a USC team that was considered a College Football Playoff contender. That's not a foul first month of the season. Looking at how the Wolverines have won the last two weeks, it's hard to be confident that what they're doing now will translate to a full season. But if Michigan can beat USC with out a functioning passing game, the Wolverines should give you the chance to beat a couple of other teams, too.

Michigan can have a troublesome time this season. The Wolverines can have to cope with ugly wins. They don't have a great quarterback solution and their best hope is to trust Orji and help him out nonetheless they will.

Giving the ball to Mullings is an amazing technique to do this. As good as he's been, he could use more touches. The Wolverines are a troublesome team to play when Mullings is breaking tackles and Michigan's defense is flying around, as USC came upon in its first taste of Big Ten football.

Beating a ranked team by 32 passing yards isn't something Michigan can repeat. But success on the bottom with Mullings is repeatable, and Michigan's final drive was an ideal repeat.

“Whether you're running or throwing – (people) say you should throw more – we won,” Moore said. “We beat a good team. That's what it was all about.”

The threat of violence was within the air on the TCF Center in Detroit on November 5, 2020, after former President Donald Trump claimed that poll employees in the town duplicated ballots and that there was an unexplained delay within the delivery of ballots for counting.

Both Claims were later refuted.

Encouraged by Trump’s rhetoric, dozens of predominantly white Republican Trump supporters knocked on the doors and windows of the vote counting center, chanting: “Stop the count!”

But Detroit's poll employees, most of them black, were capable of count the votes. 95% of voters in Detroitthe biggest city in Michigan and the one with probably the most African-Americans – 78% of residents – solid their vote for Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate.

We are Political Science And sociology Professors at Wayne State University in Detroit, where we teach in regards to the relationship between race, religion and politics. Our research has identified two groups of African-American voters in Detroit – one that may clearly support Kamala Harris, and one other whose votes she must win if she is to win in Michigan.

Celebration in Kamala's camp

The African Americans more than likely to vote for Harris in November 2024 are staunch Democrats who consider Trump would threaten the political progress of black people towards democracy.

Harris may also depend on members of Detroit nonprofit organizations similar to the NAACP, Black Greek organizations and religious communities linked to interest groups like for instance MOSESThe Michigan Welfare Law Organization and the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee.

But what about black employees and poor Detroiters who’ve less close ties to the Democratic Party and are less involved in grassroots organizations that advocate for his or her interests? These people don't all the time end up in presidential elections, but as recent history has shown, they may very well be key to winning in Michigan, a vital swing state.

Small differences in voter turnout are essential

While Detroit voters helped Biden win the state and the White House in 2020, that was not the case for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The difference was partly resulting from lower voter turnout.

In 2016 95% of Detroiters who voted In the presidential election, the Democratic candidate Clinton was chosen. She lost Michigan by 0.2% – lower than 11,000 votes.

One factor contributing to the several presidential election ends in Michigan between 2016 and 2020 was the lower voter turnout in Detroit in 2016 in comparison with 2020.

In 2016 Voter turnout in Detroit was 48.6% – in comparison with 50.88% in 2020. Detroit's higher voter turnout in 2020 helped Biden win Michigan by a margin in 2020. Margin of lower than 3%.

Let's assume that 2016 and 2020 are signposts for 2024. In this case, Harris' ability to win Michigan in November rests less on losing black voters to Trump than on her ability to motivate black voters in Detroit and across the state to go to the polls. This is crucial because African Americans, about 13% of US votersoverwhelmingly vote for the Democrats of their elections.

In some ways, 2020 was a referendum on Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has had a disproportionate impact on black Americans who almost twice as likely than white Americans die from the virus.

This election also served as a referendum on Trump’s racial policies. In the summer of 2020, when the nation was embroiled in protests against anti-black police violence, Trump portrayed the protesters as Anti-Americans and criminals.

It is smart, then, that in 2020, the overwhelming majority—over 90%—of African Americans nationwide said that Concerns about racism and COVID-19 motivated her voice.

Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, the query is: Will black voter turnout in Detroit be closer to that of 2016 or 2020?

Quality of life issues in focus in 2024

As of early 2024, quality of life concerns related to crime, vacant buildings and reasonably priced housing were the highest three issues Detroit residents want from their city and the U.S. government. based on the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study.

A survey by Suffolk University and USA Today in August 2024 found that About 6 out of 10 black voters in Michigan They cited rising living costs, crime and health care as reasons for his or her willingness to vote.

These same issues are top of mind for black voters across the country. A February 2024 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that over 90% of black Americans think presidential candidates should discuss the rising cost of living and health care, and three-quarters think they need to discuss protecting the Affordable Care Act.

The 2024 elections are a vital moment to handle these issues.

Detroit's ongoing water concerns

For working-class and low-income residents of Detroit, water costs are a key cost-of-living issue.

As Detroit City Council attempted to repair its funds following its bankruptcy in 2013, it began to more aggressively goal residents who were behind on their water bills. The city cut off water from greater than 141,000 inhabitants between 2013 and 2020.

By 2023, 27% of Detroit households – about 170,000 people – are vulnerable to having their water shut off resulting from unpaid water billsThe 60,000 individuals who haven’t paid their water bills owe a mean of $700.

In response to this crisis, local grassroots organizations, a lot of them religiously based, similar to the Michigan Welfare Law OrganizationCommunity members organized to push for laws that may tie water bills to residents’ income.

In October 2023, Michigan Democrat State Senator Stephanie Chang introduced quite a few bills to attain just that, however the Bills have been left behind within the Senate Committee on Housing and Social Services.

A survey we conducted within the Detroit metropolitan area in April 2024 found that 87% of black Detroiters support these bills to enhance water affordability.

Harris' ability to attain similarly high black turnout in Michigan, particularly Detroit, as she did in 2020 could rely on whether she will articulate the federal government's plans to handle cost-of-living issues, including securing federal grants for cities like Detroit to subsidize water rates for working-class and low-income residents.

Harris didn’t explicitly address the difficulty of water affordability in her speech. Visiting Detroit on Labor Dayshe told the audience that, unlike Trump, she wouldn’t impose a national sales tax on on a regular basis items. She also promised to maintain prescription drug prices reasonably priced and strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

Will Harris' message that the price of living for Detroit residents would worsen under a Trump administration be enough to motivate black Detroit residents to vote for her?

This is a vital query for her 2024 campaign in Michigan, where she and Trump are in a statistical tie amongst likely voters.

Humans produce numerous plastic waste – greater than 400 million tons per 12 months.

To put this fact into perspective, the United States produced on average 0.75 kilos (0.34 kilograms) of plastic waste per person per day in 2010, which corresponds to the burden of an unopened can of lemonade.

Plastic products have been improving our quality of life for over a century, from keeps food fresh longer To Improving medical hygiene And make transport more energy efficient.

In the meantime, plastic waste has also gathered. Today it’s an unresolved and growing problem of gigantic proportions. Worldwide, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled – mostly through mechanical processing. This creates products similar to Drain pipes – and 19% is burned. The rest is either buried in landfills or has entered the environment, where it damages ecosystems And harms human health.

To take care of existing and future plastic waste, latest approaches beyond mechanical recycling are needed. Researchers have Study of chemical recyclingwhich transforms waste into latest products by breaking down plastics on the molecular level.

The concept of “Chemical recycling” is controversial since it describes many alternative processes, a few of which could also be more harmful to the environment than disposing of plastic waste in a landfill.

In 2023, a recycling center will open in Newaygo, Michigan, announced plans to open a brand new chemical recycling facility in partnership with Clean seasa subsidiary of Clean Vision Corporation, a self-described clean-tech company.

When the project was announced, Local journalists raises questions on what type of chemical recycling is planned and whether it is nice for the community and the environment. According to Clean-Seas' press release, plastics shall be converted into precursors for fuels. The company has not publicly updated its plans prior to now 12 months.

The Conversation reached out to Clean Vision Corporation for comment but didn’t receive a response.

As professors of chemistry at the schools of Michigan And North Carolina and at Kenyon CollegeWe consider that producing fuel from plastic waste is the flawed approach to solve this problem. Not only does it harm the climate and pollute air and water, it’s also far-fetched to even discuss recycling.

Loophole in air and water pollution

At the top of 2022, the Michigan Legislature passed a package of eight bills goals at Improving the nationwide Recycling rate of 23% for every type of waste.

Some of those bills, which controversial amongst environmentalists and various legislators have redefined chemical recycling as manufacturing somewhat than waste management. Similar laws that provide incentives for firms to take a position in chemical recycling have recently been passed in 24 other states, including Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.

What may look like a small difference could have a significant impact on government regulation of the proposed plant. The Newaygo plant – a partnership between the Michigan Recycling Coalition and based in California Clean seas – can be prone to release more pollutants into the air and water in the event that they were defined as manufacturers somewhat than waste management facilities.

The Partnership has been concluded inside months of Michigan's laws passing in December 2022 with solid majorities in each the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Is burning plastic products really recycling?

In addition to the impact on air and water pollution, a more fundamental query is whether or not the planned plant in Newaygo chemical recycling process – called pyrolysis – is the most effective use of this waste.

Pyrolysis involves heating plastic waste to interrupt it down into a mix of small molecules, typically hydrocarbons. The resulting “pyrolysis oil” is then sold on the commodity chemicals market, replacing oils produced from crude oil. The mostly proposed use of pyrolysis oil is Diesel or jet fuelwhich each produce greenhouse gases when burned.

Not all waste is converted into pyrolysis oils at Newaygo. According to Dan Bates, CEO of Clean-Seas’ parent company, half of the plastic fed into the Newaygo plant is converted into a fancy mixture of sunshine hydrocarbonswhich might then be burned on site to supply energy to operate the ability plant.

If burning oils and gases derived from plastic doesn’t sound like recycling to you, then Michigan Legislature agrees and states that “products sold as fuels are not recycled products.”

Given this legal distinction, it’s unclear how the Newaygo plant can actually proceed pyrolysis to supply fuels and still be considered a chemical recycler.

Are there any benefits to chemical recycling?

Will Clean Seas chemical recycling even be available to western Michigan via the estimated 30 to 60 jobs it offers?

The most important advantage of pyrolysis is that it reduces plastic waste in landfills and produces fuels at the identical time. The plant in Newaygo is initially Convert 50 tons per day and eventually increased to 500 tons per day.

The experience of other industrial pyrolysis projects questions these forecasts, three stop Operations in the previous few months.

The energy giant Shell withdrew its promise to pyrolyze a million tons of plastic waste per 12 months because apparently There will not be enough clean plastic waste that they will use in the method.

Most plastic waste is just too complex be recycled. At every stage, from resin production to product manufacturing, various – often proprietary – molecules are added to regulate the properties of the plastics. During use, plastics are moreover contaminated with food waste and other non-plastic materials. Together, these contaminants can result in Problems similar to reactor corrosion and the formation of contaminated products that require inefficient separation steps.

To avoid these problems, Most pyrolysis plants use post-industrial scrapthe plastic waste that’s generated during manufacturing. These pristine plastics are sometimes reused by manufacturers, which implies that they wouldn’t find yourself in a landfill anyway.

Drawing conclusions in regards to the climate impacts of chemical recycling may be difficult because of different underlying assumptions utilized in individual studies. current meta-analysiswhich analyzed the outcomes of 30 journal articles concluded that using chemical recycling to make latest plastics can profit the climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions – but chemical recycling to make fuels has the alternative effect.

So far, the plans for Clean Seas, as within the White paperconsists within the production of fuels for transport or for the generation of energy for power plants, not within the production of plastics.

A concentrate on circularity

So what to do with the plastic waste?

We consider that each consumers and manufacturers should aim to maintain materials in use for so long as possible. This is a position that can be shared by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in his report on Rethinking the life cycle of plastics.

When all other uses for a plastic product have been exhausted, chemical recycling to supply latest plastic or other durable products can solve the intertwined problems of plastic waste and climate change.

If the results of the pyrolysis plant in Newaygo were latest plastic, this circular approach can be higher for the climate. Recycling plastic into fuel, then again, will not be the case.