The Livingston County Health Department has reported the county’s first rabies case of 2026 after a bat tested positive for rabies.

If you find a bat in your home or think you may have had contact with one, do not release it until you call for guidance. Bat bites can be tiny and hard to see, but rabies can be prevented if action is taken quickly.

What to do:
Safely capture the bat, if possible. Report the exposure through LCHD’s secure online form and call LCHD at 517-552-6882 for testing guidance and next steps.

Tips for pet owners:

Nine winners have been selected for the state’s 2026 “I Voted” sticker design contest.

Over 2,000 designs were submitted, and more than 53,000 votes were cast during the public voting period. Three winners were selected from each of three categories: elementary and middle school students, high school students and the general public.

The winning stickers will be available for local election clerks to order and distribute to voters during the November general election.

The contest was first held in 2024 and was created with help from the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force. The group reviewed thousands of submissions and selected semifinalists before the designs were opened for public voting.

To view the winners, click here.

Michigan has reported the first human case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) since 2021. While the case was identified in Roscommon County, health officials are reminding all residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

EEE is a rare but serious mosquito-borne illness that can cause fever, headache and, in severe cases, brain inflammation. Prevention remains the best defense.

Protect yourself:

Anyone experiencing symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness should contact a healthcare provider. For more information, visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 2026 Michigan Deer Hunting Regulations Summary is now available online and through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Hunt Fish app.

The summary provides a condensed overview of current regulations. A complete list of regulations and legal descriptions, including deer management unit boundaries, can be found in the Wildlife Conservation Order issued by the Natural Resources Commission.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is asking residents to watch for and report signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle.

August is a good time to check trees for the beetle and the damage it can cause. Even if you do not see the insect, signs of an infestation may include round exit holes, bark scars, wood shavings and dead branches. The beetle is shiny black with white spots and long, banded antennae.

The beetle attacks several hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. Because it has no effective natural predators or diseases in North America, infestations can spread quickly, killing trees and creating safety hazards.

If you find a suspected beetle or signs of tree damage, call the ALB hotline at 866-702-9938 or submit a report through the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.

AI-powered voice cloning is making phone scams more convincing than ever. Scammers can use short audio clips from social media, videos or other online sources to mimic someone you know and trust. They often create a false sense of urgency to steal money or personal information.

Stay safe:

If you receive a suspicious call, slow down, verify the story and never send money or share personal information until you confirm the request is legitimate. Learn more about scam prevention through the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Help Center and report scam-related issues through the FCC Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Center.

Camp Grayling has been selected as one of four premier stateside military test ranges for private industry internal research, development and rapid experimentation.

The U.S. Army designation will give companies greater access to Camp Grayling’s specialized testing environment for technologies such as drones, counter-drone systems, long-range fires and low-cost interceptors. The goal is to help industry test and develop new technologies more quickly.

The designation builds on Camp Grayling’s role as a major military training and testing facility and could create new opportunities for Michigan’s growing defense and aerospace industry.

The DNR is accepting applications for grants to support community tree-planting projects across the state.

Grants of up to $4,000, with a 1-to-1 matching requirement, are available to help communities plant trees away from utility lines along streets, in parks and near schools. Communities served by DTE Energy’s electric and natural gas services are eligible to apply.

Funding is provided by the DTE Foundation. Applications are due by Sept. 14 and can be submitted through DNR MiGrants. Click here for more information.

The Michigan State Police is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and law enforcement agencies across the state for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

The campaign runs from Aug. 19 through Sept. 7 and focuses on the dangers of impaired driving. In 2025, 1,002 fatal crashes occurred across Michigan. Of those, 44.3% were related to drug or alcohol impairment.

As students across Michigan head back to school, drivers and families should review the rules for sharing the road with school buses.

The Michigan State Police offers these safety tips for students getting on and off the bus:

Railroad crossings are part of everyday travel, and reporting problems quickly can help prevent accidents and delays. If you notice malfunctioning gates or signals, damaged equipment, a blocked crossing or a vehicle stuck on the tracks, take action right away.

In an emergency: Move to a safe location and call 911. Then locate the blue-and-white emergency notification system sign near the crossing. This sign includes the railroad’s emergency phone number and the crossing’s U.S. Department of Transportation identification number, which helps responders find the exact location.

Remember: