The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the state’s first 2026 cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in free-ranging white-tailed deer, with cases now confirmed in 12 counties, including Allegan, Branch, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Montcalm, Oakland, Oceana, Saginaw and Washtenaw. As samples are submitted from other counties, any new cases will be posted on the DNR’s EHD website.

EHD is a virus that affects white-tailed deer and can make them very sick and sometimes be fatal. Deer are infected through a midge or biting fly. EHD is not spread from deer to deer and can only be confirmed through lab testing.

Sick and dead deer are often found in or around bodies of water. A sick deer may appear weak, confused, lame or unresponsive. Other signs may include a bloody nose or mouth, a swollen or blue tongue, or swelling around the eyes, head or neck.

If you suspect you have found a deer that has contracted or died from EHD, please submit a diseased wildlife report through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field system.

Michigan is launching a new Youth Employment Permit Portal (YEPP) to make it easier for students and employers to complete the work permit process online.

Until now, local school districts and nonpublic schools have been responsible for issuing youth employment permits for workers under 18. Beginning Oct. 2, 2026, the process will move to YEPP, a centralized online portal that will make permits more convenient for employers and young workers to access.

Click here for more information about YEPP, including a prerecorded webinar.

Michigan now offers students and adults opportunities to attend community college, complete job training or earn a skills certificate tuition-free. These programs can help reduce education costs and provide a path to new career opportunities.

The Community College Guarantee offers recent high school graduates a tuition-free path to attend their local community college, earn an associate degree or make progress toward a bachelor’s degree. For adults 21 or older who do not already have a college degree, Michigan Reconnect can help cover job training or up to two years at a local community college tuition-free.

The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program is accepting proposals for the 2026 funding cycle. The program is a joint effort by the departments of Natural Resources; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Agriculture and Rural Development to prevent, detect and control invasive species across the state.

Grants are available to local, state, federal and tribal units of government, as well as nonprofits and universities. Since 2014, the program has awarded more than $42 million to 328 projects, helping manage invasive species such as hemlock woolly adelgid and European frog-bit. In total, more than 720,000 acres of land and water have been surveyed, and approximately 60,000 acres have been treated for invasive species. An estimated $2.4 million will be available for the 2026 grant cycle.

Highlights of the 2025 invasive species program are available in the Michigan Invasive Species Program Annual Report.

The 2026 grant program handbook outlines program priorities and application guidelines. Applicants are encouraged to watch the grant information webinar to learn more about program priorities and the application process. Full proposals are due Nov. 1.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Michigan will ban out-of-state, untreated firewood to help protect the state’s agriculture, forests and natural resources.

Firewood is one of the most common ways invasive pests and diseases are spread to new areas. The firewood quarantine will help protect Michigan’s farms, forests, communities and industries from the damage invasive species can cause. Other Great Lakes states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, have similar programs.

The firewood quarantine will NOT apply to:

For more information about Michigan’s firewood quarantine, visit MDARD’s Firewood Quarantine FAQs.

On Nov. 12, from 9 to 10 a.m., the Michigan Invasive Species Program will host an informational webinar and Q&A. A recording will be available on the NotMISpecies webinar website.

Apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop, led by 850 multigenerational family farms. This year, the apple crop is expected to be above average and produce more than 25 million bushels.

October is National Apple Month, a good time to visit a farm or cider mill and look for Michigan apples at your local grocery store. Here in the 32nd State Senate District, we are home to what is most commonly known as The Fruit Ridge. Lucky for us, most of the state’s apples are grown right here in our backyard. Make sure you and your loved ones check out and support our local farms, orchards and markets this fall season.