Meet the blogger
Jeff Alexander
My life, in 60 seconds
I grew up in suburban Los Angeles. Moved to Michigan to play college hockey. What? Seriously. Hockey didn't work out. Settled on journalism. Met girl of my dreams (now wife) while in college. Encountered the wondrous Great Lakes. Never returned to California. Blessed with three wonderful children. Worked as a reporter and editor for 25 years at several Michigan newspapers. Wrote two books. Left the newspaper industry in 2009. Started my own writing and media consulting business (J. Alexander Communications). Now a contract writer for hire. I enjoy kayaking, hiking, reading, watching pro hockey and college football, traveling, exploring the Great Lakes and occasionally trying to rise above the rank of world's worst angler. And I blog about the Great Lakes because these freshwater seas are, in a word, incredible. Thanks for visiting!
Tag Archives: pollution
Taking stock of the Great Lakes on Earth Day 2013
In honor of Earth Day, I thought it appropriate to explore the current state of the Great Lakes — the good, bad and ugly. The lakes today are far healthier than in 1972, when Congress passed the federal Clean Water Act. … Continue reading
Nonprofit wins Pulitzer for Kalamazoo River oil spill coverage
The nonprofit news organization Inside Climate News won journalism’s top prize, the Pulitzer Prize, on April 15 for its coverage of the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill and subsequent articles that exposed serious problems in the nation’s oil pipelines. The online … Continue reading
Is your representative in Congress a friend of the environment?
The League of Conservation voters recently released its National Environmental Scorecard, which rates members of Congress based on how often their votes supported environmental protection measures. Personally, I’m a sucker for credible reports that hold members of Congress accountable for their … Continue reading
NBC News produces interesting view of climate change
It’s no secret that the planet is warming. Recent data show that 2012 was the hottest year on record in the U.S. The warming trend doesn’t bode well for the Great Lakes. Ice cover on the lakes has dropped dramatically … Continue reading
How are the Great Lakes? Ask a beach
Beaches are an important indicator of the health of Great Lakes ecosystems. Many of the most serious problems facing the lakes — such as bacterial pollution and algae blooms that are fueled by sewer overflows, polluted runoff and invasive species … Continue reading
Sewage-free Great Lakes a priority for one U.S. senator
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican, will make a triumphant return to Congress in January, months after suffering a stroke. Kirk recently said that one of his priorities upon returning to Capitol Hill will be seeking a ban on … Continue reading
Plastics pollution not just in oceans; Great Lakes also affected
The massive plume of plastic waste floating in the Pacific Ocean has garnered lots of media attention lately. Turns out, the Great Lakes face a similar problem, but on a smaller scale. A group of students spent their summer looking … Continue reading
Michigan Tech unveils new Great Lakes Research Center
Michigan Tech University on July 30 unveiled its new $25 million Great Lakes Research Center. The opening of this facility is great news for the university and the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are facing a myriad of serious threats, … Continue reading
Announcing the Asian Carp Doomsday Clock — a new way to convey the risk of these invaders storming the Great Lakes
In the 1940s, scientists concerned that the world was headed for nuclear holocaust unveiled a clever graphic called the Doomsday Clock. Given the recent news that Asian carp DNA has been found in Lake Erie — and that the invaders … Continue reading
It’s mine, all mine! Welcome to my new blog
It’s taken way too long but I’m finally launching a personal blog, one that allows me to write whatever I want. This is going to be awesome! Why the title of All Things Great Lakes? Because the Great Lakes region … Continue reading
