In the News
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May 4, 2026
“To restrict teen access to nicotine pouches, the state of Michigan should move them behind pharmacy counters and require more than a checkbox to verify age for online purchases,” wrote Anmol Gupta, a resident in pediatrics. “Requiring a pharmacist-mediated sale doesn’t prohibit adult access. Instead, it makes it a deliberate transaction rather than a reflexive one … (and) Michigan must require robust third-party age verification and hold online retailers accountable when they fail.”
Bridge Michigan -
May 4, 2026
“Who is going to blink first in this standoff? Is it going to be the U.S., based on all the economic costs both here and globally? Or will it be the (Iranian) regime?” said Javed Ali, associate professor of practice of public policy. “The supreme leader has not been seen. And he isn’t even in a position to functionally serve at the same level. So it’s the hardliners and the (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) who are making all these decisions.”
CNN -
May 4, 2026
“On its face, it looks sort of innocuous … but in practice I think it’s going to be impossible for minority voters to ever make out a claim under the Voting Rights Act, Section 2,” said Barbara McQuade, professor from practice of law, on the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down one of Louisiana’s majority-Black congressional districts. Leah Litman, professor of law, said the ruling allows states to “draw districts, maybe even redraw districts, in ways that lock voters of color out of power. That is, to undo the Voting Rights Act and what it did for this country, namely make it into a multiracial democracy.”
MS NOW -
May 4, 2026
“Tobacco is the number one cause of oral cavity and head and neck cancers, and this can be in any form, cigarettes, cigars, vaping or chewing tobacco,” said Marisa Buchakjian, clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology. “There are other causes of head and neck cancer as well that can increase the risk, mainly that would be excessive alcohol intake as well as dental hygiene.”
WILX Lansing -
May 4, 2026
Research shows that excessive screen time may have negative effects on kids’ health and academic achievement. But “‘excessive use’ in most of these studies is more than five or six hours straight of using screens in a very passive way for entertainment,” said Elizabeth Keren-Kolb, clinical professor of education. That is “very, very different” from using screens in classrooms to gather information, write papers, make presentations or work with fellow students, she said.
Scientific American -
May 1, 2026
It’s important to keep track of what medications and supplements you’re currently taking, said Hanna Phan, clinical professor of pharmacy: “Keeping a list of your medications with you to share with your pharmacist or other health care provider can make the biggest difference in avoiding side effects and drug-drug interactions. That list should include vitamins and supplements, including herbal products.”
U.S. News & World Report -
May 1, 2026
“You’re being strategic about the culture. You’re not just being strategic about office occupancy rates,” said Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, professor of management and organizations, who believes bringing employees back into the office full-time doesn’t necessarily boost cultural cohesion and increase collaboration like management hopes it does.
The Detroit News -
May 1, 2026
“I understand that people are concerned about school safety and school security. But this is trying to use a simple technical fix for really a much more complicated social problem,” said Molly Kleinman, managing director of the Ford School’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy program, who questions the accuracy of facial recognition technology used by some Michigan schools to identify and verify visitors.
Michigan Public -
April 30, 2026
Dolomite, used in construction, manufacturing and industrial applications, has been notoriously impossible to replicate in a lab — until now. “The apparent contradiction between the massive deposits of dolomite in nature and its inability to grow from supersaturated solutions near ambient conditions is a long-standing mystery known as the ‘dolomite problem,’” said Wenhao Sun, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, whose research team finally figured out how to do it after two centuries of failed lab experiments.
Popular Mechanics -
April 30, 2026
Todd Blanche, acting U.S. attorney general, could continue running the DOJ for much of the year even without Senate confirmation, but federal law allows the president to keep an interim AG in place for 210 days. “The president cannot legally rely indefinitely on an acting attorney general,” said Nina Mendelson, professor of law. “Blanche may well face legal challenges. (There have been) many lawsuits involving long-serving officials claiming to be ‘actings’ at other agencies.”
Politico
