Updates About Public Health

It will now be illegal for any individual, including players, coaches, and stadium staff, to use smokeless nicotine products inside any Detroit stadium. Violators will first receive a warning, but refusal to comply will result in a misdemeanor and $100 fine. City Council Member Fred Durhall III, who spearheaded the ban, said he was motivated after hearing from high school students who believed tobacco use was a normal part of baseball, adding that adults’ unhealthy habits are influencing kids.

Back in 2016, Major League Baseball (MLB) banned new players from using any tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, which has been popular among players for decades and lead many to be diagnosed with oral cancer. This ban led many players to switch to tobacco-less nicotine products, such as Zyn pouches, which have seen a rise in popularity in recent years.

Supporters of the ban believe it’s prioritizing kids’ health while also discouraging the presence of addictive products in sports. Those in opposition to the ban, like Council Member Coleman Young II, argued that the city has no right limiting the freedom of adults to use legal products. Young pointed to the permitted sales of alcohol and unhealthy hotdogs as also having negative externalities. Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero also voted no, saying that since there are already nicotine bans at the stadium, the new ordinance will have minimal impact.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily pause the issuance of November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to funding limitations from the ongoing federal shutdown. This nationwide delay affects approximately 42 million SNAP recipients, including roughly 1.4 million Michiganders. State officials warn that even a short-term interruption could significantly impact families that rely on SNAP to purchase groceries and household staples.

SNAP plays a central role in Michigan’s food and economic ecosystem with nearly 13% of households in the state participating in the program. The average individual receiving SNAP stands to lose $173 per month once the pause takes effect. Beyond helping families afford nutritious meals, SNAP dollars circulate back into the more than 9,700 Michigan businesses that accept SNAP, including grocers, farmers markets, and retail workers. MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel noted that the delay threatens both family food stability and the broader economic benefits SNAP provides.

With the situation evolving at the federal level, the state has signaled it will continue working to minimize the impact on families. However, until funding is restored, many Michigan households will face renewed uncertainty about how to keep food on the table.

A recent brief issued by the Senate Fiscal Agency showed that 21.7% (or 18 out of the 83) Michigan counties are considered a maternity desert. This designations is assigned for counties that do not have a single hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and contain no obstetric providers. This number is up from 18% (15 out of 83 counties) in 2023.

Michigan’s maternity desert counties include Keweenaw, Ontonagon, Baraga, Iron, Alger and Luce in the Upper Peninsula. Lower Peninsula counties include Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Antrim, Oscoda, Alcona, Missaukee, Lake, Gladwin Arenac, Ionia, Cass, and Sanilac. The three counties with the longest birth commutes—Luce, Schoolcraft, and Ontonagon—are all located within the Upper Peninsula.

Recently, Aspirus Health announced they were ending OBGYN services at their Ironwood location. The move was met with sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers who represent the Upper Peninsula. Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan), pointed out that despite the U.P. being bigger than six U.S. states, it only has six locations equipped to handle births.

Other data in the brief shows that the state was experiencing a steady birth rate beginning in the 1950’s. That is until 2023 when, for the first time ever, the birth rate fell below 10 births per 1,000 people. The rate in 2024 was 9.65 births for every 1,000 people.