Jeremy Orr is director of litigation and advocacy partnerships for Earthjustice and an adjunct law professor at Michigan State University.
Jena Brooker
Jena Brooker is BridgeDetroit's environmental reporter, covering food and agriculture, pollution and climate change. She has held three fellowships: a ProPublica fellowship, where she led an investigative project on heavy industry in Detroit neighborhoods; a Data Fellowship at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, where she produced award-winning coverage of Detroit's automotive industry and environmental racism; and a Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship through CASW, AHCJ and SEJ. Her work has also earned the Michigan Press Association public service award three years in a row and recognition as Young Journalist of the Year in 2023. Before joining BridgeDetroit, she covered environmental issues across the Midwest as a Reporting Fellow for Grist.
Jena holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, Mother Jones, Salon, Slate, Grist, Next City, Chalkbeat and Planet Detroit.
Posted inJB's Bites
Introducing JB’s Bites
BridgeDetroit Reporter Jena Brooker has your latest news on all things food. Find out about new restaurants, pop-ups and some food history, too.
Posted inEnvironment
Can vertical farming succeed in Detroit?
After five years, Planted Detroit in Islandview is closing unless it can find an investor.
Posted inArts & Culture, JB's Bites
Midtown mansion welcomes basement cafe and bar
The French-inspired cafe and cocktail bar will be open until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Posted inEnvironment
US Ecology South in Detroit fined just $2,000 for dozens of violations
State has long struggle reining in hazardous waste site in Detroit neighborhood.
Posted inArts & Culture, JB's Bites
Detroit’s Saffron De Twah wins Food Network’s Chopped
Omar Anani, a two-time nominee for the acclaimed James Beard Awards, was crowned ‘King of the North’ after winning an episode of Chopped. Next up, the All American Showdown.
Posted inEnvironment
City crushes developer’s plan to crush concrete in Core City
Detroit’s Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously upheld a prior ruling that developer Murray Wikol cannot establish a concrete crushing operation at 4445 Lawton Street near residents and near farms.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
New partnership will bring improvements to 8 under resourced Detroit parks
The Gilbert Family Foundation and Green Living Science have teamed up to support community members activating their local parks.
Posted inEnvironment
Detroit Health Department slow to warn residents about wildfire smoke
With 500 fires burning across Canada, more bad air quality days in metro Detroit are possible. Detroit’s Health Department has yet to communicate a long-term plan for protecting residents.
Posted inEnvironment
Detroit’s cost for automotive growth: Generational displacement
Chrysler’s decades of expansion, pollution pose continued risks for resident health and displacement in east side community.