This short video highlights the Trust Fund’s statewide reach and legacy.

March 3, 2026

Contact: Clay Summers, 517-388-0295 or Jon Mayes, 517-284-5954 (DNR Grants Management)

To date, the Trust Fund has provided nearly $1.4 billion for land improvements and acquisitions across Michigan’s 83 counties

• The award-winning Ocqueoc Falls Trailhead and Scenic Overlook in Presque Isle County, offering the first universally accessible waterfall in the U.S.
• Milliken State Park and Harbor, the Detroit Riverwalk and the Outdoor Adventure Center, a trio of dazzling destinations that annually draw millions of visitors to downtown Detroit.
• The manually propelled raft at Kitch-iti-kipi (“Big Spring”) at Palms Book State Park in Schoolcraft County, allowing visitors to cross and view the 200-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep natural spring and underlying limestone. Read more

GW:  One communist sent packing but the next man up is no better.

Conservation Officer Kyle McQueer received a Lifesaving Award for his actions to help a Barry County man in cardiac distress Oct. 17, 2024.

In addition, veteran hunter safety instructor Jane Gordon was honored for 40 years of volunteer service to the DNR’s recreational safety and education program.

 In mid-October, Michigan DNR Conservation Officer Kyle McQueer received an emergency call dispatched by the Barry County Sheriff’s Office to a residential address on Keller Road in Orangeville Township. The call was regarding a CPR-in-progress situation.

Less than a mile away, McQueer immediately responded and was the first emergency responder to arrive on scene, within minutes of the initial dispatch call.

Upon arrival, McQueer was directed to a detached garage where he located a 64-year-old man unconscious and not breathing. After assessing the situation and confirming there was no pulse or signs of breathing, McQueer activated his department-issued automated external defibrillator and began lifesaving measures.

An AED is a portable, user-friendly device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock in an attempt to restore normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest.

McQueer performed CPR, directing people on scene to assist with equipment, and maintained communication with dispatch regarding the man’s condition.

McQueer continued CPR and AED monitoring until the Orangeville Fire Department arrived, followed shortly by EMS. He assisted firefighters and remained engaged in resuscitation efforts. After several critical moments, responders were able to regain a pulse before transporting the man to Pennock Hospital in Hastings. The man was later transferred to a hospital in Grand Rapids and eventually released.

“Officer McQueer’s quick response and ability to stay calm under pressure and utilize his training were instrumental in giving this man a fighting chance at survival,” said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division.

McQueer has been a conservation officer since 2017 and is assigned to Barry County.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

Contact: Acting 1st Lt. Stephen Mooney, 269-685-6851

Katadyn Group, a global leader in sustainable hydration, nutrition and cooking solutions, will present its latest advancements at SHOT Show, Jan. 21 to 24, at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. Visitors to Booth #42638 will have the opportunity to explore the Aquifer 3000 portable desalination system, the Explorer Pro and a range of field-ready hydration, nutrition and cooking solutions designed for demanding operational environments.

The Aquifer 3000 is a new portable desalination system developed with input from the U.S. military and is one of the most advanced water purification technologies designed for remote military operations. Using military-grade water purification technology, the Aquifer 3000 delivers up to 3,000 gallons of fresh water daily through a portable desalination system designed for use with seawater, brackish water and freshwater sources for military, humanitarian and disaster response scenarios. Read more

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American … There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt

There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag…We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language…and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.

Accokeek, MD – Beretta, the world’s oldest firearms manufacturer celebrating its 500th anniversary, is teaming up with Garmin, a global leader in GPS and smartwatch technology, to introduce the MARQ® Commander (Gen 2) Beretta Edition. Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, this exclusive collaboration unites five centuries of Italian craftsmanship with cutting-edge smartwatch innovation.

Designed as a modern luxury tool watch, the MARQ Commander (Gen 2) Beretta Edition features an ultrastrong, lightweight watch case machined from 130 layers of Fused Carbon Fiber™, creating a unique pattern on every watch. Beretta-specific design details including a laser-etched START/STOP button with blue accents, a custom titanium rear case engraved with imagery inspired by Beretta’s firearms legacy, and preloaded Beretta-inspired watch faces set this edition apart. A vibrant AMOLED touchscreen display with domed sapphire lens delivers exceptional clarity and durability.

Built for performance in demanding environments, the MARQ Commander (Gen 2) Beretta Edition offers advanced tactical, navigation, and smartwatch functionality, making it as capable in the field as it is refined on the wrist.

Key Features Read more

The December 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,587,049 is a decrease of 3.4 percent compared to the December 2024 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,642,270. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2025 FBI NICS figure of 2,220,852 reflects a 16.1 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,647,933 in December 2024.

Additional insights on the month-over-month NICS data from GunBroker, NICS Reporting & Analysis (November 2025 data), available in the member portal under Industry Research.

• Top-5 States for Adjusted NICS Checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, OH
• Top-5 States for FBI NICS Handgun Checks: TX, FL, CA, PA, VA
• Top-5 States for FBI NICS Long Gun Checks: TX, PA, FL, OH, VA

The fourth quarter 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 4,294,591 reflects a decrease of 3.7 percent compared to the 4,459,900 figure for fourth quarter 2024.

The annual 2025 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 14,612,314 reflects a decrease of 4.1 percent compared to the 15,239,011 figure for annual 2024. Read more