Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell

Matthew Russell is a West Michigan native and with a background in journalism, data analysis, cartography and design thinking. He likes to learn new things and solve old problems whenever possible, and enjoys bicycling, spending time with his daughters, and coffee.

Articles by Matthew Russell

New Yorkers Clash Over Carriage Horses As Tragedies Mount

New Yorkers Clash Over Carriage Horses As Tragedies Mount

Carriage rides look timeless in Central Park—but the story behind the reins is anything but simple. A mare’s collapse, a driver’s acquittal, and a mayor’s call for a ban collide...

New Yorkers Clash Over Carriage Horses As Tragedies Mount

Carriage rides look timeless in Central Park—but the story behind the reins is anything but simple. A mare’s collapse, a driver’s acquittal, and a mayor’s call for a ban collide...

Left: Handmade ghost decoration crafted from cheesecloth and a round base with googly eyes, resting on a wooden surface with fall-themed decor. Right: DIY ghost decoration made of white cheesecloth and googly eyes hanging from a tree branch outdoors.

Give Old Dryer Balls New Life as Ghostly Eco Decorations

Forget plastic decorations this Halloween—your laundry leftovers hold the secret to a greener celebration.

Give Old Dryer Balls New Life as Ghostly Eco Decorations

Forget plastic decorations this Halloween—your laundry leftovers hold the secret to a greener celebration.

Two small white pumpkins made from wool dryer balls with short brown twig stems attached.

Transform Your Dryer Balls Into Sustainable Pumpkins For A Small Craft With A Big Impact

What if the key to eco-friendly fall decor is sitting in your laundry room right now? As the seasons change, a growing number of creative crafters are reimagining old wool dryer...

Transform Your Dryer Balls Into Sustainable Pumpkins For A Small Craft With A Big Impact

What if the key to eco-friendly fall decor is sitting in your laundry room right now? As the seasons change, a growing number of creative crafters are reimagining old wool dryer...

Split-screen image showing a woman in a Milwaukee Brewers shirt standing with her arms crossed on the left, and a man in a Los Angeles Dodgers shirt speaking indoors on the right.

Ballgame Turns Ugly As Brewers Fan Targets Veteran With Racist ICE Threat

A night at the ballpark turned into a national outrage after a Milwaukee Brewers fan told a Latino Dodgers supporter and war veteran, “Let’s call ICE.”

Ballgame Turns Ugly As Brewers Fan Targets Veteran With Racist ICE Threat

A night at the ballpark turned into a national outrage after a Milwaukee Brewers fan told a Latino Dodgers supporter and war veteran, “Let’s call ICE.”

Group of stray dogs lying in the shade along a fenced concrete walkway, appearing tired.

Underfunded Spay and Neuter Programs Leave Shelters Overwhelmed Across the United States

Shelters are overflowing and too many pets never make it home. The fix is in our hands. Spay and neuter cut deadly overpopulation, protect pets from cancers, and curb dangerous...

Underfunded Spay and Neuter Programs Leave Shelters Overwhelmed Across the United States

Shelters are overflowing and too many pets never make it home. The fix is in our hands. Spay and neuter cut deadly overpopulation, protect pets from cancers, and curb dangerous...

Side-by-side image showing a brown tabby cat sitting under a rusty metal fence outdoors, with blurred cars in the background.

Trap Neuter Return Brings Balance To Communities, But Efforts Need Support

Outdoor cats aren’t a nuisance to remove—they’re lives to protect. Our latest blog follows the real playbook that cuts shelter deaths, quiets late-night fights, and keeps birds and gardens safer....

Trap Neuter Return Brings Balance To Communities, But Efforts Need Support

Outdoor cats aren’t a nuisance to remove—they’re lives to protect. Our latest blog follows the real playbook that cuts shelter deaths, quiets late-night fights, and keeps birds and gardens safer....