Archives

“A few days ago, the Boston Globe ran an article that advocates that Flint and its tainted water epitomize the worst kind of environmental racism at the hands of government agencies. That conclusion may be true, but what has happened in Flint is symptomatic of what is happening in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods all across America, regardless of the race of the inhabitants. It continues to happen because America tolerates environmental hazards and polluting of the poor and people of color every day

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today offered praise and thanks for the overwhelming outpouring of assistance offered to Flint residents as they deal with the hardships caused by the tragic and unthinkable contamination of their drinking water, but noted that crises like these can also create opportunities for scam artists targeting families, senior citizens and small businesses

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Brenda Lawrence, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Interior, sent a letter to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder requesting documents regarding the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) issued the following statement after introducing the Drinking Water Contamination Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2016, which provides $1 billion in emergency funding to replace Flint, Michigan’s underground water line infrastructure

Congressman Dan Kildee and U.S. Senator Gary Peters today met with community leaders from Flint and representatives of various government agencies to receive updates on response efforts to the Flint water crisis

In an effort to help identify the location of lead pipes and other components of Flint’s water infrastructure, GIS experts from the City of Flint, State of Michigan, the University of Michigan – Flint, and FEMA have translated hundreds of hand-drawn plat maps from the 1980s and hand-written notes on thousands of cards about updates to home plumbing systems into digitized maps. These maps are helping with the response and determine where safe water is needed.

“Flint deserves answers from the state on how this terrible water crisis happened and what is being done to make it right. I strongly support congressional hearings in order to find the facts, hold people accountable, and ensure that Flint families and children get the resources they need to deal with this crisis

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) signed a final Consent Order with LPL Financial LLP (LPL) in connection with an investigation of LPL’s failure to implement an adequate supervisory system regarding its sale of non-traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) and its failure to enforce its written procedures regarding the sale of non-traded REITS.

The board OK’d a $2 million Housing Development Fund (HDF) grant to the Michigan Veterans Foundation. The funds would support the construction of a new 44,000 square foot building that will house the Detroit Veteran's Center and deliver services to more than 1,200 veterans each year.

The 17 member committee, housed within the Michigan State Police, will be asked to make recommendations regarding the health and welfare of people exposed to lead, study Flint’s water infrastructure and determine potential upgrades, review Flint Water Task Force recommendations, and establish ways to improve communication between local and state government.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Interior, was notified today that the hearing she requested regarding the ongoing public health crisis in Flint, Michigan will be convened on February 3, 2016, as previously stated. In the notice, Ranking Member Lawrence learned the hearing will not include Gov. Rick Snyder, despite her formal request to include the governor along with other officials from all levels of government involved in the crisis and the subsequent response.

The Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development elected new officers for the 2016-2017 year during its regularly scheduled meeting held at Constitution Hall in downtown Lansing.

Gov. Rick Snyder today said he welcomes the Flint Water Task Force’s recommendations on methods to re-establish a reliable, safe water distribution system in Flint and efforts to determine the cause of an outbreak of Legionella in Genesee County.

In just over a two-week time period, 176,118 cases of water and 93,048 water filters have been provided to Flint residents, both at water resource sites and by water response teams

Consumers Energy crews put 2015 into the company’s record books, setting new standards for performance in returning electricity to homes and businesses that lost power. “Our employees are proud of their effort to keep communities connected, working hard and working smart when power goes out,” said Mary Palkovich, Consumers Energy’s vice president of energy delivery.