State lawmakers overturn Governor Whitmer’s order to restructure the Department of Environmental Quality. One well of 15 tested in Parchment is above EPA’s advisory levels for PFASes. WMU men’s basketball loses at home.
(MPRN) For the first time in years, the state Legislature has overturned a governor’s executive order. The state Senate made the final step Thursday to get rid of an order issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. It would have restructured the Department of Environmental Quality. The Republican-led Legislature didn’t like that Whitmer’s plan would have gotten rid of several oversight panels they created last year. Business organizations came out in favor of the panels. When issuing the order, Whitmer said she wanted to get rid of unnecessary bureaucracy. A spokesperson for the governor says Whitmer will continue to try to restructure the department to ensure clean drinking water and safeguard public health.
(WCMU) The Environmental Protection Agency released its action plan Thursday for addressing perfluoroalkyl substance contamination, or PFASes. The family of chemical that have been found have been found across the state, including Parchment, Richland Township and Battle Creek. PFASes have been linked to health problems in humans. Legislators have called on the EPA to take steps to address the contaminant, including developing federal regulations for PFASes. The EPA action plan initiates steps to evaluate the need for a maximum contaminant level for PFASes in drinking water. Congressman Dan Kildee of Flint says the EPA action plan is a good step - but it doesn’t go far enough.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s testing of wells in Parchment for PFASes reveals one above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended level of 70 parts per trillion. Kalamazoo County’s weekly update of drinking water quality says 14 of 15 wells tested in the first phase were well below the EPA’s threshold for issuing a health advisory. The one above 70 parts per trillion for PFASes is near the intersection of Riverview and Collingwood. Phase two of the testing has begun.
(WCMU) A new bill in Congress will give public service workers a federal right to unionize. Unions for Michigan public service workers support the move, saying it’s an added protection. The bipartisan bill, introduced by U.S. Congressmen Dan Kildee and Brian Fitzpatrick, would allow all public service workers from firefighters to EMS personnel to unionize in every state. Currently, Congressman Kildee said, 20 states do not provide all state and local public safety employees the ability to collectively bargain. The President of the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union Mark Docherty says it would be good for public employees to have the same protections.
In men’s basketball, Western Michigan lost to Kent State Thursday night 82-63. The Broncos now have seven wins and 18 losses overall and have one win in their 12 Mid-American Conference games. Western will play its third game in five days Saturday when the host Miami.
In hockey, Kalamazoo has won six of its last seven games after defeating Fort Wayne Thursday night 6-5 in overtime. The K-Wings will host Adirondack tomorrow night at Wings Event Center.