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Southwest Michigan Today: Tuesday January 15, 2019

Water being distributed in Parchment - file photo. Photo by Gordon Evans, WMUK
Gordon Evans
/
WMUK

Fred Upton joins two other Michigan House members in proposing legislation to designate PFASes hazardous substances. The government shutdown affects food assistance and air traffic controllers. Changes are announced to WMU’s football coaching staff. 

Legislation introduced by three U.S. House members from Michigan would designate PFASes as hazardous substances. The bills sponsored by Republican Congressman Fred Upton of St. Joseph and Democrats Dan Kildee and Debbie Dingell would designate all PFAS chemicals under the federal superfund program and allow the Environmental Protection Agency to use federal resources to clean up contaminated sites. PFASes have been found at several sites in Michigan. Parchment was switched to the city of Kalamazoo’s water system after high levels of the chemicals were found there last year.

(WCMU) State officials say funding for federal food assistance programs is available through February and will have to be sent out early because of the federal government shutdown. In Michigan roughly 1.2-million residents receive food through SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Representatives with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services say it’s not clear what will happen if the government shutdown continues through February.

(MPRN) A watchdog group is calling for the state to end a contract with a non-profit organization that is supposed to help pregnant women find alternatives to abortion. Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Monday with several top state officials. An attorney with the group says Real Alternatives is withholding three percent of state funding for its own private, unspecified use. A representative from Real Alternatives said their attorneys will review the complaint, but called the allegations a “distortion of facts” and “defamatory”. Governor Gretchen Whitmer also says she has not reviewed the complaint yet.

(Michigan Radio) Flint Congressman Dan Kildee says Michigan air traffic controllers are being stressed by the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. He met with several of them Monday. Air traffic controllers are among the many federal workers on the job, but not being paid during the shutdown. Kildee says some controllers may look for other jobs unless the shutdown ends soon.

Western Michigan University football coach Tim Lester has announced that Lou Esposito will continue as the Bronco’s defensive coordinator. Esposito served in that job during the final two games of the 2018 season and is also Western’s defensive line coach. Lester also announced four new members of the Broncos’ coaching staff Monday. Western finished last season with a record of seven wins and six losses.