Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Southwest Michigan Today: Friday August 24, 2018

Bottled water is distributed in Parchment due to high levels of PFAS - file photo
Gordon Evans
/
WMUK

The order not to drink tap water remains in effect in Parchment. A Senate committee hearing next month will examine the federal government's role in addressing PFAS's. The state says eight cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed this year, and one person has died. 

Kalamazoo County’s Health and Community Services Department says low levels of PFAS’s are still being found in Parchment’s water supply. A news release from the county says hooking up to the city of Kalamazoo’s water supply caused an expected stir up of particulates in the Parchment water system. The do not drink order remains in effect for Parchment and Cooper Township residents and businesses connected to the municipal water system. More testing is planned to determine if the water is safe to drink.

(WCMU) A federal subcommittee hearing will be convened next month to discuss the role of the federal government in the PFAS’s crisis. PFAS’s are chemical compounds that have been found at multiple sites across the state, including high concentrations in Parchment and Richland Township. They are linked to health problems including cancer. US Senator Gary Peters says the subcommittee meeting scheduled for September 26th will be aimed at getting a better understanding of the problem. He says it will also address the possibility of lowering the federal action limit for PFAS’s.

(MLive) A federal judge isn't happy about the treatment of some Iraqis held at the Calhoun County Jail on immigration charges. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith says he's concerned about allegations that some detainees are put in solitary confinement for "trivial" reasons. MLive reports Goldsmith told Immigration and Customs Enforcement to make sure that jail guards follow his court orders on treatment of detainees. The ACLU is suing the federal government, saying that ICE pressures detained Iraqis to sign statements that could make deporting them easier.

(WCMU) There have been eight cases of West Nile Virus confirmed in Michigan so far this year. Of the eight cases, one resulted in death, and all but one of the victims were hospitalized. Health officials say they have seen West Nile activity statewide this year. They say 66 birds and 74 mosquito pools have tested positive for the disease. Most people who contract west nile virus won’t see an symptoms. One in five people infected will have illness and fever, and one in 150 will become severely ill.

(MPRN) The Democratic National Committee wasn’t quite hacked. The party called the FBI in an attempt to stop what it thought was a hack of its voter information. But the culprits were Michigan Democrats. The Michigan Democratic Party says it was trying to fortify its cybersecurity. Their so-called “digital partners” ran some tests. But there was a misstep that set off alarms at the DNC. In a statement, party chair Brandon Dillon says it’s important to note that the security systems that were put in place worked. He goes on to say that these types of tests are critical to protecting the organization’s infrastructure. The Democratic National Committee has been trying to heighten its security since Russian hackers attacked DNC servers in 2016 and released internal information to the public.

(Interlochen Public Radio) Environmental groups are suing the U.S. Coast Guard saying they aren’t ready for an oil spill in the Great Lakes. The Coast Guard is required by law to have a plan for an oil spill in the Great Lakes. But an attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center, says they don’t. The Coast Guard could not be reached for comment. But just this week at a hearing in Traverse City Coast Guard Admiral Joanna Nunan said they can respond to a spill within 24 hours. The ELPC and The National Wildlife Federation filed the lawsuit. The Coast Guard has 60 days to respond.

Western Michigan has won two of its first three matches during women’s soccer season, The Broncos rallied Thursday for a 2-1 win over Purdue Fort Wayne. Western will host Wright State Sunday afternoon.