Congressman Justin Amash has another Republican primary challenger, while his fellow GOP representatives say his votes on defense spending have hurt efforts to bring a missile defense system to his district. High water levels put South Haven’s fireworks display in danger of cancellation. Public safety officials say visitors to the Great Lakes need to be extra careful while the water is high. State Farm employees in Portage are expected to lose their jobs by the end of August. Federal officials say Michigan's special education students are doing better in school, but the state still needs "assistance" with is programs.
(MLive) Grand Rapids-area Congressman Justin Amash is up to three primary challengers for his seat in the 2020 election. The latest Republican to join the race is Lynn Afendoulis, a state representative for the 73rd Michigan House District who’s serving her first term. MLive reports that Afendoulis says she’s running to, in her words, “ensure that we continue the American revival that is underway.” Amash has long been critical of President Donald Trump. In May he said Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report showed that the President had committed impeachable offenses. That drew condemnation from Trump and other Republicans, but Afendoulis did not name Amash in a statement announcing her candidacy.
(Holland Sentinel) Public safety officials are urging people to take extra care as they visit the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan is nearing a record high level and water is over the piers or very close at some West Michigan beaches. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says that makes it easy for people to slip off the pier or get carried off by waves, even small ones that wash over the surface. Red flags at beaches mean everyone should stay out of the water. Yellow means swimmers should be extremely careful. And electric shock drowning is a risk near wired piers that aren’t normally underwater.
(Kalamazoo Gazette) Almost 250 employees of State Farm Insurance in Portage are set to lose their jobs by the end of the summer. Almost 250 employees of State Farm Insurance in Portage are set to lose their jobs by the end of the summer. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that in a letter to the state this week, the company said it plans to let the workers go by August 31st. State Farm’s plans to close its Portage operations center have been known for a while; the company announced in 2017 that it planned to shutter the facility.
(Detroit News) Special education students in Michigan are doing better in school, but things still need to improve. That’s the message from the U-S Department of Education, which says the state no longer needs “intervention,” just “assistance” with its programs for students with disabilities. The Detroit News reports that more Michigan special education students are taking part in statewide reading and math tests, and a few less are dropping out of school. The graduation rate for students with disabilities has been harder to boost. It was 63 percent this year and last year.
Members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation say they plan to continue making the case for a missile defense system at Fort Custer near Battle Creek. Thursday the defense department said that Fort Drum in New York is the preferred site for the missile defense installation. Although it’s described as the most expensive option with environmental challenges. Senator Gary Peters says he will press for the environmental impact statement to be made public. A statement from five Republican House members from the state, including West Michigan Representative Fred Upton, encourages the defense department to re-evaluate the decision. The statement also puts part of the blame on a Republican Congressman from the Grand Rapids area. The statement concludes that it appears that Congressman Justin Amash’s consistent opposition to all defense spending bills was too much for the Pentagon to accept.
South Haven’s annual fireworks display may be called off next week. The St. Joseph Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium reports that high water levels may force the cancellation of the Light up the Lake display scheduled for July 3rd. Water washing up on the north pier of the Black River Channel may make it impossible for to place mortars there to hold the fireworks. The fireworks display normally brings large crowds to South Haven. City officials say they plan to give as much advance notice as possible about whether the display will be held. Meanwhile the city of Plainwell is canceling its annual fireworks display. MLive reports that rising costs and multiple businesses pulling donations to pay for the display were given as reasons for the cancellation.
(WCMU) A Michigan work group Thursday released recommendations for the state to implement the strictest standards in the nation for PFAS chemicals. PFAs, or perfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of chemicals that have been found across the state and are linked to health problems including cancer. The Michigan PFAs Action Response Team received health-based recommendations from a workgroup for seven PFAs compounds setting health limits as low as six parts per trillion. The current EPA health advisory level is 70 parts per trillion, although that standard is only for PFOS and PFOA. The recommendations will be used as part of a rule making process will include public hearings and comment. The recommendations were based on existing research but the workgroup also released a recommendation for long-chain PFAs, about which not much is known. The final rules are expected to be adopted by April of 2020.
In baseball, Battle Creek lost at Traverse City Thursday night 12-4. The Bombers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, but the Pit Spitters fought back, then took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth inning. The teams play again Friday night in Traverse City.
Kalamazoo lost to Rockford Thursday 6-3. The Growlers were held to three runs, despite 13 hits. They host the Rivets again Friday night at Homer Stryker Field to wrap up the two game series.