President Trump threatens a veto over proposals to phase out PFASes. Kalamazoo County’s Treasurer warns of counterfeit bills. A case of measles is confirmed in northern Michigan.
(WCMU) President Trump has threatened to veto the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which sets spending levels for the Pentagon. As part of his rationale, he’s singled out two measures having to do with PFAS chemicals. PFASes are a family of chemicals that have been found across the state and are linked to cancer among other health problems. Several sites of PFAS pollution have been found at current and former military bases. Congressman Dan Kildee supported a provision which would require the Department of Defense phase out the use of two major PFAS by 2029. A second measure would require PFAS-free water be made available for agricultural use in areas where contamination exceeds the EPA advisory level of 70 parts per trillion. In the statement on a proposed veto the Trump administration wrote that requiring the DoD to provide clean water could have a “significant impact” on the department’s mission.
Kalamazoo County officials are advising residents of counterfeit bills being passed off as real in the area. The county treasurer’s officerecently found a counterfeit 20 dollar bill that had been used for payment at the county court. Kalamazoo County Treasurer Mary Balkema says businesses with employees who handle cash should be on the lookout for fraudulent currency. But she says people should not put themselves in danger. Balkema says the counterfeit bills should be kept and police should be contacted.
(Interlochen Public Radio) There is a confirmed case of measles in Grand Traverse County. An unvaccinated young adult contracted measles while traveling in Eastern Europe. It wasn’t until later that the person developed symptoms. Now the county health department says the infected person may have spread the virus at three medical facilities and a Walmart. Measles is highly contagious and can spread in the air. County Health officials say there is a risk of an outbreak because of so many unvaccinated children.
(Michigan Radio) The city of Detroit says it’s stepping up efforts to combat flooding in one of its neighborhoods. High water levels in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood are spilling over into homes and streets. The city issued an emergency order yesterday to allow workers to place sandbags on private property. Some residents say the efforts are too little, too late. They say basements and properties have been flooded for at least two weeks without a significant response.
(WCMU) The UP Energy Task Force held its first meeting in Marquette this week to discuss energy needs in the Upper Peninsula. At the inaugural task force meeting, the 19 member board discussed what they hoped to tackle over the coming months. The task force will be looking at rates but will first focus on alternatives to the Line 5 pipeline for bringing propane to the UP. A propane plan is due to the Governor by March.
In baseball, Battle Creek lost at Kokomo Wednesday night 4-2. The Bombers tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning, but the Jackrabbits answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. The two teams play again Thursday night, this time at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek.
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but lost at Green Bay Wednesday night 18-8. The Growlers will host Kenosha for a double header Thursday night at Homer Stryker Field.