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: Monday August 5, 2019

State Capitol - file photo. Photo by Cheyna Roth, Michigan Public Radio Network
Cheyna Roth
/
Michigan Public Radio Network

A Michigan lawmaker wants a state ban on microbeads. Vice President Mike Pence will speak in Detroit this week. The Growlers have lost six straight, and the Bombers lose their final home game of the baseball season. 

(MPRN) A state lawmaker wants to double up on the ban against microbeads. The small plastic balls are commonly found in personal care items like face wash and toothpaste. They’re already banned in some products at the federal level. But a new bill would also ban them at the state level. Bill sponsor, Democratic Representative Laurie Pohutsky says this would ensure that if the federal law changes, Michigan’s lakes and rivers are still protected. Pohutsky says this would also allow state agencies to step in to enforce the ban instead of only relying on federal agencies.

(WDET) Vice President Mike Pence addresses business leaders in Detroit this week only a few days after Democratic presidential candidates held their debate in the city. The Vice President will give a speech at the Detroit Economic Club. Economic growth is one of President Trump’s major selling points in his re-election campaign. Pence also toured Metro Detroit recently to promote the Trump Administration’s new trade deal with Mexico and Canada…calling it a vast improvement over the previous NAFTA treaty. The new agreement was criticized by some Democratic presidential contenders during their recent debate in Detroit.

(MPRN) Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to know why the state civil rights director is still leading the department. That’s after an inquiry determined he created a hostile work environment with remarks he made about women and about a gay employee. The governor said she has “serious concerns” about Agustin Arbulu’s ability to lead the department that’s in charge of watchdogging people’s civil rights. But the governor does not hire or fire the civil rights director. That’s the purview of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. The commission held a closed-door meeting a week ago where the decision was made to reprimand Arbulu, but not to fire him. Whitmer has asked for a transcript and any recordings of that session. Arbulu issued his own statement apologizing, and said he’ll use the experience to become “a better person and a better leader.”

(WCMU) 21 state attorneys general, including Michigan’s Dana Nessel, are calling on Congress to take action on PFASes. The family of chemicals have been found across the state and are linked to health problems including cancer. In a letter this last week to Congressional leaders, Nessel called for funding to clean up the chemical as well as a federal hazardous substance designation. In June, the Attorney General submitted a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency calling for tighter PFAs restrictions.

In baseball, Kalamazoo has lost six straight after a 6-3 defeat to Fond du Lac Sunday. The Growlers begin a two game series at Wisconsin Monday night.

Battle Creek lost to Kenosha 6-3 Sunday. It was the Bombers’ final home game of the season. Battle Creek begins a two game series at Madison Monday night.