INSIDER
Biden sets 10-year deadline for US cities to replace lead pipes nationwide
Read full article: Biden sets 10-year deadline for US cities to replace lead pipes nationwideA decade after the Flint, Michigan, water crisis raised alarms about the dangers of lead in tap water, President Joe Biden is setting a 10-year deadline for U.S. cities to replace lead pipes and make drinking water safe for all Americans.
Trump pledges tariffs and repeats false claim of Chinese automakers building big Mexican factories
Read full article: Trump pledges tariffs and repeats false claim of Chinese automakers building big Mexican factoriesFormer President Donald Trump has repeated false claims that Chinese automakers are putting up large factories in Mexico.
Children of Flint water crisis make change as young environmental and health activists
Read full article: Children of Flint water crisis make change as young environmental and health activistsDozens of the children of Flint, Michigan's lead-contaminated water crisis have turned their trauma into advocacy 10 years after it began.
Underwater pumpkin carving? This annual event takes Halloween to new depths
Read full article: Underwater pumpkin carving? This annual event takes Halloween to new depthsParticipants โ who must be certified divers โ draw the design of their pumpkins on the surface, then take them anywhere from 5 to 10 feet underwater to carve them.
Jury trial begins for Roanoke man accused of deadly shooting at Blacksburg hookah lounge
Read full article: Jury trial begins for Roanoke man accused of deadly shooting at Blacksburg hookah loungeBlacksburg Police say Jamel Flint is responsible for shooting five people at the Melody Hookah Lounge on Feb. 4, 2022.
VT researchers partnering with four-legged friends to stop the spread of Spotted Lanternflys
Read full article: VT researchers partnering with four-legged friends to stop the spread of Spotted LanternflysResearchers from Virginia Techโs College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are working to combat Spotted Lanternflies with the help of canines and their citizen scientists.
GM to sink over $900M into 4 plants, Flint to get new engine
Read full article: GM to sink over $900M into 4 plants, Flint to get new engineGeneral Motors says it will spend more than $900 million to update four factories, with the bulk going to an engine plant in Flint, Michigan, to build the next-generation V8 for big pickup trucks and SUVs.
Flint water crisis charges dropped for 7 former officials
Read full article: Flint water crisis charges dropped for 7 former officialsA judge has dismissed charges against seven people in the Flint water scandal, including two former state health officials blamed for deaths from Legionnairesโ disease.
Prosecutors seek to keep charges alive in Flint water crisis
Read full article: Prosecutors seek to keep charges alive in Flint water crisisProsecutors are signaling that they want to pursue the same charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and eight others in the Flint crisis over lead-contaminated water.
Mental health concerns delay sentencing for man charged with 2020 Bedford Middle School arson
Read full article: Mental health concerns delay sentencing for man charged with 2020 Bedford Middle School arsonFlint, who is diagnosed with autism, is assumed to be competent to withstand trial. But questions remain over his mental capacity.
Physiologist testifies regarding mental health evaluation of man charged in 2020 Bedford Middle School arson
Read full article: Physiologist testifies regarding mental health evaluation of man charged in 2020 Bedford Middle School arsonClinical physiologist, Dr. Robert Haxter, testified that he conducted a mental health evaluation on Flint and suggested either a guardianship or supervised residence based on the defendantโs autism diagnosis and condition.
Roanoke man charged in deadly Blacksburg shooting has next court date set for April
Read full article: Roanoke man charged in deadly Blacksburg shooting has next court date set for AprilIt will be more than two months until the man charged in connection with Friday nightโs deadly shooting in Blacksburg returns to court.
Roanoke man in custody after one shot dead, four hospitalized in Blacksburg hookah lounge shooting
Read full article: Roanoke man in custody after one shot dead, four hospitalized in Blacksburg hookah lounge shootingBlacksburg police announced early Saturday morning that one person died and four others were hurt in Friday nightโs shooting in downtown Blacksburg.
Man facing felony charges for Bedford Middle School fire to enter plea agreement
Read full article: Man facing felony charges for Bedford Middle School fire to enter plea agreementThe man charged in connection to the fire at the old Bedford Middle School is set to enter a plea agreement, according to Wes Nance, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Bedford.
Michigan ex-governor loses challenge to Flint water charges
Read full article: Michigan ex-governor loses challenge to Flint water chargesRick Snyder speaks with reporters after an unsuccessful meeting with road contractors and a union at his office in Lansing, Mich. A judge has rejected a request to dismiss misdemeanor charges against Snyder in the Flint water scandal. Lawyers for Snyder said he worked in Ingham County, not Genesee County, so the indictment was returned in the wrong place. But Judge William Crawford II says prosecutors have flexibility about where to pursue a case. (AP Photo/David Eggert, File)DETROIT โ A judge on Thursday rejected a request to dismiss misdemeanor charges against a former Michigan governor in the Flint water scandal. Eight other people face charges in Flint, including two former state health officials who are accused of involuntary manslaughter in nine deaths linked to Legionnairesโ disease.
Lawyers seeking 32% of $641M Flint tainted water settlement
Read full article: Lawyers seeking 32% of $641M Flint tainted water settlementFILE - This Jan. 13, 2021 file photo shows the Flint Water Plant tower in Flint, Mich. Lawyers who negotiated a $641 million settlement for victims of Flint lead-contaminated water are asking a judge to set aside up to 32% for fees and expenses. Rick Snyderโs administration allowed Flint to use the Flint River in 2014-15 without treating the water to reduce corrosion. The Flint water litigation has involved thousands of victims, a raft of state defendants and complex legal issues. Flint switched back to a Detroit regional water agency in fall 2015, when a doctor publicly reported elevated lead levels in children. AdSeparately, Snyder and eight other people are charged with crimes in the Flint water scandal.
Judge needs more time for thorny issues in Flint water case
Read full article: Judge needs more time for thorny issues in Flint water case(AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)FLINT, Mich. โ A judge overseeing misdemeanor charges against a former Michigan governor in the Flint water scandal said Tuesday that he's struggling with how to handle an aggressive effort to have the case dismissed. District Judge William Crawford II said he needs more time to research whether prosecutors filed the case in the wrong county as well as other issues. Emergency managers who were appointed by Snyder to run Flint switched the cityโs water source to the Flint River in 2014-15 while a new pipeline was being built from Lake Huron. They argue that Snyder worked in Ingham County, not Genesee County, so the indictment returned in Flint should not stand. But if Genesee is not the right county, prosecutors said, then the case should be transferred to Ingham and not be dismissed.
Judge gives preliminary OK to $641M Flint water deal
Read full article: Judge gives preliminary OK to $641M Flint water dealFILE - In this Jan. 13, 2021 file photo, vehicles drive through downtown Flint, Mich. A judge granted preliminary approval Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, to a $641 million deal that would benefit Flint residents who were harmed by lead-contaminated water. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya File)DETROIT โ A judge granted preliminary approval Thursday to a $641 million deal that would benefit thousands of Flint residents who were harmed by lead-contaminated water. Rick Snyder and regulators in his administration allowed the city to use the Flint River in 2014-15 without treating the water to reduce corrosion. Attorneys representing Flint residents have said 80% of payments will go to people who were under 18 when the river water was used. โAt last, the victims of the Flint water crisis no longer have to hope for a day of reckoning," said attorney Corey Stern, who represents 4,000 people.
Flint water charges escalate debate over officials' failures
Read full article: Flint water charges escalate debate over officials' failuresThe Flint Water Plant tower is shown in Flint, Mich., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Some Flint residents impacted by months of lead-tainted water are looking past expected charges against former Gov. But the charges have escalated a debate over whether state and local officials crossed a line between incompetence and illegality. Ezra L. Tillman Jr., pastor at First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, said it's disappointing that Snyder was charged only with misdemeanors. Publicly available documents show Snyder administration officials appeared more concerned with โmedia responses and public relations" than โpublic health and carrying out their statutory duties," he said.
Flint water probe brings charges against ex-governor, others
Read full article: Flint water probe brings charges against ex-governor, othersThis Jan. 14, 2021 photo provided by the Genesee County Sheriff's Office in Flint, Mich., shows former Michigan Gov. Snyder was charged with two misdemeanor counts willful neglect of duty Jan. 14, 2021 in connection with the Flint water crisis in Flint, Mich. (Genesee County Sheriff's Office via AP)LANSING, Mich. โ A new investigation of the Flint water disaster led to charges against nine people, including former Michigan Gov. Authorities said they failed to alert the public about a regional spike in Legionnairesโ when the water system might have lacked enough chlorine to combat bacteria in the river water. โThe Flint water crisis is not some relic of the past,โ Fadwa Hammoud of the state attorney generalโs office told reporters. Heโs also accused of lying during an interview with Flint water investigators in 2017.
Ex.-Michigan Gov. Snyder charged in Flint water crisis
Read full article: Ex.-Michigan Gov. Snyder charged in Flint water crisisRick Snyder speaks with reporters during a news conference at his office in Lansing, Mich. Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has been charged with two counts of willful neglect of duty in the Flint water crisis. Rick Snyder was charged Wednesday with willful neglect of duty after an investigation of ruinous decisions that left Flint with lead-contaminated water and a regional outbreak of Legionnairesโ disease. Flint's water, which now comes from a Detroit regional agency, gets good marks, although many distrustful residents still use filters. Separately, the state, Flint, a hospital and an engineering firm have agreed to a $641 million settlement with residents over the water crisis, with $600 million coming from Michigan.
Flint families welcome water crisis charges, seek healing
Read full article: Flint families welcome water crisis charges, seek healingAriana Hawk is shown at the Flint River in Flint, Mich., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. The water also was blamed for a deadly outbreak of Legionnairesโ disease in the Flint area. Sincere would become the face of the Flint water crisis when a photo of him was selected in 2016 for the cover of Time magazine. While visiting their grandmotherโs home in Florida, Sincere was hesitant about the water, Hawk told The Associated Press. โHealing wounds and restoring trust will take decades and long-term resources.โLeon Abdullah El-Alamin said he would like to see Snyder charged with a felony.
Michigan plans to charge ex-Gov. Snyder in Flint water probe
Read full article: Michigan plans to charge ex-Gov. Snyder in Flint water probeFILE - In this March 21, 2016, file photo, the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. Former Michigan Gov. Snyder apologized for the catastrophe during his 2016 State of the State speech and said government at all levels had failed Flint. By June 2019, the entire Flint water investigation was turned upside down after more than three years and millions of dollars. "When the Flint water crisis hit, he wasnโt assigned by Gov. Separately, the state, Flint, a hospital and an engineering firm have agreed to a $641 million settlement with residents over the water crisis, with $600 million coming from Michigan.
Critics say EPA allowing more time to fix lead-tainted water
Read full article: Critics say EPA allowing more time to fix lead-tainted waterEnvironmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said Tuesday the new regulation, proposed by the agency in 2019, โrequires more replacements than ever beforeโ for aging water systems leaching lead. โIt will help ensure that all Americans have access to safe drinking water, regardless of what zip code they live in,โ Wheeler said. Changes in the rule include newly requiring utilities to test their water at schools and day-care centers nationwide and requiring water systems to tell the public the location of lead service lines. Wheeler, the EPA administrator, defended the new rules, saying loopholes in the old rule were allowing replacement to drag on much longer than was stipulated. The outgoing Trump administration has said that dealing with lead pipes and improving access to safe drinking water were priorities.
Flint joins $641M deal to settle lawsuits over lead in water
Read full article: Flint joins $641M deal to settle lawsuits over lead in waterFIL - In this March 21, 2016, file photo the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says a proposed $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and Flint residents harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends. FLINT, Mich. โ The Flint City Council on Tuesday signed off on its portion of a $641 million settlement with residents of the poor, majority-Black city who were exposed to lead-tainted water. The city's insurer would kick in $20 million as part of a sweeping deal to settle lawsuits against Flint, the state of Michigan and other parties. Rick Snyderโs administration allowed Flint to use water from the Flint River in 2014-15 without treating it to reduce corrosion.
Man accused of Bedford Middle School fire competent to stand trial
Read full article: Man accused of Bedford Middle School fire competent to stand trialBEDFORD, Va โ Nearly one year after the old Bedford Middle School was set on fire, the suspected arsonist appeared in court Wednesday afternoon. Daniel Flint is facing two felony charges of arson and burglary. Daniel Flint is facing two felony charges of arson and burglary. Bedford County Commonwealthโs Attorney Wes Nance says the coronavirus pandemic has caused a setback in court-related issues. Flintโs new preliminary trial date is set for Jan. 25 in Bedford County General District Court.
FBI investigates robocalls warning voters to 'stay home'
Read full article: FBI investigates robocalls warning voters to 'stay home'TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. โ Voters across the U.S. received anonymous robocalls in the days and weeks before Election Day urging them to โstay safe and stay homeโ โ an ominous warning that election experts said could be an effort to scare voters into sitting out the election. The FBI is investigating calls that seek to discourage people from voting, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security told reporters Tuesday. The brief calls, which featured a computerized female voice, made no mention of the election. Stay safe and stay home.โWhoever created the robocalls used sophisticated tactics, routing the calls in a way that masked their identity and location, Quilici said. Nessel filed charges Oct. 1 against two political operatives accused of orchestrating a series of robocalls โaimed at suppressing the voteโ in the general election.
EXPLAINER: What's happening with Election Day 'robocalls'?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What's happening with Election Day 'robocalls'?WASHINGTON โ Election officials in a handful of states are warning voters to disregard โrobocallsโ urging them to stay home rather than go to the polls. One series of them appears to have gone out around the country and doesn't reference the election. Our voters and our poll workers will be kept safe,โ Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen tweeted. If you have not already voted, today is the day!โ said a tweet from the Kansas secretary of stateโs office, which is overseen by Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican. Gretchen Whitmer says her office has received reports of an โunknown partyโ purposely spreading misinformation in Flint in an attempt to confuse voters.
Hospitals competing for nurses as US coronavirus cases surge
Read full article: Hospitals competing for nurses as US coronavirus cases surgeFENTON, Mich. โ As the coronavirus pandemic surges across the nation and infections and hospitalizations rise, medical administrators are scrambling to find enough nursing help โ especially in rural areas and at small hospitals. And health systems are turning to short-term travel nurses to help fill the gaps. Aspirus recently was able to hire 18 nurses from outside agencies, and may need more if the surge continues. Greg Abbott recently announced he was sending 75 nurses and respiratory therapists to El Paso to help handle the cityโs surge. Travel nurses say the need at small hospitals tends to be greater than at larger facilities.
Obama: Trump failed to take pandemic, presidency seriously
Read full article: Obama: Trump failed to take pandemic, presidency seriouslyThroughout the day, Trump and Biden, both septuagenarians, threw stinging barbs at one another that at moments verged into schoolyard taunt territory. โIn other words, if one of these maniacs come along and they say weโre gonna end fracking, weโre gonna destroy the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Trump said in announcing his memorandum. I love Joe Biden, and he will be a great president," Obama said Saturday. Trump told Pennsylvania voters that his administration has done โan incredible jobโ dealing with the pandemic. โWeโre gonna beat this virus and get it under control and the first step to doing that is beating Donald Trump," Biden said.
Reports: Michigan reaches $600M deal in Flint water crisis
Read full article: Reports: Michigan reaches $600M deal in Flint water crisisState environmental regulators advised Flint not to apply corrosion controls to the water, which was contaminated by lead from aging pipes. Researchers with Virginia Tech University reported in summer 2015 that samples of Flint water had abnormally high lead levels. Rick Snyder eventually acknowledged the problem, accepted the resignation of his environmental chief and pledged to aid the city, which resumed using Detroit water. Under the deal, the state would establish a $600 million fund and Flint residents could file claims for compensation. The amount awarded per applicant would be based on how badly they were harmed, the attorney told AP.
Whitmer: $600M Flint water deal a step toward making amends
Read full article: Whitmer: $600M Flint water deal a step toward making amendsLANSING, Mich. A proposed $600 million deal between the state of Michigan and residents of the impoverished, majority-Black city of Flint who were harmed by lead-tainted water is a step toward making amends for a disaster that upended life in the city, Gov. More than two years of negotiations between the state and attorneys representing thousands of Flint residents produced an agreement to create a fund from which victims will be able to seek payments. The proposed deal announced Thursday would need to be approved by U.S. District Judge Judith Levy, who is overseeing lawsuits against the state. Residents of the city with a population of nearly 100,000 people used bottled water quickly began complaining that the water was discolored and had a bad taste and smell. They blamed it for rashes, hair loss and other health concerns, but local and state officials insisted it was safe.
16-year-old locked in barn rescued from human trafficking: sheriff
Read full article: 16-year-old locked in barn rescued from human trafficking: sheriffFLINT, Mich. โ Several missing Michigan children were found Friday, according to the Genesee County Sheriff. One of them was a 16-year-old girl who was locked in a barn. Sheriff Chris Swanson said the barn was surrounded by barbed wire and it appears the girl was a victim of human trafficking. Seven four-man times spread out across Genesee County, about 70 miles northwest of Detroit, to look for the children. The suspect in the case was arrested and is awaiting arraignment at the Genesee County Jail.
Poll: Pandemic hurting Americans' finances in disparate ways
Read full article: Poll: Pandemic hurting Americans' finances in disparate waysAs the coronavirus pandemic drags on, a new poll finds it is having different effects on Americans economic well-being. For some, the virus has meant lost income or struggles to pay bills on time particularly among Hispanic, Black and younger Americans. Meanwhile, the survey also finds about a third of Americans say their investments were negatively impacted during the pandemic. By contrast, Americans without a degree were more likely to have delayed paying bills 26%, compared with 10% of college graduates. Younger Americans were more likely to have lost a job, put themselves at risk of exposure or delayed paying bills, while more older Americans lost investments.
Woman arraigned in killing of security guard over virus mask
Read full article: Woman arraigned in killing of security guard over virus maskSharmel L. Teague, 45, of Flint, was arraigned Tuesday, May 5, 2020 in 67th Distirct Court on first-degree murder and felony firearm charges. Sharmel Teague, 45, was arraigned via video Tuesday in district court, according to the Genesee County prosecutor's office. Larry Teague and Bishop have yet to be arrested and were believed to be on the run, prosecutor David Leyton said. Two men later came to the store, and one of them shot Munerlyn in the back of the head. Witnesses identified Bishop as the man who shot Munerlyn, according to Leyton.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver loses reelection bid
Read full article: Flint Mayor Karen Weaver loses reelection bidIncumbent Flint, Michigan, Mayor Karen Weaver, who led the city as it gained national attention over its devastating water crisis, lost her bid for reelection November 7, 2019, according to official results from the Genesee County clerk's office. FLINT, Michigan (CNN) - Incumbent Flint, Michigan, Mayor Karen Weaver, who led the city as it gained national attention over its devastating water crisis, lost her bid for reelection Tuesday, according to official results from the Genesee County clerk's office. Michigan Democratic state Rep. Sheldon Neeley defeated Weaver in a close race with 7,082 votes to Weaver's 6,877, according to the county clerk's office. Weaver who became the city's first female mayor in 2015, has not conceded, telling The Flint Journal on Tuesday she "would not rule out a recount." In 2016, a federal lawsuit alleged Weaver directed an employee to divert potential donations from a charity for water crisis victims toward "Karenabout Flint," a fund sharing a name with her campaign fund.
Thieves pick 7,000 pounds of apples off trees in Michigan orchard
Read full article: Thieves pick 7,000 pounds of apples off trees in Michigan orchardJeff T. Green/Getty(CNN) - Apple thieves snuck onto a Michigan family farm and stole more than 3 tons of fruit right off of the trees. Spicer Orchards is a popular fall destination near Flint, where families come to pick their own apples and enjoy cider, donuts and other treats. Rowe said the theft happened at a secondary orchard, where they grow apples for cider and to sell in their market. It would normally take a two- or three-person crew a couple of days to pick that many apples. "They must have had a trained crew to pick the apples in that short of a time period," she said.
Greta Thunberg isn't alone. Meet some other young activists
Read full article: Greta Thunberg isn't alone. Meet some other young activists(CNN) - Greta Thunberg has become a household name since she began her climate strikes in 2018, inspiring thousands of students to walk out of class and demand action on the climate crisis. Around the globe, young people are sounding the alarm on climate change and environmental issues by organizing rallies and confronting policymakers. In her home state of Minnesota, Hirsi is focused on advocating for groups that are disproportionately affected by climate change. Six years later, at the age of 14, Peltier is fighting for water conservation and indigenous water rights. The self-described "future president" came to fame in March 2016 when she wrote a letter to then-President Barack Obama about the Flint water crisis.
Lead in Newark's water has mom worried 5-year-old 'being poisoned'
Read full article: Lead in Newark's water has mom worried 5-year-old 'being poisoned'Though human skin does not absorb lead from water, Thomas fears Bryce could accidentally ingest the water that flows into the family's home while playing. A truck from the city's emergency management office delivered pallets of bottled water on sweltering Wednesday afternoon. referring to an incident one day earlier when city officials did not distribute bottled water that had an expired best-by date. Tappins was with Lorraine Macklin, 68, who hauled away two packages of bottled water in a mini shopping cart. "We declared a public health emergency after significant denial and dismissal, but once we knew there were problems, everybody got bottled water.
HSBC chief steps down after 18 months on the job
Read full article: HSBC chief steps down after 18 months on the jobDan Kitwood/Getty ImagesLONDON (CNN) - HSBC chief John Flint is stepping down after less than two years on the job. The bank said in a statement that Flint resigned by mutual agreement, adding that change is needed to meet "the increasingly complex and challenging global environment" HSBC faces. Flint joined the bank in 1989 and spent the first 14 years of his career with HSBC in Asia expanding the bank's global markets business. In a statement, Flint, 51, said that it was a privilege to spend his entire career with HSBC. The bank said Flint will stop carrying out his day-to-day duties immediately, but will remain available to assist HSBC with the transition.