MDOT to reveal plan for massive I-475 rebuild at June 28 meeting
FLINT, MI -- The Michigan Department of Transportation is planning to reveal the chosen design for a $300-million reconstruction of I-475 at a June 28 meeting. State transportation officials plan to make a presentation at the meeting, according to the announcement, which encourages Flint-area residents, commuters and business or property owners to attend. MDOT has been weighing four preliminary design options for the I-475 reconstruction, including an urban boulevard concept promoted by some Flint officials as a way to reconnect downtown with adjacent neighborhoods. That plan calls for additional turn lanes at major intersections and for reducing the right of way of the existing freeway by 90 feet. Flint officials have said the concept has the potential to free up about 30 acres of land for new development.
mlive.comFor second time, judge dismisses lawsuit arguing consumers entitled to costs tied to ComEd bribery case
A Cook County judge on Friday again shot down a a lawsuit that argues consumers should be able to recover costs associated with the ComEd bribery scandal that implicated former House Speaker Michael Madigan.
chicagotribune.comCanadian ambassador calls for 'inclusive' Haiti accord
Ahead of an international conference on Haiti led by his country, Canada’s ambassador to the Caribbean nation is calling for a politically “inclusive accord” to address a deepening constitutional crisis following the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse
washingtonpost.comSaginaw council establishes advisory committee for $52M stimulus during contentious meeting
SAGINAW, MI — During a meeting that featured contentious debate over how Saginaw can distribute its $52 million in American Rescue Plan Act stimulus money, the City Council established an advisory committee that could shape that spending. The council established the committee in a 7-2 vote during its Monday, Dec. 20, meeting.
mlive.comJackson City Council meeting canceled due to lack of quorum
JACKSON, MI -- The Tuesday, Aug. 10 Jackson City Council meeting has been canceled due to lack of a quorum. The meeting has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17 in the city council chambers on the second floor of Jackson City Hall, 161 W. Michigan Ave.Too many council members were going to be absent Aug. 10 to allow for city business to be done, officials said. Related: Consultants may help Jackson decide on best distribution of federal COVID relief fundsMore from MLive:COVID protocols not changing in Jackson County despite ‘high’ transmission rate, health officials saidPublic input sought on how Jackson County should use $30M in federal COVID relief fundingLimited time full refunds available to ticket holders of canceled Lynyrd Skynyrd concert‘He was a man of steel’: Family remembers Jackson-area tree business ownerBody of unknown man found in Eaton County, police say
mlive.comEPA to expand groundwater investigation at Landfill Superfund site in Lapeer County
METAMORA TWP, MI -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to expand a groundwater investigation at the Metamora Landfill Superfund site in Lapeer County. The Metamora Landfill Superfund site is a closed landfill located about 15 minutes south of Lapeer. A further evaluation of groundwater contamination at the Metamora site was determined necessary after a five-year review of cleanup actions in 2019. The levels of one contaminate in particular, 1,4-dioxane, must be evaluated to gauge the success of a 2001 operation to cap and let natural processed break down contaminants in the soil and groundwater, according to the release. Since Michigan upped its criteria for contamination cleanup in 2016, the Superfund site wells have tested above the new state limit for 1,4-dioxane, according to the release.
mlive.comLIVE STREAM: Detroit mayor holds meeting to propose spending projects, request input from residents
The city of Detroit is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government, and Detroiters are being asked to share their thoughts on how the money should be spent during a meeting Tuesday.
Detroit residents asked for input on city spending of $400M from American Rescue Plan
The city of Detroit is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and Detroiters are being asked to share their thoughts on how the money should be spent.
Bipartisan group of senators met to discuss immigration reforms
A bipartisan group of senators met on Wednesday to discuss a possible legislative solution to reform the nation's immigration system, multiple aides told CBS News. The meeting was held one day before President Biden's first press conference, where he was asked repeatedly about the influx of migrants at the border. A source familiar with the meeting said Durbin has been reaching out to senators and discussing with them one-on-one about their immigration priorities. Lujan told reporters Thursday that he was optimistic after the meeting and would still like to look at a comprehensive immigration package. The senators' meeting comes as a surge of migrants are at the border and before Cornyn and fellow Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas are leading a delegation of senators, all Republicans, to the Texas-Mexico border on Friday.
cbsnews.comGroup to discuss energy recommendations for Michigan U.P.
LANSING, Mich. – A group looking into ways to meet energy needs in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is expected to discuss its recommendations during an online public meeting. Energy Task Force will hold its final meeting Tuesday, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. On Sunday’s episode of Flashpoint former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm who currently serves on President Joe Biden’s cabinet as secretary of energy will make an appearance. AdFlashpoint 3/14/21: Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm, county leaders to weigh in on crucial issuesRead more:
MDOT to hold virtual public meeting on I-275 project in Wayne County
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host a virtual meeting Monday regarding the upcoming I-275 construction project in Wayne County. Over the next three years MDOT will repair and rebuild 24 miles of the freeway between Will Carlton Road and Six Mile Road. The meeting with be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and can be viewed by clicking here. MDOT wants to hear from the public in regards to any concerns they may have regarding the project. AdMore: Road Construction updates
COVID-19 vaccine will start arriving in states Monday, officials say, as US surpasses 16 million total confirmed cases
The U.S. has recorded more than 16 million cases of COVID-19, by far the most of any country in the world, according to data kept by Johns Hopkins University, and also leads the world in deaths related to the coronavirus at more than 297,600, including a record 3,309 recorded on Friday. The coronavirus has caused more than 1.6 million global deaths.
chicagotribune.comLIVE STREAM: FDA panel meets to discuss approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
WASHINGTON – Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine faces one final hurdle as it races to become the first shot greenlighted in the U.S.: a panel of experts who will scrutinize the company’s data for any red flags. The FDA panel functions like a science court that will pick apart the data and debate — in public and live-streamed — whether the shot is safe and effective enough to be cleared for emergency use. The non-government experts specialize in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics. The FDA is expected to follow the committee’s advice, although it is not required to do so. Watch the FDA meeting live below:
Blueprint for change or another blow to North Lawndale? A call to close 3 schools and open another has split a Chicago community in need of rebuilding.
Speaking at the Board of Ed meeting this month, a Sumner student said bringing the Frazier students in “seemed like a good idea at the time, but it caused quarrels among the children. We weren’t on the same level as far as learning and it slowed down class time. ... Now we are trying to combine three different schools with three different types of neighborhoods, three different types of children, three different types of teaching styles. They won’t equal each other.”
chicagotribune.comGene sleuths suggests wide virus spread from Boston meeting in February
NEW YORK A meeting at a hotel in Boston last February may have ignited the spread of the pandemic virus to some 19,000 people in the area, a new study suggests. Health authorities had previously linked the meeting to more than 90 cases among people at the meeting and their contacts. But researchers found that a specific mutation in the virus from people associated with the meeting also showed up in hundreds of other cases, which allowed them to estimate the broader extent of the spread. She and co-authors began their analysis by deciphering the genetic makeup of the new coronavirus that was recovered from people sampled mostly in the Boston area between January and May. But the conference occurred before people in in the Boston area were taking steps to minimize the spread of COVID-19, she said.
Ypsilanti mayor resigns: I am deeply sorry to have my service end on this note
YPSILANTI, Mich. Mayor Beth Bashert has resigned from her position after comments she made at a recent Ypsilanti City Council meeting. I made a biased statement and voted based on that statement, she said. Bashert announced her resignation on Tuesday, releasing this statement:It has been an honor to serve Ypsilanti in the ways I have, including city council member and mayor. I am deeply sorry to have my service end on this note and in this way. Please accept my resignation as mayor, effective at 9 AM June, 23, 2020.