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BENTON-HARBOR-WATER

EPA to begin testing water at 300 Benton Harbor homes

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon start testing the water in 300 homes in Benton Harbor to check the certified filters given area residents by the state to remove lead from the drinking water. The Herald-Palladium reports that EPA officials will go to homes and collect water that goes through the filter and the water without the filters. It’s expected to last several weeks. The move comes after the federal agency ordered the Michigan city to fix problems at the water plant. The order includes an analysis of whether ownership of the plant should be transferred from Benton Harbor.

AP-US-BIDEN-FACT-CHECK

AP FACT CHECK: Biden hypes $1T bill impact on electric cars

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is overstating the reach of a $1 trillion infrastructure package in speeding America’s transition to electric automobiles. That’s according to an AP Fact Check. Celebrating the congressional passage in remarks Saturday, Biden said the legislation will allow the U.S. to build out 500,000 charging stations and meet his pledge to nudge half of U.S. drivers into electric vehicles by decade’s end. But the measure actually cuts in half the money that Biden had said was needed for the charging stations. Automakers also have made clear they won’t meet White House targets that half of all new car sales be electric by 2030 based on that legislation alone.

SHORELINE RESEARCH

MSU researchers collecting data on Great Lakes shoreline

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Researchers at Michigan State University are collecting data on how the Great Lakes shoreline, how residents view coastlines and the impact of high water levels. Assistant professor Erin Bunting says the information is critical to empower local communities and future research. j,87The results will be published online and analyzed in scientific publications. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation and involves collecting information in several ways including a drone program and a mobile app. Bunting says more than 1,200 images have been submitted since June.

SEVERE WEATHER-TREE TRIMMING

Utility to use $70M voluntary refund on tree trimming

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Public Service Commission has approved an accounting measure that allows DTE Electric Co. to provide a one-time, $70 million voluntary refund to be spent on tree trimming. The commission says the tree trimming is part of the company’s efforts to boost system reliability after power outages during severe storms across southeastern Michigan. DTE Electric had requested approval of a one-time regulatory liability and accounting authority to use a portion of unexpectedly higher profits from changed electricity use patterns of its retail customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The utility says the money would fund an additional surge in tree trimming in response to the summer’s storms.

SUGAR LOAF-DEMOLITION

Ski resort closed for decades finally being demolished

CEDAR, Mich. (AP) — Demolition has begun at a former ski resort in northern Michigan. Sugar Loaf is in Leelanau County, northwest of Traverse City. It once attracted 3,000 skiers a day in winter but has been idle for more than 20 years. Demolition crews using heavy equipment began taking big bites out of buildings last week. Tim Stein, the Cleveland Township township, says the site will no longer be a “health and safety hazard.” It’s not clear what’s next for the Sugar Loaf property. The owner hasn’t been publicly identified.

REPARATIONS-DETROIT

Detroit voters OK commission to consider reparations

DETROIT (AP) — The city of Detroit will put together a commission to consider some form of reparations for residents. More than 80% of residents who cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election voted in favor of a proposal to form the commission that will recommend housing and economic development programs for the majority Black city. Anita Belle, president of the Detroit-based Reparations Labor Union, says the destruction of historically Black neighborhoods in the name of urban renewal, and discriminatory lending and rental practices aimed to keep Blacks out of what then were mostly white neighborhoods are some reasons why reparations are needed in Detroit. Detroit now joins other U.S. cities that are mulling some form of repayment to descendants of African slaves.

DEMOCRATS-GOVERNORS

Democrats facing tough slog in 2022 governor’s races

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are increasingly optimistic about flipping governor’s offices in key battleground states next year. The GOP is buoyed by President Joe Biden’s sagging approval ratings, Democratic infighting in Congress and better-than-expected results in elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Democrats were already battling historical precedent dictating that the party that captures the White House struggles in subsequent elections and a 27-23 GOP advantage in occupying governor’s offices nationwide. Democrats insist the national political landscape could shift before November 2022, and see some of their own pickup opportunities in top races.

SMALL PLANE CRASH-PILOT KILLED

Pilot dies in small plane crash in central Michigan

HAYES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A 67-year-old Detroit-area man has died following a small single-engine plane crash in central Michigan. Clare County sheriff’s deputies responded about 9:30 a.m. Friday to the crash in Hayes Township, about 188 miles northwest of Detroit. The victim has been identified as Theodore Gauthier of Pontiac. Authorities say Gauthier was the pilot and the only person on the plane. The crash was under investigation.

INVASIVE MOTH MITIGATION

Oakland County launches mitigation program for invasive moth

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Oakland County wants to slow and mitigate the spread of invasive moths that as caterpillars can denude entire forests of leaves. The county’s Moth Suppression Program is aimed at Lymantria dispar which is the scientific name for gypsy moths. The county says the program will provide grants to cities, villages and townships. Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and municipalities are required to participate in training before applying for the grants. Trainings on egg mass surveying are scheduled Tuesday in Rochester Hills and Nov. 17 in Oxford.

DOCTOR SUSPENDED-MARIJUANA

Suspension upheld for doctor in medical marijuana case

BALDWIN, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan appeals court affirmed a two-year suspension for a doctor who approved nearly 22,000 medical marijuana certificates in a 12-month period. An expert says it would have been impossible for Dr. Vernon Proctor to conduct exams, obtain medical histories and take other necessary steps for that many patients. He has an office in Baldwin, 75 miles north of Grand Rapids. People seeking to use medical marijuana need approval from a doctor when they apply for a state card. During a state enforcement hearing, Proctor disputed that he had approved about 22,000 certifications. He said it was more than 1,000.