An excavator sits at the site of a house demolition in Detroit.
In this Thursday, April 19, 2018, photo, an excavator sits at the site of a house demolition in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Overview:

  • Detroit's cleanup costs for toxic demolition backfill have tripled to $27 million, with 80% of completed sites exceeding state contamination limits.
  • Michigan is heading into an early-June heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher for three to five days next week.
  • A Wayne County judge permanently blocks Detroit Thermal from using Lafayette Park townhouse property to connect the neighboring 1300 Lafayette cooperative high-rise to its steam heating network.

➡️ Detroit’s toxic dirt cleanup bill could hit $27 million Detroit’s demolition backfill contamination scandal is far costlier than initially projected, with cleanup estimates now approaching $27 million — roughly triple former Mayor Mike Duggan’s $8-million forecast. Testing shows 80% of completed sites exceed state contamination limits. Recovery of costs from the primary companies blamed by the city is increasingly uncertain, as contractor Gayanga Co. shut down and soil supplier Iron Horse sold its Milford Township site. Both deny wrongdoing. No lawsuits have been filed by the city. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press

➡️ Way above normal: Michigan could see 92-degree days starting Wednesday Michigan is heading into an early-June heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher for three to five days next week. The stretch of hottest days runs Wednesday through Saturday, with Thursday, Friday, and Saturday likely pushing 92 to 93 degrees across Lower Michigan by late afternoon. That’s well above the seasonal average high of 77 to 79 degrees for mid-June. Some cooling is possible by Father’s Day. 📌 Source: MLive

➡️ Judge blocks Detroit Thermal from using landmark Lafayette Park property for steam line, utility vows appeal A Wayne County judge permanently blocked Detroit Thermal from using Lafayette Park townhouse property to connect the neighboring 1300 Lafayette cooperative high-rise to its steam heating network. Circuit Court Judge Annette Berry ruled the utility cannot install a slip line through the Mies van der Rohe-designed townhouse properties. The ruling leaves 600-plus residents of the boiler-less high-rise without a permanent heating solution. Detroit Thermal, calling the decision “flatly wrong,” plans to appeal. 📌 Source: Crain’s Detroit Business

➡️ 130 extra days of sneezing? Light pollution is stretching allergy season in big cities New research published in PNAS Nexus finds that light pollution extends allergy season by up to 130 days per year in brightly lit cities. Trees in places like New York and Philadelphia start producing pollen earlier in spring and finish later in fall compared to darker areas. Light pollution also boosts ragweed growth and makes human bodies more allergy-prone. Cities could respond by adjusting streetlight brightness and choosing lower-pollen tree species. 📌 Source: The New York Times

➡️ Alpha-gal syndrome cases climb in Michigan as lone star tick expands its range Michigan wildlife biologist Will Miller is warning residents to watch for ticks as warmer weather draws people outdoors, particularly regarding alpha-gal syndrome — a tick-borne illness that triggers potentially deadly allergic reactions to meat and dairy products. Cases are rising due to an expanded CDC definition and the northward migration of lone star ticks, now established in Berrien County. Miller recommends long clothing, EPA-registered repellents, staying on trails, and thorough tick checks after time outdoors. 📌 Source: WZZM-TV

➡️ EPA delay of vehicle pollution rules would save automakers $1.7 billion, critics say it will cost lives Major automakers are backing an EPA proposal to delay by two years enforcement of Biden-era vehicle pollution rules, while urging the agency to quickly rewrite the regulations. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing GM, Ford, Toyota and others, cited declining EV sales as making current standards unattainable. Environmental groups warned the delay would cause preventable deaths and billions in health harms. The Biden rules required up to 58% cuts in six key pollutants through 2032. 📌 Source: Reuters

Dustin Blitchok brings extensive editorial leadership experience, having served as an editor at Benzinga and Metro Times, and got his start in journalism at The Oakland Press. As a longtime Detroit resident and journalist, he has covered a wide range of public interest stories, including criminal justice and government accountability.