Overview:
- Michigan's cyclosporiasis outbreak has reached 1,251 cases since June 22, with contaminated produce suspected as the source.
- Three Wayne County children died from carbon monoxide poisoning during power outages caused by severe storms.
- Flint officials announce completion of all obligations under the 2017 federal water crisis settlement, with more than 31,000 service lines inspected.
➡️ Cyclosporiasis cases top 1,250 in Michigan Michigan’s cyclosporiasis outbreak has grown to 1,251 cases since June 22, up sharply from 992 the day before and 572 just days earlier. State health officials still haven’t pinpointed a source, though they suspect contaminated produce, The Detroit News reports. Local and state teams are interviewing infected residents about food exposure to spot patterns. Officials are urging caution with raspberries, bagged lettuce, cilantro, basil, and green onions, recommending thorough washing, cooking, or choosing frozen or cooked alternatives where possible. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
➡️ 3 Wayne County children die in carbon monoxide poisonings tied to generators Three Wayne County children — ages 8, 12, and 16 — died over the weekend in two separate carbon monoxide poisoning incidents linked to improperly ventilated portable generators, the Detroit Free Press reports. The younger two were found in a Sumpter Township garage; the teen was found near a generator running in a Melvindale basement. The deaths occurred amid widespread power outages from severe storms. Officials say generators should be used outdoors only, and stress installing working carbon monoxide detectors. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
➡️ Power restored to Marathon’s Detroit refinery after outage-driven flaring Power was restored to the Marathon Petroleum refinery after an outage forced the company to flare off excess gas, The Detroit News reports. The flaring, which produced smoke near the Southwest Detroit facility, prompted concern from residents and a temporary closure of Schaefer Road, later lifted. State and refinery officials conducted air monitoring on-site and in nearby neighborhoods, reporting no concerning results. The outage stemmed from storms that left hundreds of thousands without power across Southeast Michigan. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
➡️ DTE vows faster response as another round of storms nears DTE Energy is warning customers to brace for more outages as storms approach Thursday afternoon and Friday, the Detroit Free Press reports. The utility has 4,000 crew members on standby, having already restored power to over 320,000 customers in two days after last Friday’s storm knocked out service to more than 380,000. As of 2 p.m. Thursday, roughly 800 customers remained without power. DTE says advance warning this time allows for faster preparation and response. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
➡️ Older Dearborn residents endure days without power as leaders demand answers About 200 older adults at Dearborn’s St. Sarkis apartment building went days without power after Friday’s storm, leaving them without water, spoiled food, and non-functioning elevators, WXYZ-TV reports. Resident Donna Romero described the ordeal as horrific, especially for neighbors using wheelchairs or oxygen. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud called it “a prison” for one of the city’s most vulnerable communities. DTE restored power Monday evening. State Senate candidate Abbas Alawieh said the utility’s $42 daily reimbursement fails to restore lost trust. 📌 Source: WXYZ-TV
➡️ EPA casts “big net” for feedback on Ann Arbor groundwater contamination The EPA is asking Ann Arbor and Scio Township residents living above the contaminated Gelman groundwater plume to share their experiences, Michigan Public reports. Now a Superfund site, the plume has spread 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen, through groundwater for decades. Before planning cleanup, EPA officials say they need community input, offering one-on-one sessions, an online survey, and workshops. Longtime activist Roger Rayle is urging residents to engage, calling it a chance for “democracy to actually work.” 📌 Source: Michigan Public
➡️ Flint officials, pastors announce completion of water crisis settlement Flint officials announced Thursday that all obligations under a 2017 federal court settlement over the water crisis have been fulfilled, MLive reports. Mayor Sheldon Neeley and Concerned Pastors President Alfred Harris jointly confirmed a notice of satisfaction is being filed in court. More than 31,000 service lines were inspected and nearly 11,000 pipes replaced, though about 30 properties remain without consent for inspection. The city will keep distributing water filters and conducting testing despite the settlement’s conclusion. 📌 Source: MLive
➡️ $15 million in upgrades coming to Lake St. Clair Metropark Huron-Clinton Metroparks announced a three-year, $15-million improvement plan for Lake St. Clair Metropark, The Macomb Daily reports. The centerpiece is a $7-million reopening of the North Marina, closed since 2019, with nearly double its former boating capacity. Other projects include trail extensions, a modernized bathhouse, West Boardwalk renovations, parking lot “greening,” and electrical grid upgrades in partnership with DTE Energy. Metroparks CEO Amy McMillan called it the park’s most significant investment in decades, aimed at broader accessibility. 📌 Source: The Macomb Daily