Overview:
- The backfilled soil at 33 of 41 tested properties failed state standards, says Detroit's Office of Inspector General.
- Nearly 26,000 Flint water crisis victims are scheduled to begin receiving settlement payments this fall.
- Consumers Energy plans to sell 13 aging hydroelectric dams to a private equity firm for $1 each.
🚧 Detroit inspector general suspends contractor over contaminated soil use Detroit demolition contractor Gayanga Co. LLC and owner Brian McKinney have been suspended from city work after investigators found they used contaminated dirt to backfill residential properties. The Office of Inspector General discovered 33 of 41 tested properties failed state residential standards, and said the soil is allegedly from the Northland Mall redevelopment. Gayanga has performed over 2,400 Detroit demolitions worth nearly $64 million, making it one of the city’s largest contractors. 📌 Source: Metro Times
🚰 26,000 Flint residents begin receiving $626 million water crisis settlement Nearly 26,000 Flint water crisis victims will receive settlement payments this fall through an official portal, Special Master Deborah Greenspan announced. The $626 million settlement, finalized in March 2023, includes state contributions and payments from various entities. Greenspan warned against scammers requesting banking information, emphasizing only the official portal can distribute funds. The crisis began in 2014 when Flint switched water sources, causing toxic lead contamination that lasted until 2015. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🗳️ Mary Sheffield gains key Saunteel Jenkins endorsement in Detroit mayoral contest Former Detroit mayoral candidate Saunteel Jenkins endorsed City Council President Mary Sheffield for mayor, a significant move that could help Sheffield access Jenkins’ strong support base. Jenkins finished third in the August primary with 16% of the vote, 1% behind second-place finisher Rev. Solomon Kinloch. The endorsement comes as Sheffield maintains a substantial fundraising advantage with $399,064 cash on hand compared to Kinloch’s $41,154 for the November general election. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press, Bridge Detroit
🦫 Consumers Energy to sell 13 Michigan dams for $1 each to private equity firm Consumers Energy plans to sell its 13 aging Michigan hydroelectric dams to Maryland-based Hull Street Energy for $1 each, with the sale expected to close in late 2026 or early 2027. The buyer will sell electricity back to Consumers for 30 years and retain all employees while refurbishing the century-old structures. The dams would need an expected $1.5 billion in maintenance over a 30-to-50-year licensing period. The sale requires regulatory approval from state and federal commissions. 📌 Source: MLive
🦟 Warmer fall weather keeps Michigan’s 70 mosquito species buzzing longer Michigan mosquitoes remain active as long as temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, with climate change extending their season into October, according to MSU entomology professor Ned Walker. The state hosts about 70 mosquito species, with most biting at dusk or night. West Nile virus transmission periods are also lengthening due to warmer temperatures. Heartworm remains Michigan’s most common mosquito-borne disease. Cold fronts reduce evening activity, but mosquitoes hibernate rather than die off completely. 📌 Source: Michigan Public
🤖 Data centers behind rising energy bills across America, Harvard expert says
Electricity bills are rising nationwide, driven partly by AI data centers that consume massive amounts of power. These industrial-scale facilities strain the grid, forcing utilities to build costly infrastructure with costs spread to all consumers. While data centers use city-level electricity amounts, everyday Americans pay higher bills. Expert Ari Peskoe of the Harvard Law School warns costs may increase further as more data centers develop, criticizing the Trump administration’s rejection of renewable energy options. 📌 Source: PBS