Overview:
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urges the state Legislature to include free school meals in next budget as Oct. 1 deadline approaches.
- A 42-inch water main broke in Novi Thursday, causing widespread pressure loss and the closure of schools and businesses.
- Environmental advocates warned this week that Trump's proposed budget would eliminate the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
🤢 ‘Gratiot odor’ returns: East side residents report nauseating sewer smells from infrastructure work Detroit’s east side residents continue to experience strong, sewer-like odors dubbed the “Gratiot odor” that seep into homes and cause nausea. The Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain district says the odors are temporary and result from necessary flow diversions during sewer rehabilitation work on a 12-foot diameter pipe serving over 1 million people. The project involves cleaning and lining existing infrastructure to extend its life. Multiple agencies including the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Great Lakes Water Authority, and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy are coordinating responses to resident concerns about health impacts. 📌 Source: WDIV
🍲 Whitmer pushes for free school meals as Michigan budget deadline looms Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged lawmakers to include free school meals in Michigan’s 2025-26 budget during a Monday visit to Kentwood’s Hamilton Elementary. The universal free breakfast and lunch program, funded since 2023-24, faces uncertainty as the Oct. 1 budget deadline approaches. House Republicans propose cutting the program for increased unrestricted school funding, which Whitmer opposes. Budget negotiations between the Republican House and Democratic Senate have stalled, risking a government shutdown if no agreement is reached. 📌 Source: MLive
🚧 42-inch water main break leaves Novi area without water pressure, shuts schools A 42-inch water main break on 14 Mile Road in Novi Thursday morning caused widespread water pressure loss, prompting school closures and business shutdowns. The Great Lakes Water Authority-owned transmission main affected customers in Novi, Commerce, Walled Lake, and Wixom. Novi Community School District canceled classes, citing inability to operate without running water and flushing toilets. St. Catherine of Siena Academy in Wixom also closed. Repairs were expected to take several hours, with boil water advisories lasting days. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🔬 Environmental advocates sound alarm over federal Great Lakes research funding cuts Environmental advocates, academics and local officials warned Wednesday that Trump administration cuts to Great Lakes science funding harm regional economies and emergency preparedness. NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory workforce was reduced 35%. The lab tracks harmful algal blooms, provides weather forecasts, and supports the $6 billion Great Lakes fishery. Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate the laboratory entirely, along with other Great Lakes research programs, despite broad consensus supporting environmental protection. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🚳 Trump administration cancels street safety grants deemed ‘hostile’ to cars The Trump administration canceled street safety grants nationwide in September, targeting projects with bike lanes, pedestrian trails, and walking improvements deemed “hostile to motor vehicles.” Officials rescinded funding for projects in San Diego County, Fairfield Alabama, Boston, and other communities, citing concerns about reducing roadway capacity for cars. The DOT targeted discretionary grants from RAISE and Safe Streets for All programs. Local officials expressed surprise at the language used and are seeking alternative funding sources. 📌 Source: Bloomberg
✂️ Government eliminates key food insecurity report following massive food stamp cuts The Trump administration canceled the Agriculture Department’s annual food insecurity report after 30 years of publication, eliminating the government’s primary measure of Americans’ food access. The department called the report “overly politicized” and “unnecessary,” despite finding 13.5% of households were food insecure in 2023. The decision follows the largest food stamp cuts in program history, affecting 4 million people. Experts criticized the move as eliminating data that could reveal negative policy impacts, particularly after expanded work requirements. 📌 Source: The New York Times