Overview:
- Two major storms will hit Michigan over five days, bringing up to 11 inches of snow to the Upper Peninsula and high winds to the Lower Peninsula.
- Water main breaks in Oakland County and Detroit highlight ongoing infrastructure problems.
- Federal report finds no fraud in $1.5 billion environmental grants that Trump administration canceled.
🌬️ 2 major storm systems bring snow, ice, 55 MPH gusts to Michigan over next 5 days Two powerful storm systems will sweep across Michigan over the next five days, according to MLive meteorologist Mark Torregrossa. The first arrives tonight through Friday, bringing up to 11 inches of snow to the Upper Peninsula, gusty winds up to 55 mph across southern Lower Michigan, and 1 to 3 inches for metro Detroit. A potentially stronger second storm threatens northern Lower Michigan Sunday through Tuesday with heavy snow, freezing rain, and thunderstorms possible statewide. 📌 Source: MLive
🌊 GLWA CEO apologizes after 14 Mile water main burst floods homes, vows to ‘do things differently’ A 48-inch water main burst near 14 Mile and Drake Road on the West Bloomfield/Farmington Hills border early Saturday, flooding homes and streets. GLWA CEO Suzanne Coffey blamed a power disruption at a pumping station for triggering a pressure wave that broke the pipe. The break is the latest in a series of failures along the corridor. Coffey apologized to residents and said GLWA is investigating infrastructure vulnerabilities along the 14 Mile transmission main. 📌 Source: WXYZ
🚧 Detroit repairs major water main break near Belle Isle A 42-inch water main ruptured Saturday at East Jefferson and Burns near Belle Isle, prompting Detroit officials to close all but one lane in each direction on Jefferson Avenue for repairs. The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department began construction Monday, with road reopening expected by midweek. Unlike a separate break in Farmington Hills the same day, there was no flooding and no reported water outages. Motorists are advised to allow extra commute time or seek alternate routes. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🔍 ‘No fraud, no waste’: Report challenges Trump’s termination of $1.5 billion in environmental grants A U.S. EPA Inspector General report found the agency properly awarded roughly $1.5 billion in environmental grants to disadvantaged communities before the Trump administration canceled them. The grants, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act’s $2 billion Community Change Grant Program, supported energy efficiency, solar, and workforce development projects. Supporters say the findings confirm the cancellations were unlawful. The EPA defended its stewardship of taxpayer funds but did not dispute the report’s conclusions. 📌 Source: Utility Dive
🦠 Second suspected measles case in Washtenaw County Washtenaw County health officials announced a second suspected measles case Thursday, adding Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor and a Crunch Fitness in Ypsilanti to a growing list of exposure sites. Michigan’s first confirmed 2026 case involves an unvaccinated adult believed infected during a recent Florida trip. Officials warn additional cases are expected among unvaccinated residents and urge MMR vaccination. The cases emerge amid a nationwide surge of 1,277 confirmed cases across 31 states as of March 5. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🔌 Plug-in solar panels could lower your energy bill — if utilities don’t block them first Easy-to-install plug-in solar panels that connect to regular outlets are gaining momentum across the U.S., with roughly 30 state bills introduced following Utah’s first-in-the-nation law last May. But electric utilities are raising safety concerns — particularly about lineworker risks during outages — and have successfully delayed votes in five states. Advocates say utilities are protecting their business model, pointing to Germany’s million-plus installations with no reported safety incidents among compliant users. 📌 Source: NPR
🏥 ‘A mockery’: Trump administration fills EPA air pollution seat with doctor who studies eyes, not lungs The Trump administration appointed Colorado ophthalmologist Brian Joondeph — a political commentator with no air pollution research background — to the EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. The seven-member panel advises the agency on safe pollution levels. For 50 years, the physician’s seat has gone to pulmonologists and cardiologists. Joondeph, nominated by the CO2 Coalition, has publicly questioned climate science. Former committee members called the appointment a mockery of the panel’s physician requirement. 📌 Source: The New York Times