Flooded street in Detroit's Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.
In a July 9, 2019 photo, Detroit River and canal water pouring over and through seawalls is flooding streets, homes and basements on Detroit's east side. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says three months of abnormally wet weather have kept stream flows into the Great Lakes well above average. Thousands of sandbags are expected to be placed along streets and in yards near Detroit River canals to keep water from flooding homes and basements. Photo by Corey Williams/AP.

Overview:

  • Southeast Michigan residents have until Aug. 11 to complete a survey that will guide local flood-prevention investments across seven counties.
  • Michigan's cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce has sickened 12,485 people, hospitalized 279, and caused two deaths, though officials say cases are slowing.
  • Cabot Corp. canceled its planned $50-million battery materials plant in Van Buren Township, joining other scrapped Michigan clean energy projects amid weak EV demand.

➡️ Deadline looms for residents to weigh in on Southeast Michigan flood plan Southeast Michigan communities are increasingly battling frequent, intense, storm-driven flooding. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, covering seven counties, is asking residents to complete a short online survey by Aug. 11 to shape its upcoming “flooding and resilience plan.” The plan will guide local investment decisions on flood-prevention projects. Take the survey here. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press

➡️ Court deals blow to EPA’s effort to claw back green bank funds A federal appeals court ruled the EPA cannot block $20 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund climate grants, upholding an injunction against the agency’s attempt to cancel Biden-era funding. The EPA had alleged fraud based on a Project Veritas video, but investigations found no substantiation. If the EPA doesn’t appeal to the Supreme Court within seven days, grant recipients—several nonprofits that sued after losing access to funds for over a year—can resume spending. 📌 Source: The New York Times

➡️ Michigan lettuce outbreak sickened nearly 12,500 — officials say it’s easing Michigan’s cyclospora outbreak, linked to iceberg lettuce, appears to be slowing after sickening 12,485 people, hospitalizing 279, and causing two deaths. State health official Natasha Bagdasarian said testing backlogs delayed reporting, so recent cases largely reflect earlier infections. Michigan’s early detection helped guide national investigation efforts, though officials couldn’t conduct traceback investigations themselves. Bagdasarian says the outbreak underscores the need for stronger federal public health coordination. 📌 Source: CIDRAP News

➡️ Michigan cases confirmed in multistate jalapeño salmonella outbreak A multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico has sickened 345 people across 27 states, including two to four cases in Michigan. The jalapeños, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, reached Chipotle and Qdoba locations; both chains have since switched suppliers or stopped serving the peppers. Of 291 patients with data, 36 were hospitalized and none have died. The FDA says there’s no ongoing risk given the retailers’ actions. 📌 Source: The Detroit News

➡️ Candida auris cases climb: Texas, Michigan lead the superbug’s spread Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungal superbug, continues spreading across the U.S. in 2026, with nearly half of states reporting cases to the CDC. Texas leads with over 700 cases, followed by Michigan with 503. The fungus is especially dangerous in health care settings, where it spreads via catheters, breathing tubes, and IVs. A CDC review found 88% of clinical cases occurred in people over 45, mostly in acute care settings. 📌 Source: The Hill

➡️ Michigan restaurants, resorts seek state help after smoky summer losses Wildfire smoke from Canada cost Michigan over $4 billion in tourism losses this July, part of an $11-billion regional hit, industry leaders say. Restaurants, resorts, and events across the state suffered closures, cancellations, and revenue losses. The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association is asking legislators for $3 million to fund a Pure Michigan fall advertising campaign to counter lasting reputational damage and attract hesitant travelers back to the state. 📌 Source: MLive

➡️ Cancer hospital, Detroit Medical Center clash in court over rising costs Karmanos Cancer Hospital has sued Detroit Medical Center and Tenet Healthcare, alleging DMC threatened to cut critical services like lab operations and operating room access after hiking service fees from $28 million to $82 million annually. Karmanos, owned by McLaren Health Care, says the escalating costs threaten cancer patient care. DMC disputes the claims, calling the lawsuit frivolous and accusing McLaren of skipping required mediation while relying on DMC subsidies. No service disruptions have occurred yet. 📌 Source: WDIV-TV

➡️ Cabot scraps $50 million Van Buren battery plant amid EV slowdown Cabot Corp. has canceled its planned $50-million battery materials plant in Van Buren Township, opting instead to expand two existing U.S. facilities. The Michigan site would have been the first U.S. production-scale plant for battery-grade carbon nanotubes. The project was part of $355 million in Department of Energy funding awarded to four Michigan battery projects; NanoGraf’s Flint facility also appears dead. Cabot’s cancellation joins a growing list of scrapped Michigan clean-energy projects amid weak electric vehicle demand and shifting federal policy. 📌 Source: Crain’s Detroit Business

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.