Key Facts for August 4: Employment data release, Texas redistricting debates, Montana bar shooting investigation, Abortion developments, Covid-19 updates
In the city of Flint, Michigan, a legacy of water contamination continues to cast a shadow over residents' trust in the safety of their drinking water.
Back in 2014, Flint switched its water source to the Flint River without adequate corrosion control treatment. This unfortunate decision led to lead from old pipes leaching into the drinking water, exposing residents to dangerous levels of lead. The crisis resulted in health risks such as impaired cognition in children and increased cancer risk from disinfectant byproducts. It also led to a breakdown of trust due to initial government denials and multiple lawsuits against officials.
Despite federal officials' claims that Flint's water now meets the requirements of the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act, many residents remain skeptical. Their concerns are rooted in ongoing issues with lead service lines, incomplete pipe replacements, and the memory of past health issues. Additionally, the struggle with unlicensed mobile home parks near Flint, where enforcement of safe water provision is weak, adds to local residents' concerns about water safety and regulatory effectiveness.
Flint has made progress in replacing 11,000 lead pipes and restoring 28,000 damaged properties, but the skepticism persists. Given the severe health consequences and delayed response during the crisis, residents have deep skepticism towards claims that water currently meets EPA safety standards. They often cite changes in water quality, taste, and smell historically reported and worry about long-term effects from prior exposure.
Elsewhere, news from around the world:
- Loni Anderson, the actress who played Jennifer in 'WKRP in Cincinnati', passed away at the age of 79.
- A manhunt is ongoing for the person who allegedly opened fire on patrons and staff at a bar in Anaconda, Montana, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives.
- A giant species of stick insect was discovered in a remote rainforest in Australia, measuring nearly 16 inches long.
- In the world of sports, Elizabeth Williams, Chicago Sky center, spoke about someone throwing a sex toy onto the basketball court during a WNBA game.
- According to CNN, two-thirds of US families started looking for back-to-school deals in July.
- The wellness hack trending on TikTok and Instagram is called the "cortisol cocktail."
[1] Source: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Flint Water Public Health Advisory, 2021 [2] Source: Natural Resources Defense Council, Flint's Water Crisis: A Failure of Regulation, 2019 [3] Source: Michigan Environmental Council, Unsafe Water in Michigan's Unlicensed Mobile Home Parks, 2020
- Despite claims from federal officials, the skepticism among Flint residents about the safety of their drinking water persists, rooted in ongoing issues with lead service lines and past health issues such as medical-conditions like impaired cognition in children and increased cancer risk.
- In addition to the Flint water crisis, general-news includes the ongoing manhunt for the individual responsible for a shooting at a bar in Anaconda, Montana, resulting in crime-and-justice concerns and several fatalities.
- Meanwhile, health-and-wellness enthusiasts are turning to unconventional methods such as the cortisol cocktail, a wellness hack trending on TikTok and Instagram.
