GR Press calls on legislature to fix medical marijuana laws

In an editorial Tuesday, the Grand Rapids Press called on state lawmakers to fix holes and ambiguities in the state’s medical marijuana law.

Dioxin exposure in Saginaw neighborhood has eased, but threats persist

SAGINAW — Residents of one city neighborhood have been exposed to health-damaging levels of dioxin, and although the contamination has been removed though a cleanup effort required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, future flooding is likely to recontaminate the area.

Mich. Supreme Court expected to rule on Dow contamination class action

In 2002, owners of land along the dioxin-contaminated Tittabawassee River were warned by the state to limit their childrens’ outdoor play because of the health risks associated with chemical contamination that has migrated downstream from Dow Chemical’s Midland facility. This week, six years after those landowners filed a class action case against Dow seeking compensation for property damage, the Michigan Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether the case may proceed as a class action.

Saginaw area sees foreclosure rates level off for now; experts predict incease later this year

Saginaw County has seen a decrease in foreclosures for the first part of the year, according to The Saginaw News. When asked by Michigan Messenger earlier this week about foreclosure rates, counties across the state reported varied increases and decreases in foreclosure filings.

EPA officials en route to Saginaw to roll out details of Dow dioxin strategy

Detailed information about a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strategy for addressing dioxin contamination in the Saginaw Bay watershed is expected at a community meeting in Saginaw on Wednesday evening.

EPA downplays dredging risk to Bay City water supply

Nearly a month after the onset of a navigational dredging project in the Saginaw River that some worry will send dioxin-contaminated sediments downstream toward the intakes for Bay City’s water supply, EPA officials responded to citizen concerns by announcing it would not test the water for the toxin.

“I can understand why people would be concerned,“ EPA Superfund manager Wendy Carney, said in a phone interview. “But there are a lot of issues out there.”

Saginaw County roadwork bids come in $11 million less than expected

The Michigan Department of Transportation suddenly has an extra $11 million thanks to underbidding for roadwork projects along Saginaw County’s Interstate 675, the Saginaw News is reporting.

EPA pledges ‘expeditious action’ on Dow dioxin clean-up, but Superfund status not in the works

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s promise to hold Dow Chemical accountable for dioxin contamination in Michigan’s largest watershed is being greeted with “cautious optimism” by some environmental groups and with weariness by others who have been living on contaminated ground for so long they’ve learned not to get too excited about the announcement of a government action plan.

Saginaw River dredging project begins without safety measures sought by the state

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started a project to remove contaminated sediments from the Saginaw River without safety measures requested by the state, a move that sparked worry because toxins such as dioxin could make their way into the water supplies for Saginaw and Bay City, which don’t test for the toxins.

State warns that Walleye Fest participants aren’t being properly warned of toxic dangers

The Department of Environmental Quality has warned Tittabawassee Township on the lack of signs warning of dioxin dangers at the park where this weekend’s fishing celebration will be held. Dow Chemical promised to pay for fish advisory signs but has refused to provide necessary funds. “I am not aware of anything further that we will be doing on this,” a company spokeswoman says.