clean water

The 7th Congressional District in Michigan includes seven counties, including western Washtenaw County.  Republican Tim Walberg, who is currently in his sixth term in Congress, is being challenged for the third time by Democrat Gretchen Driskell, who served two terms in the state House and as the city of Saline's first female mayor for 14 years.  WEMU's Lisa Barry reached out to both candidates to talk about the election.  Only Driskell responded and talks about why she decided to run again and what issues she believes need addressing in Congress.

Congress is set vote on the $3 trillion HEROES Act which, if approved, will be the largest relief package in American history.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell is in Washington, D.C. for today's vote.  She joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the proposal, its chances of passing, and what must come next. 

It's been forecast that this spring will be quite wet.  That could bring flooding to portions of Washtenaw County.  Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss planning for such issues and the proactive nature of work already underway on this week's "Issues of the Environment."

Through the contentious and controversial process of passing a new state budget, there was a point when the Republican-led Legislature removed much of the money earmarked to address water issues in Michigan.  Most of the money made its way back in by the time Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the spending bills and rearranged departmental spending.  In this month’s "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," you’ll get reaction to the spending plans and a look at increasing bi-partisanship when it comes to protecting our waters.  89.1 WEMU’s David Fair talks it through with Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak and Tony Spaniola from the organization Need Our Water, Oscoda. 

In this segment of our bi-weekly conversation with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor area, WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with outgoing health department officer Ellen Rabinowitz and her replacement Jimena Loveluck.

Some Democrats running for President say the last election wasn’t a fair contest and made that point at last night’s debate in Detroit.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

In her first few months in office, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has made infrastructure and clean water among her top priorities.  Whitmer outlines her environmental strategy and budget with 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.