flint water crisis settlement

A look back on what led to the Flint water crisis and what more still needs to be done in the city, a new natural gas project in northern Michigan, the role Michigan might play in November's presidential election as a swing state, multi-displinary artist Tiff Massey's upcoming exhibit at the DIA, and a conversation with Flint mayor Sheldon Neeley.

On April 25, 2014, the city's drinking water source was switched to the Flint River. Improperly treated river water damaged aging pipes, releasing lead into Flint's drinking water

Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN), an engineering firm, was sued for some responsibility for Flint’s lead-contaminated water. It agreed to settlement with Flint residents.

On April 25, 2014, Flint's drinking water source was switched to the Flint River. The intent of the switch was to save the city millions of dollars. The result was an environmental disaster.

"The city has mismanaged this program and has missed its deadlines,” said NRDC attorney Addie Rolnick.

Judge Newblatt's decision is the latest court ruling moving the $626 million settlement forward.

Flint missed a court-ordered deadline to replace its lead service lines and failed to track where crews doing that work allegedly damaged property, a federal judge says.

Special master Deborah Greenspan Deborah said processing all the paperwork submitted by last June has taken much longer than expected.

In a report to the federal judge overseeing the settlement, the claims administrator said about 72% of the claims are for personal injury. The rest assert a property damage or business-related claim.

Thursday is the deadline to file a claim for part of the $626 million settlement.