Where’s the indignation for what African Americans do to themselves? | By Leonard Pitts

So where was the march for Tyshawn Lee? Where were the demonstrators barring access to stores in Chicago’s premiere commercial district on the busiest shopping day of the year? Where was Rev. Jesse Jackson, joining his voice with a thousand other people demanding justice? Where were news media, beaming the images out to the world? …

Source: Where’s the indignation for what African Americans do to themselves? | Tribune Content Agency

(Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com.)

Toxic “Reform” Law Will Gut State Rules on Dangerous Chemicals

Since 2014, the top 10 chemical companies/organizations spent more than $125 million on lobbying. Their contributions were much higher for the bill’s sponsors than for other members of Congress.

A new law that aims to update the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act would nullify the efforts of states such as Maine and California to regulate dangerous chemicals.

 

Source: Toxic “Reform” Law Will Gut State Rules on Dangerous Chemicals

Why is it possible that Flint River water cannot be treated to meet Federal Standards? | Flint Water Study Updates

The key problem is that water from the Flint River is highly corrosive to iron and lead, and, unfortunately, these pipe materials are widely used throughout Flint. Herein, we discuss the higher corrosivity of Flint River water to iron, and the associated problem maintaining chlorine disinfectant in the system. Why is Flint River water more…

Source: Why is it possible that Flint River water cannot be treated to meet Federal Standards? | Flint Water Study Updates

 

Study Team Information:

The Virginia Tech Research Team

We are an independent research team from Virginia Tech (VT) volunteering our time, resources and expertise to help resolve scientific uncertainties associated withdrinking water issues being reported (also, see here) in the City of Flint, MI.

Ex-Obama Aide Known As “Hedge Funds’ Secret Weapon” Assails Bernie Sanders’ Wall Street Overhaul

In response to a plan that Bernie Sanders offered this week to break up Wall Street banks, former top Obama economic adviser Austan Goolsbee took to Twitter to criticize the Vermont senator for targeting large financial institutions and being politically unrealistic.But Goolsbee is hardly an unbiased observer. Since leaving government, he’s become a valuable tool for Wall Street.

Source: Ex-Obama Aide Known As “Hedge Funds’ Secret Weapon” Assails Bernie Sanders’ Wall Street Overhaul

Buying Bees: Nucs vs. Packages | My Adventures in Beekeeping by AndreaV

If you are just getting into beekeeping, or looking to increase your apiary, now is the time to start debating nucs vs. packages. There are only so many ways to acquire bees: nucs, packages, catching a swarm, or making a split from someone else’s hive. There are pros and cons to each and questions around nucs vs. packages seem to be some of the most common among new keepers, so here are MY thoughts, on the matter.

Source: Buying Bees: Nucs vs. Packages | My Adventures in Beekeeping

How you can help as Flint water crisis continues |

Despite declarations of disaster being announced, first by the otherwise powerless mayor (owing to the State of Michigan appointed emergency manager being in charge), as well as the Genesee County Commissioners and most recently Gov. Rick Snyder, the need continues for fresh and/or household filter waters in the City of Flint.

Reportedly FEMA is sending a contingent of investigators to the city this week, but in the meantime philanthropic agencies and even individual Michigan citizens have stepped in to fill the need for fresh, clean non-lead poisoned water for the 100,000 residents, area businesses and, of course, the local school district for drinking and meal preparation. Below are a number of options of how you can help as the Flint water crisis continues.

• The United Way of Genesee County has set up this fund for the purchase of filters, bottled water, and prevention efforts – 100% of the fund is used for these projects and no administrative fee is assessed.

• The UWGC has sourced more than 11,000 filters systems and 5,000 replacement filters, ongoing sources of bottled water to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and supports a dedicated driver for daily distribution. Source: Flint Water Fund | United Way of Genesee County – http://www.unitedwaygenesee.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=5

• Lansing resident Carrie Davis, a 29-year-old single mother of two, has set up a gofundme page for donations to pay for bottled water for Flint. She also has offered to transport bottles to Flint residents and organizations. For more information, visit gofundme.com/znffcz64.

• Detroit residents delivered 22,000 lbs of water to Flint over the weekend. Monica Lewis Patrick, of We The People of Detroit, LaMar Lemmons a member of the Detroit Board of Education and Tracy Leigh of TRUE ran an assembly line in a caravan of cars, trucks, and gritty, hard working Americans in the pouring rain to help get water to desperate Flint residents. You can donate your time, money, bottled water and filters here – http://wethepeopleofdetroit.com/

• If you have a tanker or flat-bed truck full of water or that could be used to haul water, you can take it directly to The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan- they can be contacted first here: https://www.fbem.org/contact-us which is serving as a central distribution point.

• If you have even 1 case of water to donate, you can take it to one of three soup kitchens run by Catholic Charities:

Center for Hope, 901 Chippewa Street, Flint, MI 48503

North End Soup Kitchen 735 E. Stewart Ave, Flint, MI 48505

Owosso Community Closet and Food Pantry 120 W. Exchange St., Ste. 300 Owosso, MI 48867

• Catholic Charities also accepts donations online.  http://www.catholiccharitiesflint.org/donate/

There are also smaller agencies around Flint that are giving out water. Among them is the Mission of Hope http://hope4flint.org , whose leader, Pastor Bobby Jackson, appeared national televison recently.

You can make a donation here  http://hope4flint.org/donations/ T

here is also a GoFundMe page for Mission of Hope.

Whatever you decide to do, thank you for making a difference!

Source: Monday Moanin’: How you can help as Flint water crisis continues |