skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Great Lakes Compact Closing in on Congress

play audio
Play

Tuesday, July 1, 2008   

Ann Arbor, MI – An effort to protect Great Lakes waters is one vote away from heading to Congress. Michigan has now joined Minnesota and five other states in ratifying an agreement to ban water diversions. Andy Buchsbaum with the National Wildlife Federation says it's designed to protect a national resource and treasure.

"The compact makes sure that Great Lakes water isn't diverted out of the country or out of the region. It also makes sure that we use water wisely here in the basin."

With the latest approval, Pennsylvania is the only state left to okay the water management agreement before it can be sent to Congress. Two Canadian provinces are also compact members.

Buchsbaum says the compact, plus federal ratification, would offer the Great Lakes states strong protection for their common resources.

"The rest of the world is getting drier and drier. It's fine to provide water for humanitarian purposes, but we can't lose control of Great Lakes water, or the Great Lakes could be sucked dry, or at least reduced. For that reason, we need a new set of protections."

He says it's likely Congress will ratify the compact, because of the influence of congress members representing the compact states.

Buchsbaum says the compact is of particular importance to Minnesota.

"Minnesota was the first state to ratify the compact. Minnesota has some of the most protective laws in the country for water, and for Great Lakes water particularly. The thing is that Minnesota can't protect Lake Superior by itself. It needs Michigan and Wisconsin. Minnesota alone cannot control its own destiny or the destiny of Lake Superior. So, it needs the rest of the states, and it needs Congress."

Buchsbaum says the compact, which was endorsed by the eight Great Lakes governors in 2005, needs approval, in identical form, by each state legislature, Congress, and the White House to become law.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021