Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI)

"EAST CHICAGO — About once a week for much of 2015, Kamia Edwards’ son was too sick to go to school."

A chronic array of mysterious health problems among public housing residents in East Chicago, Indiana, was finally traced to soil contaminated with lead and arsenic by decades of industrial activity. Authorities from various government agencies had kept residents in the dark about the threat.

"BP Plc said the wastewater sediment discharge from its Whiting, Indiana refinery returned to permitted levels on Thursday, after several days of exceeding allowed amounts due an upset at a wastewater treatment plant."

"More criminal charges will be announced Friday in the Flint drinking water investigation, Attorney General Bill Schuette's office announced late Thursday."

"Two environmental groups are teaming up for a $1 million advertising campaign to oppose Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) reelection. The League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund and the Environmental Defense Action Fund are running the ads to paint Johnson a climate change doubter and oil industry ally, and to frame Democrat Russ Feingold as the environment-friendly alternative."

The U.S. EPA is facing off with Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency over exempting taconite mining operations from clean-water rules meant to protect wild rice.

"A former public water system operator for Sebring in northeastern Ohio was charged on Wednesday with misdemeanor crimes for failing to notify the public about lead contamination in some tap water in the town, the state's attorney general said."

"A new Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources draft report wrongly concludes that sand mining operations don't produce fine dust particles and shouldn't impact human health, an environmental advocacy group contends."