EDM Wednesday Briefing: FBI Confronts Militia – One Dead, Zika is in the U.S., Email Sparks Flint Controversy

EDM Wednesday Briefing for January 27, 2016: One person is dead after the FBI confronts the militia in Oregon, Zika Virus is in the U.S., and an email sparks controversy in Flint, MI.

1. Members of the [link url=”http://news.yahoo.com/leader-oregon-wildlife-refuge-occupation-arrested-cnn-024944320.html?soc_trk=apns&soc_src=HR1601270300sqoh” title=”protesters staging the stand-off at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge were stopped by the FBI“] on their way to a town meeting, who indicated they had probable cause to arrest Robert LaVoy Finicum. Gunshots during the confrontation [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/26/five-oregon-occupiers-arrested-one-person-killed-in-confrontation-with-police/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_oregon%3Ahomepage%2Fstory” title=”resulted in his death, and ended in the arrests of eight people – including the leader Ammon Bundy“], a journalist, Peter Santilli, another person in Burns, Oregon, and one in Peoria, Arizona. Tuesday night, after the confrontation, a perimeter around the wildlife refuge was set up by the FBI  where  members of the militia, including Jason Patrick, still remained in occupation.
2. Reports indicate that the [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/flint-could-have-saved-money-without-using-corrosive-river-water-some-say/2016/01/26/0e4f0b1e-c455-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_flintmoney905p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory” title=”city of Detroit tried to negotiate with Flint, Michigan in order to keep water flowing“] to that city. The negotiated rates would have reduced costs in the short-term by 48% and long-term by 20%. [link url=”http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/01/25/new-emails-reveal-the-switch-to-the-flint-river-was-not-about-saving-money” title=”Correspondence shows that the head of the water district in Flint at the time was Sue McCormick“], who recently confirmed the information was accurate. The city still opted to [link url=”http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/01/26/ex-detroit-official-reignites-flint-water-switch-tiff/79379770/” title=”switch its water supply to the Flint River until its new water infrastructure project“], in conjunction with three counties and the city of Lapeer, was completed. The projected cost of the new pipeline to Lake Huron was approximately $600 million in 2009.
3. The [link url=”https://www.rt.com/usa/330228-zika-virus-arkansas-first/” title=”Zika virus has been diagnosed in two more states “] according to reports, one in Arkansas and one in Virginia.  Officials note that the virus is especially [link url=”http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35417979″ title=”dangerous for pregnant women“] since it is linked to undeveloped brains in babies.
4. In light of the two cases, [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-usa-idUSKCN0V42FK” title=”President Obama is urging researchers to accelerate their development of vaccines, tests, and treatments“] to combat the spreading virus.  The President also requested that citizens be educated regarding the Zika virus, and kept informed of how to best stay protected.

#CDC to US Docs- screen pregnant women for #zika
Check travel histry and test suspect caseshttps://t.co/6Bxq8QDXdh pic.twitter.com/k5yZ1k3JyK

— Jason Beaubien (@jasonbnpr) January 19, 2016

5. As of Tuesday, [link url=”http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/” title=”24 countries are listed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)“], including the U. S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic, the latest additions.  The  [link url=”https://www.rt.com/usa/330228-zika-virus-arkansas-first/” title=”CDC urges travelers to check travel alerts“] before leaving the country, especially those who want to head to warmer climates to escape winter’s cold.  In light of recent reports, [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-ual-idUSKCN0V42OY?mod=related&channelName=domesticNews” title=”United Airlines is offering refunds or trip postponement to anyone with tickets“] to an area impacted by the Zika virus. https://twitter.com/jasonbnpr/status/689562139242188801
6. A Canadian Pacific [link url=”http://www.wxow.com/story/31065885/2016/01/27/train-derails-near-reno-minnesota” title=”train derailed near Reno, Minnesota along the Mississippi“], around 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.  In all, a total of six cars are off the rails, with two cars in the water after breaking through the ice.  Approximately eight cars remain unstable behind the derailment.  HAZMAT teams are onsite and there are no reported injuries.  This is not the first train derailment affecting the city.  Reno, Minnesota was the site of [link url=”http://www.mprnews.org/story/2008/07/30/train_derailment” title=”another train derailment involving 27 cars in July of 2008“] in nearly the exact same area.  Several cars went into the Mississippi River, of which some were known to be carrying ethanol.  No injuries were reported.
7. A [link url=”http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/police-responding-reports-shooting-airport-way-sou/nqC3W/” title=”homeless encampment on Airport Way South“], near the interchange of interstates 5 and 90, was the scene of a multiple casualty shooting on [link url=”http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2016/01/26/seattle-police-responding-shooting-airport-way-s/79383148/” title=”Tuesday evening that left two dead and three wounded“].  Victims were transported to [link url=”http://www.seattlepi.com/local/crime/article/As-homeless-crisis-continues-2-dead-at-notorious-6786591.php” title=”Seattle’s Harbourview Medical Center, where two remain in critical condition“], and one is listed as serious.  Police indicate they have [link url=”http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/seattle-shooting-fatalities-1.3421491″ title=”no suspects in custody“], but are looking into two ‘persons of interest.’
8. The shooting occurred at the same time that [link url=”http://bnonews.com/news/index.php/news/id3441″ title=”Ed Murray, Seattle’s Mayor was giving a preplanned address that was televised“] updating citizens on its increasing homeless population.  In November of 2015, the Mayor declared a state of emergency due to the [link url=”http://www.pe.com/articles/seattle-792826-police-say.html” title=”rising number of unsheltered homeless individuals and pledging over $7 million dollars“] to help address the issue.