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Newark residents still aren’t convinced their water is safe to drink after lead water crisis

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEWARK, N.J.) — Five years after high levels of lead were detected in the water of 30 public schools in Newark, New Jersey, the city faces a new challenge of convincing residents affected by the crisis that the water is now safe to drink.

Newark resident Marcellis Counts said he grew up feeling neglected by the city and that’s caused public distrust to run deeply.

“The water is just a clear example of how things are able to be neglected,” Counts said. “Many people already knew that a lot of our water was bad anyway. So I always grew up not even drinking from water fountains when I went to school and stuff like that. So it was like that distrust.”

After major signs of contaminated water appeared in 2016, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection required Newark to monitor lead levels. The city reported lead levels above the federal action level, which they said were due to corrosion of old lead water pipes throughout the city, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Two years later, Newark reported one of the highest amounts of lead in any major U.S. city by 2018.

“We are now in panic mode in this city because the feds had to come in to tell us to stop drinking the water,” said Newark resident Donna Jackson in 2019.

Newark city leaders responded by providing water filters and water bottles to more than 40,000 households.

Shakima Thomas’ 7-year-old son, Bryce, tested positive for lead in 2018, even though she said the pipes in her home were made of copper.

“We haven’t got another test since that first test because it was such a traumatizing experience for him … So I have no idea what his level is at this point,” Thomas told ABC News.

In 2019, New Jersey officials announced a $120 million loan from the Essex County Improvement Agency, and a city ordinance, to expedite the city’s efforts to replace the lead pipes – at no cost to any resident.

Since then, Newark has replaced more than 22,000 lead service lines.

Yet, in March of 2021, Thomas paid a private lab to test the lead in her water. According to the results, the lead from her kitchen sink far exceeded what the Environmental Protection Agency says is an acceptable level.

“I felt bad, I felt terrible. I think any parent will feel that way. Here we’re supposed to protect our kids, and that’s the situation that was completely out of my control,” Thomas said.

The EPA also states there is no safe limit for lead in drinking water and that low levels of lead exposure in children have been linked to various conditions, including learning disabilities and impaired hearing.

Thomas said she also got a water test from the city of Newark in April, but the city said it had lost her results, according to emails shared with ABC News.

The city of Newark told ABC News that there are resources available to help children who have been affected by lead, but Thomas said those services were denied to her son.

“I took that as, ‘Yeah, [your child] has lead in his system, but he’s not poisoned enough for us to help.’ So that’s how I took it,” Thomas said.

According to a 2018 report by the National Institute of Health, low-income populations are disproportionately affected by lead exposure.

As of 2021, a little more than 27% of Newark’s population lives in poverty, which is more than double the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Just a few weeks ago, 4-year-old Anailah tested positive for lead. Her mother, Crystal McMillian, said that she noticed her daughter was having trouble focusing.

“I received a phone call from the doctor’s office stating that my daughter had lead levels [that are] high,” McMillian said. “It’s hard for her at times to sit down. She acts out at times and it’s just her attention span.”

McMillian said she had an inspector come to her home to test paint, which is another potential source of lead, but she says no one has come to test the water.

“They didn’t even offer to test my water to see if the water is causing the issue … They’re not concerned if the lead is coming from the water or the paint or something else that’s causing this problem,” McMillian said. “I want to know what’s causing my baby to have and her levels to be really high.”

For now, McMillian said she goes to the Newark Water Coalition Distribution site twice a week and fills jugs of water so that she can have drinking water at her home.

The Newark Water Coalition told ABC News there has not been a drop in demand for people coming to get water, despite the city replacing nearly all lead service lines.

Kareem Adeem is the Director of the Newark Department of Water and Utilities. He said that he understands that trust doesn’t come easily, but residents need to work with the city.

“Yes, we’ll be able to get someone to our house to test the water. We’re testing thousands, thousands of water samples… and one may get lost or mixed up, but we’re here to help you,” Adeem told ABC News. “Don’t get frustrated. Work with us. We’ll get it done.”

Thomas said that she’s all but done working with the city after several unsuccessful attempts to have city officials test her water.

“I don’t think I can trust my elected officials because they’ve shown that they’re unreliable consistently,” Thomas said. “The only thing I can do is buy bottled water and bank on the fact that that’s safe, but I’d rather drink that than knowing I’m drinking lead.”

Democrats expected to take short-term debt ceiling increase, reject GOP reconciliation offer

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Senate Democrats emerged from a closed door special caucus meeting on the debt ceiling on Wednesday and said they intend to take GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell up on his short-term debt ceiling increase.

Multiple senators and aides told ABC News Democrats are rejecting McConnell’s other offer that would have Republicans expediting Democrats passing a longer-term debt ceiling increase using the budget reconciliation process that they’re using to pass the multi-trillion dollar social spending bill.

“McConnell caved! McConnell caved,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters with a fist raised.

“We intend to take this temporary victory and then try to work with the Republicans to do this on a longer-term basis,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., told CNN.

“There’s not going to be reconciliation,” Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told reporters emphatically, adding that the short term fix must pass as soon as possible.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., agreed, saying she was glad McConnell “folded“ and said Democrats would “never“ use reconciliation to increase the debt ceiling.

It’s unclear if a vote on the new proposal would occur Wednesday night or Thursday, though the latter appeared more likely.

As the U.S. barrels toward an unprecedented default in a game of brinkmanship on Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offered Democrats two options to increase the debt ceiling on Wednesday. Both options require that Democrats increase the ceiling by a specific amount, which the party has not wanted to do, fearing political implications of an increase to the nation’s borrowing limit approved solely by Democrats.

Democrats rejected an offer for that Republicans to help Democrats expedite the budget process known as reconciliation to hike the debt limit by a specified amount but instead took a short-term increase of the debt ceiling to a specified amount for two months — until December.

It comes after Republicans have refused to allow Democrats to move forward on raising the debt ceiling with a simple majority vote, subsequently preventing the country from entering a self-inflicted financial crisis, potentially worse than the 2008 crisis.

“Republicans remain the only party with a plan to prevent default,” McConnell said, though he has maintained for weeks that Democrats should go the process alone. “We have already made it clear we would assist in expediting the 304 reconciliation process for stand-alone debt limit legislation. To protect the American people from a near-term Democrat-created crisis, we will also allow Democrats to use normal procedures to pass an emergency debt limit extension at a fixed dollar amount to cover current spending levels into December.”

While some Democrats took short-term extension as a win, Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii said McConnell’s two offers were “BS,” adding the GOP leader is “heartless” and, sarcastically, “He could give a rip.”

Asked by ABC News’ Mariam Khan if Schumer should accept one of McConnell’s options, given the nation is on a deadline, Hirono replied, “Why should we accept any part of a BS offer?”

Ahead of McConnell’s proposition, Senate Republicans had planned to filibuster a House-passed measure on Wednesday that would suspend the debt limit until December 2022. At least 10 Republicans would need to join all Senate Democrats to break the GOP filibuster and allow a simple majority vote to pass the bill — which President Joe Biden has called for, telling Republicans at a meeting with business leader earlier to “get out of the way.”

Without Republican support, Biden and other Democrats raised carving out an exception to ending the filibuster for the debt ceiling vote, which would take the support of all 50 Democratic senators — but it doesn’t seem to be a pathway forward either.

Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who along with fellow moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has balked at changes to the filibuster rules, dug into his position earlier, putting the responsibility of the economic crisis squarely on the shoulders of Senate leaders to solve.

“This should not be a crisis. I’ve been very, very clear where I stand, where I stand on the filibuster. I don’t have to repeat that. I think I’ve been very clear. Nothing change,” Manchin told reporters on Capitol Hill. “But the bottom line is we have a responsibility to be the adults. Our leadership has the responsibility to lead.”

“The only thing I can say at this time to Leader Schumer, and to Leader McConnell, please, lead, work together,” he added.

Schumer had said earlier on the floor that the Senate must move forward with “the responsible thing and vote to allow the U.S. to keep paying its bills.”

“Republicans’ obstruction on the debt ceiling over the last few weeks has been reckless and irresponsible but nevertheless, Republicans will today have the opportunity to get what they’ve been asking for,” Schumer said in the morning. “The first and easiest option is this: Republicans can simply get out of the way, and we can agree to skip the filibuster vote so we can proceed to final passage of this bill.”

But Republicans letting Democrats govern so easily, despite Democrats suspending the debt ceiling multiple times in a divided Washington under former President Donald Trump.

GOP leaders have maintained for months that Democrats must act to raise the federal debt limit on their own, because they have total control of Washington and are planning to pass a multi-trillion social and economic package without Republican support.

But Democrats and Biden have reiterated that paying off U.S. debt is a historically bipartisan measure and that the funds Congress would be approving were spent, in part, under then-Senate Majority Leader McConnell.

McConnell has said repeatedly that Democrats should have to hike the debt limit to cover the cost of potentially trillions in yet-passed parts of Biden’s agenda, though the debt limit must be raised to cover spending that already took place under the Trump administration with unified GOP support.

Amid Democrats’ calls for carving out the filibuster, McConnell told members in a lunch meeting about the two options: a short-term extension or an expedited reconciliation process — but those would also give Republicans exactly what they’re asking for politically: an increase to the nation’s borrowing limit approved solely by Democrats, for the GOP to seize on in midterms.

White House economists and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have warned that without action, Americans will feel the real-world effects of a self-inflicted economic crisis in the coming days. Consequences include delays to Social Security payments and checks to servicemembers, a suspension of veterans’ benefits, and rising interest rates on credit cards, car loans and mortgages.

ABC News’ Mariam Khan contributed to this report.

Investigation continues after oil spill off California coast

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(LOS ANGELES) — Officials are continuing their investigation into what caused a pipeline in the Pacific Ocean to leak hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil, with cleanup efforts continuing along California’s southern coast.

Up to 350 people were participating in cleanups on a 30-mile stretch of beaches and marsh from from Huntington Beach to Dana Point, officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

Crews in the air were identifying affected locations and alerting cleanup teams, said Captain Rebecca Ore of the Coast Guard’s Long Beach branch. “Everybody here is absolutely committed to cleaning up our much-loved California beaches.”

Michael Ziccardi, director of California’s Oiled Wildlife Care Network, said the organization has collected 13 live birds and two dead birds affected by the oil. Four live snowy Plovers, an endangered species, also were found in Huntington Beach.

An estimated 5,000 gallons of oil has been recovered from the water and beaches, Ziccardi added.

Up to 144,00 gallons of crude oil leaked into the ocean after the pipeline, about 4.5 miles off the California coast, known as Elly, was damaged on Saturday morning.

The pipeline was no longer pumping oil as of approximately 8 a.m. Saturday, and the Coast Guard was notified of the leak at that time, said Amplify Energy Corporation CEO Martyn Willsher.

But officials have alleged that the leak actually was discovered more than eight hours earlier. Orange County supervisor Katrina Foley said over the weekend that the pipeline was likely leaking before the damage was discovered Saturday morning, and officials from a division of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated in a report that they were notified of an “observed sheen” off the Huntington Beach coast at 10:22 p.m. Friday, according to documents obtained by ABC News.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration demanded the failed pipeline be repaired in a letter to Amplify Energy Corp. on Tuesday. The letter, addressed by the associate administrator for pipeline safety, said the oil platform’s control room received low-pressure alarms on the San Pedro Bay Pipeline around 2:30 a.m. PDT Saturday, indicating a possible failure. But the line was not shut down until 6:01 a.m. — 3 1/2 hours later.

Robert Bea, co-director of the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management at the University of California, Berkeley cast doubt on Amplify Energy’s claim that the pipeline was shut down at 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Bea hypothesized that if the first sightings of the sheen came Friday night, and a large plume of oil was visible from satellite imagery shortly thereafter, the low-pressure alarms would have sounded in the control rooms soon after the leak began, unless the alarms were faulty.

No abnormalities were found when the pipeline was cleaned last week or during an annual spill drill in 2020, Willsher said, adding that he expected the total loss of oil to be lower, given that the damage to the pipeline was just a 13-inch crack.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure that this situation and this release gets resolved as quickly as possible so that these beautiful areas can be restored, and all of the residents and businesses can get back to normal as quickly as possible,” Willsher said.

It’s unclear why the company didn’t stop pumping sooner, Bea told ABC News.

A class-action lawsuit was filed against the companies that run the oil line on Monday.

ABC News’ Matt Gutman and Jenna Harrison contributed to this report.

New Emerson, Lake & Palmer live box set, ‘Out of This World,’ due out in October

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

An expansive new Emerson, Lake & Palmer box set titled Out of This World: Live (1970-1997), featuring five full concert performances spanning 27 years of the British prog-rock trio’s long history, will be released on October 29.

The collection, which you can pre-order now, will be available as a seven-CD set and a 10-LP vinyl package. Most of the recordings haven’t been issued on vinyl before.

The first concert in the box set is an August 1970 performance at the U.K.’s Isle of Wight Festival, the band’s second-ever live show.

The second concert is ELP’s headlining set at the California Jam festival, held in April 1974 in Ontario, California.

Concert number three took place in August 1977 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, and featured the band showcasing their 1977 Works albums.

The fourth concert is an October 1992 show at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall that the band played after the release of Black Moon, its first new studio album in 14 years.

The final show on the Out of This World: Live box set is a previously unreleased recording of September 1997 performance at Phoenix’s Union Hall capturing ELP a few years after the arrival of its final studio album, 1993’s In the Hot Seat.

The box set comes packaged with a 32-page photo book featuring rare and intimate images of the band, plus a foreword penned by Prog magazine editor Jerry Ewing.

“The box set is one of my proudest moments,” says ELP drummer Carl Palmer, the band’s last surviving member. “I know Keith [Emerson] and Greg [Lake] would agree with me!…For me, this shows ELP at their very best throughout years of touring and recording. The box set represents the lifeline of our music in our time.”

Elton John to release a joint Christmas single with U.K. pop star Ed Sheeran

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Elton John and British pop singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran have collaborated onstage, but never on record — until now.

The U.K.’s Official Charts Company reports that, while speaking to NPO Radio 2, Sheeran revealed the news that he and Elton, whose company used to manage him, are teaming up for a Christmas single.

Sheeran explained that Elton called him up last December 25 to say Merry Christmas, but also to say that he wanted Ed to join him to do another holiday song, because his festive classic “Step into Christmas” had returned to the British top 10.

No word yet on what the new song’s title is, or when it will be released. However, the race to have the so-called “Christmas number one” — the song that’s at the top of the charts on December 25 — is a big deal in the U.K., and Official Charts now predicts that this song, whatever it is, will be a strong contender for the title.

Elton is set to release his recently announced album of collaborations, The Lockdown Sessions, on October 22, while Ed is putting out his new album, = (Equals), on October 29. While this Christmas single hasn’t appeared on either of those projects’ track listings, perhaps it’ll be added to the digital version of the releases.

My Chemical Romance’s “Teenagers” inspired new TikTok trend

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

My Chemical Romance‘s “Teenagers” is the latest song to find a second life on TikTok.

The Black Parade single has been used in over 100,000 “creations” on the platform in recent weeks, which usually center on the idea that, as the song goes, “Teenagers scare the living s*** out of me.”

One video, for example, shows someone working at an axe-throwing venue explaining that people under 18 aren’t allowed to participate in the axe throwing because of “safety reasons.” They then reveal that the real reason behind the policy is because teenagers, well, you know the rest.

“The trend…can help elucidate age-based anxieties, soundtrack 2000s picture day photoshoot concepts, and explain the mindset of adults who are amazed by teens’ daily work routines,” a press release says.

It’s also a fitting time for “Teenagers” to make a comeback, since The Black Parade will celebrate its 15th anniversary later this month.

Meanwhile, My Chemical Romance is gearing up for the band’s long-awaited reunion tour, which is finally set to kick off in 2022 after being postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brian Laundrie flew home to Florida in early August, family attorney says: Live updates

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A massive search is continuing in Florida for Brian Laundrie, the boyfriend of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old woman who went missing on a cross-country trip and who authorities confirmed as the body discovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming.

The search for the 23-year-old Laundrie is centered around North Port, Florida, where investigators said Laundrie returned to his home on Sept. 1 without Petito but driving her 2012 Ford Transit.

Laundrie has been named by police as a “person of interest” in Petito’s disappearance. Laundrie has refused to speak to the police and has not been seen since Tuesday, Sept. 14, according to law enforcement officials.

The search for Laundrie is the latest twist in the case that has grabbed national attention as he and Petito had been traveling across the country since June, documenting the trip on social media.

Petito’s parents, who live in Long Island, New York, reported her missing on Sept. 11 after not hearing from her for two weeks.

Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern:

Oct 06, 6:42 pm
Authorities to allow Laundrie’s father to assist with search, attorney says

Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney, told ABC News Wednesday that authorities are going to allow Chris Laundrie, Brian Laundrie’s father, to assist with the search at the Carlton Reserve.

Investigators don’t currently have more details on when he will join the search.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News they provided aerial support Wednesday for a search of the area.

-ABC News’ Whitney Lloyd and Alondra Valle

Oct 05, 11:11 pm
Brian Laundrie left parents’ home to hike day earlier than parents originally told investigators

Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino confirmed to ABC News Tuesday night that the family now believes Brian Laundrie left to hike the Carlton Reserve on Monday, Sept. 13. Previously, they had told investigators he left on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

“The Laundries were basing the date Brian left on their recollection of certain events. Upon further communication with the FBI and confirmation of the Mustang being at the Laundrie residence on Wednesday September 15, we now believe the day Brian left to hike in the preserve was Monday September 13,” Bertolino said.

Oct 05, 4:50 pm
Brian Laundrie flew home to Florida in early August: Family attorney

An attorney for the family of Brian Laundrie confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday that the wanted fugitive flew home to Florida from Salt Lake City on Aug. 17 and flew back to Utah six days later to rejoin his girlfriend, Gabby Petito, on their cross-country road trip.

Steven Bertolino said Laundrie flew home to “obtain some items and empty and close the (couple’s) storage unit to save money as they contemplated extending the road trip.” Bertolino said the couple paid for the flights together as they were sharing expenses.

Laundrie’s trip back to the Tampa area came five days after he and Petito were stopped by police in Moab, Utah, when witnesses reported the couple was engaged in a domestic violence incident in Moab.

Dolly Parton’s got a crush on Jimmy Fallon: “I think he is precious”

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Dolly Parton has been happily married to her husband, Carl Dean, for more than 50 years, but that doesn’t mean she’s immune to the occasional celebrity crush.

In fact, in a new cover story interview with W Magazine, the country superstar admits that she’s always been something of a flirt. “I love boys. I still do,” she chuckles.

Dolly’s latest love interest? None other than late-night host Jimmy Fallon, who’s also the singer’s duet partner on her version of “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which appears on her 2020 holiday project, A Holly Dolly Christmas.

“Well, I have a crush on Jimmy Fallon, but I’m big now. I can’t excuse myself on that,” Dolly jokes. “I think he is precious. He’s so funny. We get along so good, and sometimes you never know who you’re gonna connect with.”

Still, the singer admits, late-night talk-show hosts might just be her type.

“I’ve always had really good luck with late-night guys. I always had a nice relationship, you know, with David Letterman and Johnny Carson,” she continues. “I guess it’s something about late-night people that kind of hits my fancy, and I hit theirs, somehow. It’s just because you feel like you can be more free late at night. You don’t have to worry about what you say.”

Pharrell Williams may pull his Something in the Water festival from Virginia Beach following fatal police shooting of his cousin

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Pharrell Williams may not host his Something in the Water festival again in his hometown, Virginia Beach, because of the fatal police shooting of his cousin earlier this year.

As reported by Norfolk ABC affiliate WVEC-TV, the 13-time Grammy winner wrote a letter in response to city manager Patrick Duhaney, who had written to Pharrell saying he wanted to discuss having the event return.

Pharrell wrote that the goal of the festival was “to ease racial tension, to unify the region, bring about economic development opportunities, and broaden the horizons of the local business community. We achieved those things!”

“I wish the same energy I’ve felt from Virginia Beach leadership upon losing the festival would have been similarly channeled following the loss of my relative’s life,” Williams continued.

In the letter, Pharrell went on to say that he loves the city of Virginia Beach but for “far too long it has been run by, and with toxic energy.”

Pharrell ended his letter, writing, “I don’t have any problems with the city, but I realize that city hasn’t valued my proposed solutions, either.”

His cousin, Donovon Lynch, was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer on March 26, 2021, and following his death, Pharrell called for a federal investigation.

The Something in the Water festival last took place in 2019. It was originally scheduled to return on April 22-24, 2022, but now, the future of the festival remains uncertain.

Nicki Minaj can’t believe Lil Wayne’s birthday gifts for her one-year-old son

October 6, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Nicki Minaj just celebrated the first birthday of her baby boy with a huge party, and she was amazed by the gifts from her mentor, Lil Wayne.

Weezy sent over a dozen presents, and Minaj was nearly speechless. On her Instagram Story, as captured by The Shade Room, Minaj highlighted her son’s room full of gifts and was in disbelief. She tagged her longtime friend and wrote, “I just opened the bags & I’m shock… this is insane. I love you so much. This is A LOT OF STUFF. OMG.”

Last week, Wayne celebrated his 39th birthday in Miami, and surprisingly, Nicki was not invited. Young Money Entertainment president Mack Maine quickly apologized to the “Motorsport” rapper for the oversight.

Minaj posted her party photos Tuesday on Instagram, saying to her son, “Mama is so proud of you, PapaBear. You’re the best boy in the whole wide world. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but God bless you, son. Mommy & Daddy will never stop loving you. #KungFuPanda”

Meanwhile, Brandy wrote, “Thank you for inviting us. Wish we could have been there. Happy Birthday Papa Bear.”

The party was a child’s fantasy come true, with a bouncy house, face painting, a photo booth, water slides, and many more activities. Nicki and her family were having so much, they didn’t realize that they forgot to cut the cake until their guests had left.

“I had to bring my baby out in his pajamas. Boy u gon get this bday song whether u like it or not,” she commented. “To everyone who sent a gift, he hasn’t opened gifts yet but thank you, love you. Happy 1st bday My world, my everything.”

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