South
Water parasite in England sickens more than 45 people, residents told to boil tap water before drinking
A scenic fishing village in southwest England was under instructions to boil its tap water for a third day on Friday after a parasite sickened more than 45 people in the latest example of Britain’s troubled water system.
Around 16,000 homes and businesses in the Brixham area of Devon were told to boil water after cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, was found in the water. At least 46 cases of cryptosporidiosis have been confirmed and more than 100 other people have reported similar symptoms, the U.K. Health Security Agency said. Cases can last more than two weeks.
South West Water’s Chief Executive Susan Davy apologized for the outbreak and said technicians were working around the clock to identify and fix the problem that may have come from a pipe in a cattle pasture.
POTENTIALLY FATAL DOG PARASITE FOUND IN PART OF COLORADO RIVER FOR FIRST TIME, HAVING SPREAD FROM OTHER STATES
“I am truly sorry for the disruption and wider anxiety this has caused,” Davy said. “I know on this occasion we have fallen significantly short of what you expect of us.”
The crisis is unrelated to Britain’s larger ongoing water woes but emblematic of an aging system in distress.
Water companies have been under fire for more than a year to stop frequent sewage overflows into rivers and oceans that have literally caused a stink, sickened swimmers, polluted fishing streams and led to an outcry from the public to clean up their act.
People collect bottled water at Broadsands Car Park in Paignton, England, on May 17, 2024. Around 16,000 households and businesses in the Brixham area of Devon have been told not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first, following the discovery of small traces of a parasite in the local water network. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)
An environmental group this week reported that 70,000 sewage releases spilled for a total of 400,000 hours along England’s coast last year. More than a quarter were within two miles of a swimming spot, Friends of the Earth said in its analysis of government data.
Clean water advocates have blamed the problems on Britain’s privatization of the water system in 1989. They say that companies have put shareholders ahead of customers and not spent enough to update outdated plumbing systems.
Thames Water, the largest of the companies, is on the brink of insolvency and its leaders have said it faces the risk of being nationalized after shareholders refused to inject more cash.
Earlier this week, in another sign of problems, millions of gallons of raw sewage were pumped into England’s largest lake. After a fault caused pumps to fail, backup systems then pumped human waste into Lake Windermere, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for 10 hours, the BBC reported.
The cryptosporidiosis outbreak is hardly the first time South West Water has encountered problems, according to authorities.
The company is facing charges in Plymouth Magistrates’ Court alleging 30 offenses for illegal water discharges or breaches of environmental permits between 2015 and 2021, the Environment Agency said.
The recent outbreak appears to come from a damaged air valve in a pipe that runs through a field where cows graze that is close to a reservoir, said Laura Flowerdew, a spokesperson for South West.
A primary school was forced to close Thursday because it didn’t have clean drinking water.
The water company is providing free bottled water at three locations and has increased compensation to customers from $19 to $145.
Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it’s likely more people will become ill with cryptosporidiosis in coming days or weeks because of a lag in the incubation period.
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“Even if they have stopped all new infections by now, you would expect to see further cases for at least 10 days to two weeks,” he told the BBC.
Anthony Mangnall, a Conservative member of Parliament from the area, said residents are likely to have to boil water for another week. He said he was concerned with the water company’s response to the outbreak and vowed to hold it accountable.
“They have been slow to act and communication with customers has been very poor,” Mangnall said. “This has certainly undermined trust in our water network.”
(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is suing Maryland and State Attorney General Anthony Brown, alleging the state’s “sanctuary” policies hinder the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The lawsuit claims that Maryland’s sanctuary policies are illegal under federal law and that the state’s “refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities” has had negative consequences for immigration law enforcement officials.
What we know:
According to the lawsuit, the state’s refusal to cooperate has led to facilities refusing to help transfer immigrants to federal custody.
Under the direction of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the DOJ’s Civil Division will identify state and local laws, policies and practices that violate federal laws or impede federal operations.
“When sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield [undocumented immigrants] from federal law enforcement, it is not merely federal law that is violated, but the voices of everyday American voters silenced,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward.
The lawsuit cites Maryland’s Community Trust Act, a law that went into effect in May, which prevents local law enforcement from holding an individual without a warrant on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There is an exception for those who commit felonies or sex offenses.
What they’re saying:
The Community Trust Act law sparked pushback from local law enforcement leaders across the state, with 17 of Maryland’s 24 sheriffs suing, and saying the law “undermines public safety and restricts cooperation” between local and federal officials.
“Such blatant disregard for federal laws that have been on the books for decades is not merely a political disagreement or passive abstention; it is deliberate, disruptive action that jeopardizes the public safety for all Americans,” the DOJ lawsuit reads. “The Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution prohibits a state from obstructing Congress and the Executive in this manner.”
The Source: This information is from a Department of Justice lawsuit.
Mississippi
Mississippi Highway Patrol deployed to Goodman after viral gun video, leaders explain goals
GOODMAN, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has deployed state troopers to the Town of Goodman indefinitely following a viral video showing people waving guns and mocking the absence of police in the town.
DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell and other department leaders flew into Goodman on Thursday to meet with town officials. Tindell said the video drew the attention of both himself and Gov. Tate Reeves.
“We felt like there needed to be a presence of law enforcement in Goodman to send a message,” Tindell said. “That it’s not a town or any town in Mississippi that we’re going to allow lawlessness to prevail.”
Troopers conducting stops, working alongside sheriff’s office
Since Wednesday, troopers have been stopping drivers in downtown Goodman and in neighborhoods. Tindell said the Mississippi Highway Patrol is working alongside the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation.
“It’s more regular law enforcement duties at this point,” Tindell said. “You know, we’re looking at individuals in the video to ask who they were and go from there.”
Tindell said MHP deployments to towns across the state are not uncommon, and include safety checkpoints, driver’s license verifications and insurance verifications.
“So that’s not unusual anywhere on any given day,” Tindell said. “We just happen to be in Goodman because they needed additional help at that time.”
Mayor supports presence; some residents question it
Mayor Michael Howard said he supports MHP’s increased presence in the town. However, resident Keni El questioned whether the deployment was necessary.
“It really doesn’t change anything because if the people they’ve seen on the video are who they came for then that’s who they need to be looking for,” El said. “Because in a way, it’s kind of harassing the people for stupidity of some younglings.”
El said leaders should instead focus on providing resources to mentor young people.
“The youth need to be taught the right knowledge, right wisdom, right understanding,” El said. “But I’m not going to be afraid of no child.”
Tindell said he is unsure how long state troopers will remain in Goodman but will stay in contact with town officials until a departure date is determined.
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MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A major investment is moving one of Madison County’s largest construction projects a step closer to reality.
State leaders approved $27 million in the budget for the county’s new public service complex—bringing the project to more than two-thirds of the funding needed.
Grading has already begun on the property near the health department and sheriff’s office.
MADISON COUNTY MULLS FUTURE OF HISTORIC COURTHOUSE AS PLANS MOVE FORWARD FOR NEW BUILDING
The $88 million project is set to combine governmental, social and judicial facilities in Madison County.
Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt spoke about the impacts he believes the new complex will have.
JULY 9, 2026 – Grading has already begun for Madison County’s new public service complex near the health department and sheriff’s office. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
“A place that’s easy to get into, easy to get out of, and something that says we’re Madison County strong,” said Honeycutt. “We’re looking very much forward to moving into the facility and consolidating five locations into one.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUDGET INCLUDES $7M TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK FROM HELENE DEBRIS
Madison County officials are encouraging community input on the plans for the new complex before the groundbreaking ceremony at the end of July.
The complex is expected to open in March 2029.
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