(CBS DETROIT) — Two weeks after Michigan-based Priority Waste purchased a residential trash service from Canadian-based GFL, some customers are still experiencing service delays. 

“When Priority took over service in those 73 communities on July 1, we inherited all the issues that came with it. In some of these communities, they were between two and four weeks behind, and in one case, they were almost 5 weeks behind,” said Matt Allen, Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs for Priority Waste. 

Allen said that in addition to the service backlog, his company is dealing with many other issues related to the takeover. 

“One of the issues that exacerbated the problem was that of the 535 vehicles we purchased as part of the take over (from GFL) half of them were not road worthy, maybe a little more than that actually, and we’ve been working diligently to get those things fixed,” Allen said.

Of the 73 additional municipalities that Priority Waste took over, most of the areas have been caught up with service; however, some delays are still happening. 

“It’s never good to hold onto to trash for more than a week,” said Washtenaw County resident Dennis Murray.

Murray said GFL’s service became spotty long before the takeover, but he is hoping to get some clarification as to when Priority will begin regularly scheduled pick-ups. 

“It’s pretty upsetting not hearing any communication and when they’re going to show up and pick it up,” Murray said. 

Allen said customers like Murray can expect to get back on track in the next seven days.

“And we’re doing the best job in a very deliberate fashion to get us to a clean slate by next week,” Allen said. 

As we roll on with our 2024 Detroit Lions roster preview series, this time our own Meko Scott breaks down second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel.

Previous previews: RB David Montgomery, WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta, TE James Mitchell, LT Taylor Decker, RT Penei Sewell, G Kevin Zeitler, C Frank Ragnow, DE Aidan Hutchinson, DE Josh Paschal, DT DJ Reader, DT Alim McNeill, LB Alex Anzalone, DB Brian Branch, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, and DT Levi Onwuzurike.

Hendon Hooker

Headed into the 2024 season, nobody is going to question whether or not the Lions have their starting quarterback figured out. Jared Goff’s performance over the last one-and-a-half seasons have made all of those old questions about his play fade to the point that they are now nothing more than distant memories. However, as football fans, we all understand injuries happen in this sport, and that is a big reason as to why the backup quarterback position has become more vital over the last several years.

With Hooker, the Lions knew they were getting a talented player when they selected him in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. And since Hooker was still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered late in his final college season, he didn’t get any work in during last year’s training camp apart from mental reps. The majority of his rookie season was spent in recovery-mode, making his second year of development with the Lions even more vital.

Our own Meko Scott jumps into all of this and more as he examines the outlook for Hooker this season, and whether or not he believes Hooker is ready to settle in as the backup quarterback for a team that has championship aspirations.

A total of 90 Giant African Land Snails have been seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations in Detroit from a passenger arriving from Ghana, authorities said.

The incident occurred on June 30 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport when the massive haul of live snails was discovered “after a passenger arriving from Ghana was referred for a secondary examination after declaring various fresh food items,” according to a statement released by CBP on Tuesday.

“During the baggage inspection, a tied, woven bag with an odd odor caught the attention of agriculture specialists,” the statement said. “Inside the bag were Giant African Land Snails ranging from 3 to 6 inches in length. Prior to the luggage being opened, the passenger began declaring other prohibited items, such as beef skin and fresh peppers, but there was no mention of the snails, which are considered an invasive species in the U.S.”

The snails were subsequently seized and humanely euthanized as a means to ensure they did not enter the ecosystem and cause havoc to U.S. agriculture, officials said.

“These snails are an invasive species that could negatively impact our economy,” said Acting Port Director John Nowak. “Our agriculture specialists are always keeping a watchful eye out for harmful plants, animals and insects.”

CBP officials said that even though the Giant African Land Snails were intended for consumption, they have a “voracious appetite and cause major crop damage when they escape into the environment.”

“They can also pose a public health threat to humans,” authorities said. “The snails can grow up to 8 inches and feed on a wide variety of plants, including many economically important crop plants, and cause structural damage by using stucco on houses to meet their calcium requirement for shell growth.”

CBP officials did not say if there would be any immediate repercussions for the traveler entering the United States but they did take the opportunity to encourage those entering the United States to “learn more about current regulations before attempting to bring food items into the United States to avoid penalties, seizures, and even arrest.”