Midwest
Missourians head to Washington to call for a House vote on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expires this summer. The initial bill passed the Senate earlier this year but has yet to be considered in the House. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has been pushing to expand and extend the initiative and has tried to add it as an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill.
“If we’re not going to get amendment votes, I’m not going to help them speed this along,” Hawley told reporters about the FAA legislation.
The bill is just one effort that residents in Missouri say, would help those sickened from toxic sites in the region.
“There’s no windfall for anybody,” Former Missouri Resident Kim Visintine said. “This is not, ‘we’re just giving money to these citizens, and they’re going to have all this random money to spend.’ A lot of these medical bills… it’s a drop in the bucket.”
AMERICANS EXPOSED TO NUCLEAR RADIATION BY GOVERNMENT WOULD BE COMPENSATED UNDER APPROVED SENATE BILL
Visintine grew up near Coldwater Creek in North County St. Louis. The area is part of a superfund site where toxic waste has been found, years after the city’s nuclear program ended. Visintine says she frequently visited the creek as a child and now believes the toxins are to blame for illnesses in the region. Those sickened include someone very close to her.
“We were told that he was one in one million. That children just don’t get this cancer,” Visintine said.
Her son, Zach, had his first neurosurgery within a week. He started chemo soon after. Visintine and her husband consulted specialists in an effort to cure the rare cancer.
“Even with me having full coverage of insurance and my husband having full coverage, our out-of-pocket costs for out of network and specialists after a year of treatment was $100,000,” Visintine said.
Zach lost his battle with cancer in 2006. As his parents began to process the loss, they also began to ask why this may have happened.
LAWMAKERS PUSH TO RENEW, EXPAND RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT
“It wasn’t until years later, with social media, that I reconnected with a lot of grade school friends and friends that I grew up with in the neighborhood,” Visintine said.
She started the group Coldwater Creek Just the Facts Please and began mapping reports of illnesses in the region.
“All these illnesses are around the creek. And this is our common denominator, common link,” Visintine said.
Visintine and others she met through social media, have fought for government or legal compensation over the years. But efforts for government or legal compensation have faced hurdles and limitations.
“Even if we get all this compensation, we will never qualify. Because I was exposed, hence his disease. By the time he was born, I was living out of the zip code that’s affected,” Visintine said.
Representative Cori Bush, D-Mo., said people from all over the country could be impacted.
MORE PEOPLE EXPOSED TO MANHATTAN PROJECT CHEMICALS DESERVE COMPENSATION, ADVOCATES SAY
“There are RECA claimants in all 50 states,” Bush said. “We are talking about legislation that impacts every single member of congress’ constituents.”
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act lists zip codes where payments would be allotted for those suffering from illnesses. However, Visintine and other advocates say, the impact of the bill would extend further than just individual assistance.
“If it gives somebody a chance to just breathe and pay their bills, great. I think that’s wonderful. But beyond the restitution, if we are part of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, that opens us up to community grants and funding for the whole area,” Visintine explained. “The grants and funding will allow for screening clinics, medical screening clinics. And it will allow community organizations to apply for federal grants for education.”
Members of Congress from impacted communities say the legislation has bipartisan support.
“When you have Cori Bush and Josh Hawley on the same side, fighting for the same thing for our Missourians, you need to listen,” Bush said.
Hawley said President Joe Biden plans to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
OFFICIALS KNEW MANHATTAN PROJECT CHEMICALS DISPOSED IMPROPERLY AT MISSOURI SITES, DOCUMENTS REVEAL
“All eyes are on the House now. The ball is in their court. I have spoken to Speaker Johnson about this. I’ve talked to anybody and everybody who will listen and some who won’t listen, and told him that the time is of the essence,” Hawley said.
Dawn Chapman, who lives near a toxic landfill in St. Louis, was Hawley’s guest for this year’s State of the Union address. She has called for compensation over the years through her group, Just Moms STL.
“We’re pushing with everything we have. Because the truth is, it’s too late for us. It’s too late for me. It’s too late for my kids,” Chapman said.
During her time in Washington, she met with other lawmakers in an effort to gain support for the legislation.
“We’ve been able to see what’s happened in other communities, so we know what we can ask for,” Chapman said.
Members from communities linked to radiation exposure were in Washington Thursday, to call on House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to hold a vote on the legislation.
Johnson’s office tells Fox News, the legislation would cost approximately $60 billion and expands on a program that should be winding down.
“The Speaker understands and appreciates Senator Hawley’s position and is working closely with interested members and stakeholders to chart a path forward for the House,” A Johnson spokesperson said.
Chapman and Just Moms STL Co-founder Karen Nickel met with members of Speaker Johnson’s staff on Thursday. Nickel said after an hour and a half meeting, staffers were unaware of the scope of communities impacted by radiation linked to nuclear waste.
“While we feel like we’ve educated so many people, there are still so many people that just don’t understand,” Nickel said.
Hawley said the money should not be an issue.
“This is an instance where the government is the one who has caused this harm,” Hawley said. “Right now, I’ll tell you who is paying for this. The American people are paying for it. The people of my state are paying for it, in some cases literally with their lives.”
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Reaction to Shawn Eichorst as potentially the next Wisconsin AD
On the Terrace View podcast, John Steppe and Mark Stewart give initial thoughts on reported connection between Shawn Eichorst and open UW AD job.
MADISON – Shawn Eichorst will start as Wisconsin’s athletic director with a higher annual salary than his predecessor.
Eichorst will make an annual salary of $1.6 million along with built-in annual increases and incentives, a university spokesman told the Journal Sentinel.
That is above Chris McIntosh’s $1.5 million annual salary for the 2025-26 academic year. (That consisted of $1 million from the university and $500,000 from the UW Foundation.) McIntosh’s salary was set to increase by $50,000 for each year of his contract, which would have gone through June 30, 2029.
It also is well above Marcus Sedberry’s $875,000 annual salary for the nearly three months when he was interim AD. Sedberry’s salary is set to return to $334,805 “plus any intervening pay adjustments,” according to the offer letter from April.
An open records request from the Journal Sentinel for Eichorst’s contract, which will include more details about the increases and incentives, is pending.
Eichorst previously served as the deputy AD and chief operating officer at Texas for the last eight years. He also was Miami’s AD in 2011-12 and Nebraska’s AD from 2012-17. Before Miami, the Lone Rock native spent five years working with the Badgers under Barry Alvarez.
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is already planning for his future, after being released by the team that invested a first-round pick to select him back in 2024.
According to his attorney Harvey Steinberg, the former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back has already been contacted by three NFL team’s in the last 48 hours.
Arnold has now hit the league’s waiver wire, as his release has become official.
Steinberg explained, in reply to a recent motion by Florida prosecutors to have Arnold fitted with a GPS tether, “Mr. Arnold is not a flight risk, nor is he a danger to the community. He is confined to his home by both court conditions and media scrutiny and anticipates that he will have employment with another NFL team within 30 days.”
Additional Insider Analysis: How Detroit Lions Depth Chart Changes Without Terrion Arnold
Here are five team’s that could take a chance and sign Arnold, should he clear waivers.
Jets
Aaron Glenn is now the head coach of the AFC East squad. Detroit’s former defensive coordinator may want to reunite with a player he worked very closely with for a season. Because of Glenn’s nature as a strong relationship builder with players, there could be a bond between the two parties that could be beneficial for Arnold.
The former NFL defensive back may be the only coach who can instantly reach the 23-year-old and keep him focused on improving his craft.
Commanders
Washington is in an interesting spot at the cornerback position. Mike Sainristil’s production dipped in 2025 after a strong rookie campaign, while 2025 second-round pick Trey Amos is expected to start opposite of him.
The Commanders signed former Lion Amik Robertson to be their nickel cornerback, but could benefit from adding some competition to the room. They could view Arnold as a player who would bring just that.
Cowboys
After Trevon Diggs was waived, the Cowboys were in the market for a second cornerback opposite of DaRon Bland. They signed Cobie Durant from the Los Angeles Rams, and drafted Caleb Downs to be their nickel.
However, Arnold has starting experience and could be a player the Cowboys view as competition for Durant and Bland. He could also be injury insurance, as Bland has been limited to 19 games over the last two seasons.
Chiefs
The Chiefs made a big change to their secondary this offseason, as Trent McDuffie was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. They drafted Mansoor DeLane in the first-round, and reunited with veteran L’Jarius Sneed.
However, their depth remains questionable, and currently their backups include Kristian Fulton and 2025 third-round pick Nohl Williams. Arnold would give them some experienced depth.
Buccaneers
The cornerback position may be the biggest question mark on the Buccaneers’ defense. There are a lot of talented options within the group, but there’s uncertainty in the secondary. Right now, the starters are expected to be Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison.
Behind those two, Josh Hayes and Damarion Williams are both backups but neither played a defensive snap last season. As a result, a player like Arnold could be the ideal find for them who could compete for a starting spot on the outside.
For more comprehensive Detroit Lions coverage and NFL insider analysis, follow us on X, @detroitpodcast, head on over to our Facebook page and give it a like, follow us on TikTok, subscribe to the Detroit Lions On SI Lone Wolves YouTube Channel for daily videos, news, member-exclusive content.
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MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee leaders accuse U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of breaking a city ordinance, while an agency spokesperson stands by officers’ decision to “protect themselves” on the job.
ICE in Milwaukee
Big picture view:
ICE said it arrested 39 people over the weekend. The federal agency said those people were in the country illegally and that many had criminal histories, including for sexual assault and DUI.
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Voces de la Frontera denied that and shared recent images at a news conference of federal immigration agents masked in Milwaukee. And on Wednesday, a fight erupted over what ICE agents are wearing during the arrests.
“For ICE to be doing this, which is again, against our ordinance, it drives me insane,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
Masked agents
The backstory:
In April, Milwaukee’s Common Council and mayor approved a new ordinance. It bans all law enforcement from wearing masks in public when on duty. It provides exemptions if wearing it for health or safety reasons.
“There’s no need to do that, have masked police in the United States of America,” said Johnson. “We don’t have a Gestapo police in the United States. We shouldn’t have a secret police in the United States. If you engage with a law enforcement officer, you should be able to clearly identify who they are, their badge, their name, and they should identify themselves as such,” Johnson said.
Milwaukee’s ordinance also requires all law enforcement to either wear their name on their uniform and their agency – or when asked – to share that information. It also requires cars be labeled – except for undercover assignments.
“It isn’t that it is not working, it is that it is not being respected,” said Milwaukee Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic. “We will hold people accountable.”
Fines for feds?
What they’re saying:
Breaking the masking and ID ordinance could lead to a fine up to $10,000.
“Who’s going to fine them? It’s not going to be MPD. How do you the fine the federal government? An officer is not going to write a ticket and then give it to an ICE officer,” said Alexander Ayala, Milwaukee Police Association president.
MPD said in a statement that it has requested a formal written legal opinion from the city attorney’s office about the mask ordinance. The city attorney already signed off on the ordinance as legal and enforceable.
Milwaukee County action
The backstory:
Milwaukee County also recently passed an ordinance to ban law enforcement from staging in county parks without prior authorization. The county’s attorney said the legislation couldn’t just target ICE because that would violate constitutional principles, so it said all law enforcement.
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Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez shared images of what he said were federal agents at the Mitchell Domes.
“Right now the idea is to document and know as much as possible and make sure everybody has eyes on the park…and are looking and documenting to see when and what parks that they are staging at, so later on we can sue them for staging without a permit,” he said. “These are kind of small things that we are trying to get done, but, now allowing them in our parks is the idea here, to slow them down or stop what they are doing, from terrorizing our community as much as possible.”
ICE responds
The other side:
In a statement, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said:
“ICE is targeting criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, criminals, gang members and more. In 2025, nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.
“Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause.
“While Milwaukee sanctuary politicians continue to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Milwaukee safe again.
“Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from wearing masks is despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers. To be crystal clear: we will not abide by unconstitutional bans. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that Milwaukee’s sanctuary politicians do not control federal law enforcement.
“ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators. The danger is not hypothetical. Public databases and online “lists” have been created to expose officers’ identities. Today, our ICE law enforcement officers face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them.”
The Source: Information in this story is from FOX6 News interviews, prior coverage of the city and county ordinances and a statement from an ICE spokesperson.
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