Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Floodwaters that overtook dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people in Central Michigan now threaten a Dow Superfund site and downstream communities. The Tittabawassee River crested in Dow's hometown of Midland Wednesday at just over 35 feet, about 3 feet under what officials previously forecasted. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had warned the city could end up under about 9 feet of water by Wednesday evening. Dow says floodwater has begun mixing with on-site containment ponds, prompting the company and U.S. Coast Guard to activate emergency plans. A city official says no one has been reported hurt or killed in the flooding. Whitmer says the state will investigate the operators of the Edenville and Sanford dams.
NEW YORK (AP) — As countries around the world loosen their coronavirus restrictions, it’s back to business, but not business as usual. In fact, it's becoming all too clear that without a vaccine, the disruptions could be long-lasting and the economy won’t simply bounce back. Once-packed restaurants and cafes in Italy are facing a huge financial hit as they reopen with strict social distancing rules after a 10-week shutdown. In Connecticut, restaurants have outdoor-only dining with tables spaced out. And schools worldwide are facing radical changes, including putting up plastic partitions around desks, limiting spaces in classrooms and redesigning their calendars.
TOKYO (AP) — Recession-hit Japan’s exports have plunged nearly 22% in April, the country's worst drop in more than a decade as the coronavirus pandemic slammed global demand. The Finance Ministry reported Thursday that imports also fell by 7% from a year earlier. Export-dependent Japan is struggling to juggle the health risks of COVID-19 with the need to keep its economy going. Like many nations, Japan has asked people to work from home and maintain social distance to prevent the spread of the virus. Exports fell most dramatically to the U.S., India, Australia, South America, Russia, Iran and Italy.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has threatened to hold back federal funding from two election battleground states that are making it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic. He later backed away somewhat from that threat but stuck with his claim that widespread voting by mail promotes “a lot of illegality.” Trump targeted Michigan and Nevada on Wednesday. At first he claimed Michigan was sending out more than 7 million mail-in ballots, but after criticism he corrected that to say mail-in ballot “applications." Republican election officials have sent out applications in several other states, too.
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin won NASCAR’s first Wednesday race since 1984 when rain stopped the event with 20 laps remaining at Darlington Raceway. The Daytona 500 winner was out front but out of fresh tires and trying to hang on when he got unintended help from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. The reigning Cup champion caused Chase Elliott to crash eight laps earlier to bring out the caution. A furious Elliott waited for Busch on the apron of the track and flipped Busch the middle finger as he passed.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
