Flint water crisis: Michigan attorney general to investigate
(CNN)The water crisis in Flint -- the Michigan city grappling with toxic lead contamination in its drinking water following a cost-saving measure -- is now getting high-level attention from the state's top legal official.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday he will investigate the water crisis to determine whether any Michigan laws have been violated.
"The situation in Flint is a human tragedy in which families are struggling with even the most basic parts of daily life," Schuette said in a statement. "While everyone acknowledges that mistakes were made, my duty as attorney general requires that I conduct this investigation."
Schuette's announcement comes amid a situation that has seen the governor order the National Guard to help deliver clean water to the city's nearly 100,000 residents 70 miles northwest of Detroit, as experts raise concern about rising levels of poisonous lead in children's blood and other health concerns.
Flint learns of Legionnaires' disease spike as water crisis continues
This morning, I am formally announcing an investigation into the Flint water crisis. pic.twitter.com/tACdXmw79g
— A.G. Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) January 15, 2016
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who already has declared a state of emergency, on Thursday asked President Barack Obama to do so at a federal level -- a move the governor says could provide aid such as grants for temporary housing and home repairs as the city deals with damage done to its water system.
The water switch
The damage stems from a decision two years ago by the state -- which had taken over the city's budget amid a financial emergency -- to save money by switching Flint's water supply from Lake Flint water crisis: Michigan attorney general to investigate - CNN.com:
