Michigan, Oakland County | featured news

DETROIT>> Experts predict that a worst-case scenario leak of an old oil pipeline where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet would cost nearly $2 billion.The state of Michigan released a draft of a report by an independent team of scientists who estimate that more than half the cost would be cleanup as well as lost tourism income.

WASHINGTON>> A federal watchdog is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen its oversight of state drinking water systems in the wake of the lead crisis in Flint, Michigan.The EPA's Office of Inspector General says in a report that the agency must take steps now to be able to react more quickly in times of public health emergencies.

Dry weather in the last week was enough to cause the drought areas to expand in Michigan.The image above shows the moderate drought area is now covering most of the Thumb and most of northeast Lower Michigan. The area in moderate drought (tan colored) went from four percent last week to nine percent on July 17.

The historic Cobblestone Manor Bed and Breakfast in Auburn Hills will soon be home to a group of honors students from Oakland University. In a new partnership with the university, Auburn Hills-based home builder and developer Moceri Companies will transition the old bed and breakfast into the Francis M.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP)>> Students, staff and faculty at Michigan State University will get free on-campus bus service for a year starting in late August.The East Lansing school says it's amended its contract with the Capital Area Transportation Authority for the 2018-19 academic year. The free service will go into effect Aug.

At the corner of Woodward Avenue and University Drive in Pontiac, a 110-year-old construction and contractor management firm has built a new headquarters. The George W. Auch Company, founded in 1908 and located in Pontiac since 1985, recently finished construction on its new 200,000 square-foot facility, an approximately $5.

A regional transit proposal will not appear on November's ballot. On Thursday, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan's funding allocation committee wasn't able to come to a unanimous 5-0 vote, which means the Connect Southeast Michigan plan won't go forth for a public vote in 2018.

Royal Oak's city commission Monday will decide whether to approve ballot language for a millage proposal to support a city bus system.The proposal follows months of work by a transit task force that included public meetings, a survey and work with officials from Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.

The closure of South Boulevard between Coolidge Highway and Adams Road in Troy and Rochester Hills will be extended into early August.The road is closed while a contractor for the Road Commission for Oakland County replaces the culvert that carries the Borden Drain under South Boulevard just west of Coolidge.

The Road Commission for Oakland County has approved a cost-participation agreement with Orion Township to resurface Pine Tree Road. The project will involve pulverizing the existing pavement, the placement of new asphalt, ditching, drainage improvements and the installation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pedestrian crosswalks.