Campbell Soup accused of polluting Lake Erie: The Wake Up for Thursday, March 21, 2024
Campbell Soup Co. was sued twice Wednesday, including a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, over accusations that its canning facility in Northwestern Ohio pollutes Lake Erie. The U.S. Department of Commerce has agreed to provide up to $8.5 billion in grants and $11 billion in loans for Intel to build semiconductor production facilities in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. The company was sued twice by the federal government and two environmental advocacy groups over allegations that its canning facility in Northwestern Ohio pollutes Lake Erie. The lawsuit alleges that the company has been discharging high levels of phosphorous, E. coli bacteria, oil, and grease into the Maumee River in Napoleon, Ohio, contributing to harmful algal blooms. The federal government is seeking a wastewater treatment system to end Clean Water Act violations, plus fines and penalties. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Miami Heat 107-104 in a potential playoff preview match. The U.K. Senate primary was held in a landslide, with Bernie Moreno winning in each of Ohio’s 88 counties and will face incumbent Sherrod Brown in the fall. Despite national trends of Democrats voting for someone other than President Joe Biden, Ohio Republicans have shown a shift within the party towards Democrats in favor of Republicans, highlighting the need to adjust their approach to governing.
Published : a month ago by Cliff Pinckard | [email protected], Cliff Pinckard, cpinckar in Environment
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When you think of pollutants to our Great Lake, you might picture belching smokestacks, storm sewers overflowing with sewage and plastic trash, oil spills, or fertilizer running off of farm fields.
But the federal government and two environmental advocacy groups say Campbell Soup — the brand that makes you think “M’m! M’m! Good” — has been discharging high levels of phosphorous , plus E. coli bacteria, oil and grease into the Maumee River in Napoleon, Ohio, contributing to harmful algal blooms that have plagued the western basin of Lake Erie for years.
They want the company to install a wastewater treatment system to end Clean Water Act violations, plus fines and penalties.
Campbell, which is based in New Jersey, said it already made some improvements to the canning factory.
Said an environmentalist, “The toxic algae in Lake Erie is hardly the kind of soup that Ohioans want from a company like Campbell.”
Cavs vs. Miami Heat: Cavs can’t stop Miami Heat in crunch time, lose possible playoff preview, 107-104
Soup polluter: Campbell Soup Co. was sued twice Wednesday, including a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, over accusations that its canning facility in Northwestern Ohio pollutes Lake Erie. Adam Ferrise reports a lawsuit argues a canning factory on the Maumee River has discharged millions of gallons of wastewater since 2018.
Moreno map: Bernie Moreno beat state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose in each of Ohio’s 88 counties Tuesday to face incumbent Sherrod Brown in the fall. Overall, Moreno won 50.5% of the vote in Ohio, meaning he received more votes than the other two candidates combined statewide. Zachary Smith shows the results in a county-by-county map.
Violence decrease: Slayings and other major crimes in Cleveland have dropped through the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, reports Olivia Mitchell. Homicides have decreased 41% through March 16.
Today in Ohio: Despite polling showing Matt Dolan and Bernie Moreno were neck-and-neck in the three-way U.S. Senate primary, Moreno won in a landslide. We’re talking about Moreno’s Trump endorsement and the pointlessness of polling on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour podcast.
Intel grants: The U.S. Department of Commerce has reached a preliminary agreement with Intel to provide up to $8.5 billion in grants and $11 billion in loans for Intel to build and expand semiconductor production facilities in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon, reports Sabrina Eaton. The agreement will create 10,000 manufacturing jobs and 20,000 construction jobs at the four company locations and will support tens of thousands more indirect jobs.
Biden inquiry: The featured witness at the latest Capitol Hill hearing on alleged corruption by President Joe Biden didn’t show up, but that was OK with Republicans who set it up. Sabrina Eaton reports they left an empty chair for prodigal presidential progeny Hunter Biden at the center of the witness table as they accused the elder Biden of taking “action after action to further his family’s plans to get rich.”
Protest vote: Ohio kept in line this week with national trends involving Democrats voting for someone other than President Joe Biden, sometimes called protest votes. In places like Ohio, where “uncommitted” isn’t an option, around 12% have voted for a candidate other than President Biden, Zachary Smith reports.
GOP shift: “Old guard” Ohio Republicans still have a place within the party, political experts and consultants said. But Tuesday’s primary holds lessons for those Republicans about the need to adjust how they run for office and how they govern, as well as the political perils they face if they don’t do so in the right way, Jeremy Pelzer reports.
Randazzo license: A state board that regulates attorneys filed a complaint Tuesday against Ohio’s former chief utility regulator, who has been twice criminally accused of taking a bribe. Jake Zuckerman reports the process could strip Sam Randazzo of his license to practice law.
Judge races: Longtime Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo lost her bid in Tuesday’s Democratic primary race for an open seat that would have allowed her to stay on the bench an additional four years. Cory Shaffer reports the race was one of three contested primary races for Common Pleas Court judgeships on the ballot Tuesday night, all on the Democratic side, and set up what is likely a wave of new judges to take the bench come January.
Cherry blossoms: While the first few official days of spring have been met with cold temperatures and snow flurries, it’s actually almost time to enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms, magnolias and more that surround Wade Lagoon in University Circle. Alex Darus reports the last days of March will be prime viewing time.
Flu trends: Ohio for weeks has had some of the highest flu rates in the country, with Cuyahoga County leading the state in flu-related hospitalizations. But there’s another side to the trend, reports Julie Washington. Hospitalizations in Cuyahoga County are actually down this year compared to a year ago. In fact, outside of two COVID-19 seasons when flu reports dropped to very low levels, this could end up being the lowest year for flu-related hospitalizations in the county since 2015-16.
MetroHealth initiative: People of color don’t live as long as white people and the MetroHealth System is aiming to do something about it. Gretchen Cuda Kroen reports the medical system on Wednesday outlined an agenda to improve access to care for all people. It’s something the hospital system says is essential in a community where heart and kidney disease, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes and other diseases are far more likely to kill you if you are a minority.
Preeclampsia problems: An Ohio State University study suggests that preeclampsia and gestational diabetes affect the heart health of both mothers and children, reports Julie Washington. While pregnant women with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes also have a higher risk of developing heart disease later in life, the study suggests that these conditions also are associated with worse heart health for their children.
Lordstown Motors: The company formerly known as Lordstown Motors has emerged from bankruptcy last week as Nu Ride Inc. And despite having no factory and no products to sell, the failed EV startup is forging ahead and is potentially looking to sell itself to another company. Sean McDonnell explores why someone would want to buy the Lordstown Motors carcass.
Home remodeling: Cleveland ranks among the most expensive cities for home remodeling, factoring in median incomes and the cost to do the work, reports Megan Sims. The study by Front Door, which connects homeowners with home maintenance professionals, identified Cleveland to be the second least-affordable place for home remodeling.
Euclid chase: Euclid police are seeking felony charges against a 17-year-old boy who fled from officers in a stolen car and crashed into another vehicle, killing a bystander. Molly Walsh reports police arrested the Cleveland teenager and an 18-year-old woman Sunday afternoon in a back yard near East 156th Street and Calcutta Avenue in Cleveland after a three-minute, high-speed chase starting in Euclid. The 17-year-old suspect was driving a 2023 Jeep reportedly stolen from Cleveland on Friday during a violent carjacking.
Garfield shooting: A Garfield Heights man called police and said he fatally shot an East Cleveland man in his driveway Monday night, reports Molly Walsh.
Excessive force: A magistrate judge has dismissed an excessive force lawsuit against Shaker Heights police after the attorney in the case withdrew and the Ravenna man who accused officers of misconduct ignored court orders. Adam Ferrise reports U.S. District Magistrate Judge Tom Parker tossed out the case after he gave Don Baker instructions to notify the court whether he would hire a new attorney or proceed without one.
Ask Lucas: Can you still be nostalgic about Nickelodeon? Lucas Daprile says of course, but try to keep it in context. “We ‘90s kids feel nostalgic about Nickelodeon, not because it was some morally pure thing, but because we miss being kids.”
Best burgers: After tens of thousands of reader votes, cleveland.com’s Best Of team is counting down your top three finishers — bringing you the stories behind the winners, their burgers and what earned such loyal support from their customers. Black Forest Bar & Grill is your third-place winner.
Hawaii trip: There is perhaps no better way to fully appreciate the beauty of Kauai than from the seat of a chopper 3,000 feet above sea level, offering views of the eye-popping terrain that no road nor trail can access. Susan Glaser reports the helicopter tour and the hike were among the highlights of a recent five-day stay on Kauai, the final stop on her two-week visit to the state.
Latto concert: Grammy-nominated rap star Latto will perform at Cleveland Public Hall at 6 p.m. on April 6. Malcolm X Abram reports the event, dubbed “The Super Saturday Concert,” is a free event and open to the general public, but tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard
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