Former Providence Mayor Vincent 'Buddy' Cianci dies at 74

Mother of man accused in shooting plot says FBI set him up

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The latest on Flint's water crisis and efforts to fix the problem of lead in the drinking water (all times local): 1 p.m. The Michigan Legislature has unanimously approved $28 million in additional funding to address the lead contamination of Flint's water. The emergency spending bill includes money for more bottled water and filters and services to monitor for developmental delays in young children. The funds also will help the city with unpaid water bills and cover testing, monitoring and other costs. It is the second round of state funding allocated since the lead contamination was confirmed in the fall. State regulators permitted Flint to not treat water for corrosion after the city switched its supply in 2014. That allowed lead from old pipes to leach into the water. Gov. Rick Snyder has promised to set aside more funding for Flint in his upcoming budget proposal. ___ 12:10 p.m. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver are meeting with area pastors in the city dealing with lead-tainted drinking water. Snyder said at the beginning of Thursday's meeting it's important for officials to engage with residents as much as possible. Outside the mayor's offices, where the meeting was taking place, Lila Cabbil (LIE'-luh KAB'-uhl) of the People's Water Board and Lynna Kaucheck (LIN'-uh KAW-'chek) of Food and Water Watch showed off the 21,000-plus petitions they were delivering. They want a moratorium on water bills for Flint residents, arguing people shouldn't have to pay for water they can't use or sickens them. State regulators permitted Flint to not treat water for corrosion after the city switched its supply in 2014. That allowed lead from old pipes to leach into the water. ___ 11:45 a.m. U.S. Senate Democrats are introducing a measure to provide up to $400 million in new federal funding to replace and fix lead-contaminated pipes in Flint, Michigan. The bill also requires federal action if a state refuses to warn the public about unsafe water and authorizes $20 million a year to monitor lead exposure in Flint. Democratic Sens. Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan were expected to offer the measure Thursday as an amendment to a Senate energy bill. Flint's water became contaminated when the financially-struggling city switched from the Detroit municipal system and began drawing from the Flint River in 2014 to save money. Regulators failed to ensure the water was treated properly and lead from pipes leached into the supply, leading to a spike in child lead exposure. ___ 11 a.m. The Michigan Senate has unanimously approved $28 million in additional funding to address the lead contamination of Flint's water. The emergency spending bill includes money for more bottled water and filters and services to monitor for developmental delays in young children. The funds also will help the city with unpaid water bills and cover testing, monitoring and other costs. It is the second round of state funding allocated since the lead contamination was confirmed in the fall. The House is expected to send the legislation to Gov. Rick Snyder later Thursday. State regulators permitted Flint to not treat water for corrosion after the city switched its supply in 2014. That allowed lead from old pipes to leach into the water. Snyder has promised to set aside more funding for Flint in his upcoming budget proposal. ___ 9:10 a.m. Tom Gores, a Flint native and owner of the Detroit Pistons, is pledging to raise $10 million to address the short- and long-term needs of his Michigan hometown, where the drinking water is contaminated with lead. Gores said in a statement Thursday he has appointed two associates to raise money from other business leaders and identify priorities in Flint. Gores, who is chairman of Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity, also will contribute. He says Flint once was a "cornerstone of American industry," and that people "from coast to coast" need to step up. Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem and Platinum Equity partner Mark Barnhill will lead the effort. Barnhill says the residents' immediate needs are important but that long-term opportunities in Flint will also be explored, such as small business assistance. ___ 2 a.m. The Michigan Legislature is poised to approve $28 million in additional funding to address the lead contamination of Flint's water. The emergency spending bill up for final voting Thursday includes money for more bottled water and filters and services to monitor for developmental delays in young children. The funds also will help the city with unpaid water bills and cover testing, monitoring and other costs. It is the second round of state funding allocated since the lead contamination was confirmed in the fall. State regulators permitted Flint to not treat water for corrosion after the city switched its supply in 2014. That allowed lead from old pipes to leach into the water. Gov. Rick Snyder has promised to propose more funding for Flint in his upcoming budget proposal.

The Latest: Legislature OKs $28M to address Flint crisis