tron, Inc., recently announced the launch of its new Idea Labs, an organization within Itron that is dedicated to developing new business opportunities in high-growth industries and emerging markets utilizing Itron Riva technology.

The FBI has joined the investigation of Flint?s drinking water contamination, which has left an unknown number of Flint children and other residents poisoned by lead and resulted in state and federal emergency declarations.

Last week, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), John Duncan (R-Tenn.), and Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) introduced the Water Investment Trust Fund Act ? legislation that will provide a small, deficit-neutral, protected source of revenue to help states replace, repair, and rehabilitate critical clean and drinking water facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that Buchanan County, Virginia, and nine other local governments around the nation will receive a total of $500,000 in financial and technical guidance to invest in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP) has announced a call for nominations for candidates for its Board of Directors. The Board is seeking directors to fill as many as six positions for two-year terms.

A coalition of local citizens and national groups filed suit last week seeking federal court intervention to secure access to safe drinking water for the people of Flint, Mich.

American Water has received a Business Achievement Award from the Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) for the seventh year. These awards annually recognize companies and executives for environmental achievements seen as outperforming the market.

Last week, U. S. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) said they would pursue legislation that would pay up to $400 million, matching dollar-for-dollar state investments, for replacing lead service lines and other water infrastructure repairs in Flint.

To say the floodgates have opened on the water crisis in Flint, Mich., would be an understatement, with seemingly worse developments unfolding daily as the situation remains unfixed and the water distribution system remains contaminated with unsafe levels of lead.

The Cleveland Water Alliance and NASA Glenn Research Center have announced a new initiative for economic development that would help NASA Glenn form partnerships with companies and organizations that could help turn water-related technologies into commercial products.