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WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, ELECTION WORKERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. I THOUGHT THAT WORKING FOR THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS WOULD ENABLE ME TO DO MY PART. BUT THIS PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN SAYS HIGH TURNOVER IN THE OFFICE SET HER UP FOR FAILURE. THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAPPENED TO ME. WE EXPLORED THE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THOSE CHARGED WITH GUIDING OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND JACK JOHNSON WAS THE FIRST GREAT BLACK CELEBRITY. JACK JOHNSON WAS THE HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION OF THE WORLD AT THE HEIGHT OF THE JIM CROW ERA. THIS IS AMERICA, YOU KNOW. HE IS THAT WITH ALL ITS BEAUTY AND ALL OF ITS VIOLENCE. HOW A FIGHT IN THE RING TRANSFIXED A NATION AND TURNED DEADLY IN ITS SEGREGATED STREETS AND LATER CORRODED PIPES ARE LEAKING LEAD INTO THE WATER THAT RUNS TO MILLIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS. WE’LL SHOW YOU A NEW DIGITAL MAP TRACKING WHERE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE ALL THIS NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. ELECTION DAY. 2024 IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY. BUT GIVEN THE TURNOVER OF ELECTION OFFICIALS, WHO’S GOING TO OVERSEE IT? THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE RECENTLY SURVEYED LOCAL ELECTION WORKERS FOR MORE THAN 1 IN 5 OF THEM. THIS WILL BE THEIR FIRST TIME SERVING DURING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THAT’S EQUIVALENT TO UP TO TWO LOCAL OFFICIALS LEAVING OFFICE EVERY DAY SINCE NOVEMBER 2020. PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE OF MANY STATES TRYING TO URGENTLY FILL THESE VACANCIES ARE CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN TRAVELS. THERE TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE ON A JOB THAT MANY ARE CHOOSING TO LEAVE. I KNEW THAT THERE WAS KIND OF A REVOLVING DOOR WITHIN THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS, BUT I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW BAD IT WAS UNTIL I GOT THERE. BETH GILBERT IS ONE OF AT LEAST EIGHT ELECTION OFFICIALS IN LUZERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, WHO HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I WAS HIRED ORIGINALLY AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS ON MY THIRD DAY ON THE JOB, I WAS CALLED INTO THE THEN DIRECTOR’S OFFICE AND I WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE LEAVING. SO I WAS QUICKLY BEING FORCED INTO THE ROLE OF ACTING DIRECTOR. LUZERNE IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS. THREE MONTHS INTO THE JOB DURING THE 2022 MIDTUM ELECTIONS, HER OFFICE FAILED TO ORDER ENOUGH BALLOTS AT THE WORST POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. HAPPENED TO ME. AN INVESTIGATION LATER CONFIRMED A LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WAS TO BLAME. BUT GILBERT STILL BEGAN RECEIVING DEATH THREATS AND DECIDED TO RESIGN. BEING THAT I HAVE A YOUNG SON, I JUST DECIDED THAT IT WASN’T. IT WASN’T WORTH IT. HIGH TURNOVER OF ELECTION OFFICIALS IS NOT UNIQUE TO LUZERNE. ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA’S 67 COUNTIES, MORE THAN 50 OFFICIALS HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS SINCE 2020. THAT’S YOUR BALLOT? YEAH. THE WAVE OF RESIGNATIONS HAS LEFT THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE’S COUNTIES WITHOUT EXPERIENCED STAFF TO RUN ELECTIONS IN POLLING SITES. THERE’S NO REDOS WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE DO EVERYTHING EXACTLY RIGHT. AL SCHMITT IS PENNSYLVANIA’S SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH, WHO PREVIOUSLY SPENT A DECADE AS A PHILADELPHIA CITY COMMISSIONER, HELPING TO RUN ELECTIONS. HIS FAMILY, TOO, FACED DEATH THREATS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION. IN TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS, SCHMITT RECENTLY SOUNDED THE ALARM ABOUT HOW THE THREATS ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE RECEIVING MAKES IT HARD TO KEEP THEM ON THE JOB IF THEY’RE ABLE TO RETIRE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY DON’T WANT TO PUT UP WITH THIS ANYMORE, THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO WHAT IS PENNSYLVANIA DOING TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS? NOW? ONE IS RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS TO TO STAND UP AND FILL THIS IMPORTANT ROLE. AND, AND THE ONES WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY THE NEWER ONES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO THEM. HEY, I GOT THREE BALLOTS FOR BERKS COUNTY HERE TODAY. THE BEST TRAINING COMES FROM SEASONED COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS LIKE JERRY FEASER, WHO HAS BEEN HEAD OF ELECTIONS IN DAUPHIN COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES THE STATE CAPITAL OF HARRISBURG FOR TEN YEARS. YOU BASICALLY HAVE FOUR ELECTION CYCLES. SO IT TAKES FOUR YEARS. IF YOU’VE NOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE IN ELECTIONS TO REALLY GET A COMPLETE PICTURE. HE SAYS THAT MENTORSHIP AND THE TRANSFER OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IS KEY, AND HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS TRAINING HIS SUCCESSOR, 33 YEAR OLD CHRIS SPACKMAN. HE’S YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE MY SON AND JOKINGLY SOMETIMES I REMIND HIM I HAVE TIES OLDER THAN HIM. WHEN I STARTED TO THINK, NOW’S THE TIME FOR ME TO START TO PLAN, AND I WAS GOING TO LEAVE IN 2023. I MADE THE DECISION THAT I WANTED TO GIVE THAT YOUNG MAN ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE I HAD. AND KNOWLEDGE, FEASER SAYS, IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING VOTERS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OFFICIALS AND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. YES, THE PERFECT IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW TO EXPLAIN THE SAFEGUARDS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO ENGENDER THE CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTERS BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DISPEL THEIR MISCONCEPTIONS. YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW WHAT THEY HEARD IS NOT EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST THEY’RE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR HEAD ABOVE WATER AND THEY’RE GETTING GRENADES BOMBED. YOU KNOW, THROWN AT THEM. THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION THAT AL SCHMITT SAYS MUST BE ADDRESSED FOR RECRUITING EFFORTS TO BE TRULY SUCCESSFUL. HE’S CALLING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SECURE ELECTION SITES AND THOSE WORKING THERE. GRANT FUNDING IS ONE MECHANISM FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT ELECTION FACILITIES ARE PROTECTED THE WAY THEY SHOULD, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS IMPORTANT ROLE FEEL SAFE IN DOING THEIR JOB. A FEELING THAT BETH GILBERT SAYS WILL HELP PREVENT RESIGNATIONS LIKE HERS AND AS A RESULT, ENSURE PUBLIC TRUST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. IT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE IN THERE WITH ELECTIONS EXPERIENCE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THESE ISSUES DON’T HAPPEN, AND SO THAT WE DON’T ADD MORE FODDER FOR ELECTION DENIERS. ALL FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M DAN LIEBERMAN IN PENNSYLVANIA NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, GROWING UP, HE WAS CAPTIVATED BY THE STORY OF THE WORLD’S FIRST BLACK HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. I LEARNED ABOUT JACK JOHNSON FROM MY MOTHER, HOW A CHILDHOOD STORY INSPIRED YEARS OF RESEARCH AND A ONE OF A KIND GRAPHIC NOVEL. AND THIS NEWSPAPER MEANS A LOT TO A VILLAGE IN MICHIGAN. IT’S JUST A SMALL PART OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT MAKES A COMMUNITY SPECIAL. NOW THE OWNERS SAY THEY CAN’T FIND A BUYER AND THEY WANT TO RETIRE. A LOOK AT THE TOWN’S CREATIVE PLAN TO KEEP THE PAPER GOING. PLUS HOW THIS ROAD IS HELPING ELECTRIC VEHICLES GO THE EXTRA MILE. YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. BOXING LEGEND JACK JOHNSON ONCE HAD THE NATION’S ATTENTION. HE HAD JUST BECOME THE FIRST BLACK WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION IN HIS DOMINANCE IN THE RING. MATCHED BY HIS FLAMBOYANCE IN LIFE, GOLD TEETH, TAILORED SUITS, FAST CARS. THE YEAR WAS 1908 AND A SEGREGATED AMERICA WAS NOT YET READY TO ACCEPT HIM OR HIS CELEBRITY. THE RESPONSE TO HIS SUCCESS TURNED VIOLENT AND DEADLY. OUR CORRESPONDENT ALEXIS CLARK TAKES US TO CHICAGO, WHERE JOHNSON MADE HIS HOME AND INTRODUCES US TO A POET PRESERVING AND SHARING JOHNSON’S LEGACY IN A NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL. JUST A WORD OF CAUTION. SOME OF THE VISUALS IN THIS STORY YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE ARE DIFFICULT TO WATCH. WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS ABOUT THE SAME, THE RING IS THE SAME SIZE. I MET ADRIAN MATEJKA AT THE SAM COLONNA BOXING GYM IN THE WINDY CITY, ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM WHERE JACK JOHNSON OWNED HIS OWN GYM. I LEARNED ABOUT JACK JOHNSON FROM MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS A KID. WE USED TO WATCH BOXING THAT CHILDHOOD MEMORY LED MATEJKA TO WRITE, NOT ONE, BUT TWO BOOKS ABOUT JOHNSON, THE FIRST A BOOK OF POEMS AND THE LATEST, A GRAPHIC NOVEL. LAST ON HIS FEET. JACK JOHNSON HIMSELF WAS THE FIRST GENERATION AFTER EMANCIPATION. BORN IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, IN 1878, JOHNSON KNEW HE DIDN’T WANT A LIFE IN THE COTTON FIELDS WITH A THIRD GRADE EDUCATION. HE LEFT THE SOUTH, EVENTUALLY MAKING HIS WAY TO CHICAGO. HOW DID HE COME TO DECIDE THAT BOXING WAS HIS TICKET TO FAME AND FORTUNE? BOXING WAS THE PRIMARY SPORT IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD WAS TO BE THE TOUGHEST, MOST WELL KNOWN PERSON ON THE PLANET. AT SIX FOOT TWO AND NEARLY 240 POUNDS, JOHNSON WANTED A MATCH WITH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION TOMMY BURNS, AND HE WOULD SHOW UP IN THE FRONT ROW OF THIS MAN’S FIGHT AND CHALLENGE HIM. I’LL FIGHT YOU FOR FREE. TOMMY BURNS GOT SO TIRED OF THIS THAT HE WAS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I’LL FIGHT YOU, JONATHAN CLINCHES WITH TOMMY AND SMILES TO RINGSIDERS. ON DECEMBER 26TH, 1908, JOHNSON KNOCKED OUT BURNS IN THE 14TH ROUND IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. NOT ONLY DID JOHNSON BECOME THE FIRST BLACK HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, BUT HE ALSO EARNED THE TITLE THE MOST HATED MAN IN AMERICA. WHEN JACK JOHNSON BECAME THE CHAMPION, HE WAS REGULARLY SLURRED AND YOU DON’T HOLD BACK IN YOUR BOOK. THAT WAS TOUGH. BUT IT WAS ALSO PART OF THE WAY HIS DAY TO DAY, DAY WAS. AND WE DIDN’T WANT TO SUGARCOAT IT. THE WE ADRIAN REFERS TO IS HIMSELF AN ARTIST’S USE OF DAOUDI, WHO ILLUSTRATED THE BOOK FROM HIS HOME IN FRANCE. TELL ME ABOUT HIS FLAMBOYANT --. WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS BEHIND IT? JACK JOHNSON DIDN’T PRESCRIBE TO THE BELIEF THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HUMBLE. HE BEHAVED LIKE A 21ST CENTURY ATHLETE AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO TEMPLATE FOR IT. BUT JOHNSON ALSO COMMITTED THE MOST SERIOUS TABOO OF THE TIME HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHITE WOMEN. HE BECAME SO DESPISED THAT FORMER CHAMPION JIM JEFFRIES WAS PRESSURED OUT OF RETIREMENT TO FIGHT JOHNSON FOR THE TITLE. JEFFRIES WAS NICKNAMED THE GREAT WHITE HOPE. BUT ON JULY 4TH, 1910, IN RENO, NEVADA, JOHNSON KNOCKED JEFFRIES OUT IN FRONT OF 22,000 PEOPLE. THE REACTION BY SOME WHITES IN THE U.S. TO A BLACK MAN BEATING A GREAT WHITE HOPE WOULD BE TO RIOT, AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN DOZENS OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHEN NEWS BROKE OF JOHNSON’S VICTORY RIOTS THAT KILLED BETWEEN 11 AND 26 PEOPLE. TRUE TO THE DETAILS OF JOHNSON’S LIFE, MATEJKA STORYTELLING PORTRAYS THE VIOLENCE IN JOHNSON’S PERSONAL LIFE. THIS MAN’S WHOLE LIFE WAS VIOLENCE. HIS PARENTS WERE ENSLAVED. THEY PASSED THE TRAUMA THAT THEY HAD ON TO HIM, AND HE PASSED THAT VIOLENCE ON. JOHNSON ABUSED HIS WIFE, ETTA. HE HAD AFFAIRS WITH SEX WORKERS. SO THIS IS THE TRAGIC NIGHT. IN 1912, ETTA KILLED HERSELF IN THEIR CHICAGO APARTMENT. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS DOWNFALL? HIS LIFESTYLE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM. A YEAR LATER, JOHNSON WAS INDICTED UNDER THE MANN ACT, A LAW THAT MADE IT A CRIME TO TRANSPORT WOMEN ACROSS STATE LINES FOR PROSTITUTION. AND HE SERVED A YEAR IN LEAVENWORTH. IT WAS PRETTY SAD. HE WAS NO LONGER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION. NOBODY CARED ABOUT HIM. AND IN 1946, IT ALL ENDED IN A TRAGIC CAR CRASH. HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL ABOUT HIS LEGACY? I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE HOW QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN JACK JOHNSON IS LIKE. HE IS SELF-MADE MADE, WAS A CAPITALIST. HE JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE HIS HUMANITY. HE WANTED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS, IN FACT, A MAN IN CHICAGO. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M ALEXIS CLARK. COMING UP, A LOCAL PAPER WITH DEEP ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY IS STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. WE DON’T WANT IT TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE SHUTTING DOWN 151 YEAR OLD BUSINESS. HOW THE TOWN’S LEADERS ARE STEPPING IN TO HELP SAVE THE PAPER. THAT’S PART OF THEIR HISTORY. PLUS, WE WATER IS KEY TO LIFE. SO WHAT’S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THE DANGERS FACED BY 9 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS GETTING THEIRS THROUGH LEAD PIPES? AND ACTION. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT LOCAL NEWSPAPERS IN SMALL TOWNS ARE RAPIDLY DISAPPEARING, AND THAT LEAVES MANY COMMUNITIES IN WHAT’S CALLED A NEWS DESERT. RESEARCHERS PREDICT THERE WILL BE FEWER THAN 6000 NEWSPAPERS LEFT IN AMERICA BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. THAT’S A NEARLY ONE THIRD LOSS SINCE 2005. THOSE THAT REMAIN ARE NOT IN THE CLEAR FIGHTING AGAINST A DROP IN ADVERTISING DOLLARS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. ONE PAPER IN MICHIGAN IS TRYING TO FIGHT AGAINST THOSE ODDS. THE HOMER INDEX WAS CREATED 150 YEARS AGO AND COVERS NEWS FOR THE VILLAGE OF HOMER, WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES OUTSIDE OF BATTLE CREEK AND HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 1700. WE TALKED TO THE OWNERS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHO ARE DESPERATE TO SELL THE INDEX, SO THEY CAN RETIRE, OUR CORRESPONDENT DINA DEMETRIUS HAS MORE ON THE PAPER LOOKING FOR AN OFFER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. I’VE ALWAYS SAID THAT NEWSPAPERS ARE A WAY COMMUNITIES TALK TO EACH OTHER ON THIS STRETCH OF SOUTHERN MICHIGAN, DOTTED WITH DAIRY AND CROP FARMS, SITS THE NEARLY 200 YEAR OLD VILLAGE OF HOMER. THERE’S $4. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. SINCE 1872, THE HOMER INDEX HAS CHRONICLED THE LIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF THIS COMMUNITY OF 1700. FOR THREE DECADES NOW, SHARON WARNER HAS RUN THE BUSINESS END WHILE HER HUSBAND, MIKE, HAS BEEN ITS PUBLISHER AND PRACTICALLY ITS SOLE REPORTER AND PHOTOGRAPHER. THE WARNERS PUT EVERY PENNY THEY HAD $75,000 INTO BUYING THE INDEX. NOW THE TIME HAS COME TO RETIRE, BUT THE PLAN TO SELL IT AND FUND THEIR NASA STAKE HAS STALLED. THEY LAST LISTED IT FOR $150,000, AND SO FAR THERE ARE NO TAKERS. AND IF WE WERE TO SHUT OUR DOORS AND GO AWAY, THE COMMUNITY IN MY OPINION, WOULD LOSE A TREMENDOUS ASSET. SHUTTING DOWN THE INDEX WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE TO THIS LIFELONG JOURNALIST AND HIS FAMILY. THEY’VE DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO FOSTERING PRIDE AND A TIGHT COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PAPER’S STORY. BUT MORE IMPORTANT IS THE INDEX’S PRESENCE AROUND VILLAGE GOVERNANCE. WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND, UH, SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE A WATCHDOG, EVEN IF EVEN IF THERE ARE VERY FEW OCCASIONS WHERE IT’S NEEDED. JEFF SHERMAN IS A VILLAGE COUNCILMAN AND LONGTIME BUSINESS OWNER, AND ARTICLE IS THE VILLAGE MANAGER. IF WE’RE RELYING ON SOMEBODY FROM DETROIT OR JACKSON OR BATTLE CREEK, IT’S NOT GOING TO SAME THAT SAME THAT SAME PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT’S GOING ON. AND SO IT BUILDS TRUST. IT DOES. IT BUILDS TRUST. AND AND IT BUILDS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEWSPAPER. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE IT. I THINK LOCAL JOURNALISM CERTAINLY PROVIDES INFORMATION, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES SOCIAL COHESION. KAREN LYNETTE CLEMENTSON IS A LONGTIME JOURNALIST AND NOW THE DIRECTOR OF THE WALLACE HOUSE CENTER FOR JOURNALISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. WE’RE ACTUALLY IN A FIGHT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE’RE IN THE A FIGHT FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OUR DEMOCRACY, AND WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN THAT. TO THAT END, WARNER APPROACHED KALE AND LITCHFIELD BUSINESSMAN BRIAN SMITH TO HELP CREATE A NONPROFIT WITH GRANTS AND DONATIONS AS A NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR THE INDEX. WE DON’T WANT TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE SHUTTING DOWN 151 YEAR OLD BUSINESS. I’VE ALWAYS CONSIDERED CHENNAI AS CARETAKER OF THE NEWSPAPER, SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE TRYING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX IN TERMS OF A NONPROFIT OR SOMETHING TO KEEP THIS PAPER GOING IN HOMER, MICHIGAN, I’M DINA DEMETRIOS, FOR MATTER OF FACT, AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, A LOOK AT THE EPA’S PROPOSAL TO REMOVE ALL OF AMERICA’S LEAD PIPES WITHIN TEN YEARS, PLUS CONCERNS OVER ACCESS TO CHARGING CAN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BUYING AN ELECTRIC CAR. COULD THE ROADS WE DRIVE ON BE THE ANSWER TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. EV. NEARLY TEN YEARS AFTER THE FLINT WATER CRISIS BEGAN, LEAD PIPES ARE STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN AMERICA. MORE THAN 9 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS GET THEIR WATER THROUGH LEAD PIPES AND SERVICE LINES. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. SO HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS THIS IN YOUR STATE? CHECK OUT THIS INTERACTIVE MAP FAST COMPANY BUILT IT USING THE EPA’S STATE BY STATE BREAKDOWN AS YOU CAN SEE, FLORIDA LEADS THE WAY WITH ROUGHLY 1.2 MILLION LEAD SERVICE LINES, FOLLOWED BY ILLINOIS AND OHIO. VO LEAD IS A HEALTH HAZARD CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN AND KIDNEYS, AND THAT HAS THE EPA MAKING A NEW, MORE FORCEFUL PUSH FOR LEAD PIPE REMOVAL. IT’S PRESENTED A PROPOSAL THAT REQUIRES WATER UTILITIES TO REPLACE THE PIPES IN TEN YEARS. THIS WOULD BE A MASSIVE, LABOR INTENSIVE AND COSTLY PROJECT. THE EPA DOESN’T PROVIDE SPECIFICS ON JUST WHO’S FOOTING THE BILL, BUT THE RECENT INFRASTRUCTURE LAW DOES DEDICATE MORE THAN $10 BILLION TOWARD LEAD PIPE REMOVAL. TOTAL COSTS, THOUGH, WILL LIKELY FAR EXCEED THAT, WITH SOME ESTIMATES AS HIGH AS $60 BILLION. THE PROPOSAL GOES THROUGH A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED NEXT YEAR. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, DETROIT IS KNOWN AS THE HUB OF THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY. NOW IT’S HOME TO THE FIRST STREET THAT CHARGES ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS THEY DRIVE ON IT. A LOOK AT HOW IT WAND FINALLY, Y PHONE ON A WIRELESS CHARGING PAD. SO WHY NOT YOUR CAR? SERIOUSLY, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ROAD. IT’S JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. LOOKS UNASSUMING, BUT WHAT’S UNDERNEATH COULD BE A MAJOR ADVANCEMENT IN THE NATION’S MOVE TO CLEAN TRANSPORTATION IN THIS QUARTER MILE SECTION IS BEING USED TO TEST NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT CHARGES ELECTRIC VEHICLES. EVEN AS THEY DRIVE. HOW DOES IT WORK? WELL, COPPER COILS ARE BURIED UNDER THE ROAD SURFACE USING MAGNETIC FREQUENCY. THEY CHARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT HAVE A RECEIVER PAD ATTACHED TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ONE REPORT SHOWING AN EVS BATTERY TICKED UP FROM 66% TO 68% AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. WELL, THANKFULLY, THE STREET IS STILL SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK ON. IT’S THE FIRST ROAD OF ITS KIND IN THE US, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS CREATED BY THE COMPANY ELECTREON, IS ALSO BEING TESTED IN OTHER COUNTRIES. MICHIGAN’S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS THEIR TEST DRIVE TEST ROAD WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IT’S TRULY A PATH INTO THE FUTURE. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANY TIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.