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U.S. NEWS A3
Thursday 21 January 2016
Obama tours auto show, pledges help for Flint
Continued from Front asked Obama on Wednes- President Barack Obama sits in a new Chevrolet Bolt electric car as he visits the 2016 North
day to reconsider his de- American International Auto Show in Detroit, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016, to highlight the progress
Speaking to auto workers nial of a federal disaster made by the American auto industry.
after taking in the North declaration to address the
American International drinking water crisis, saying (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Auto Show, Obama said he its severity poses an “immi-
would be beside himself if nent and long-term threat”
his children’s health were to residents. Obama de-
put at risk. He said he met clared an emergency —
with Flint’s mayor the day qualifying the city for $5 mil-
before and promised fed- lion — but determined that
eral help. it is not a disaster based on
“I told her we are going to the legal requirement that
have her back and all the such additional relief is in-
people of Flint back as they tended for natural events,
work their way through this fires, floods or explosions.
terrible tragedy,” he said. The president spent nearly
Obama sought to highlight an hour at the auto show,
how his administration pro- looking at crash avoid-
vided the auto industry with ance technology from ZF
billions of dollars in capi- TRW and sitting in a 2017
tal during the heart of the Chevy Bolt EV, an all-elec-
Great Recession even as tric car that will be avail-
many others were calling able late this year. He also
for the government to focus looked at a new Chrysler
its resources elsewhere. He Pacifica minivan.
said the outcome of his ad- “You guys remember, ‘Get
ministration’s bet is evident Shorty,’ right?” Obama
through a much-improved said to reporters and pho-
economy. Americans pur- tographers. “It’s cool driv-
chased nearly 17.5 million ing a minivan.”
vehicles last year, a record. After arriving in Detroit,
“What’s true of Detroit is Obama had lunch at a
true of the country,” he brewery with Mayor Mike
said. “I want people to re- Duggan, a GM employee
member how far we’ve and others, then stopped
come.” Obama spoke at at watch maker Shinola be-
the UAW-GM Center for fore heading to the show.
Human Resources, the na- He eventually veered off
tional headquarters of the in the direction of a bright
joint relationship between yellow 2017 Chevrolet Cor-
the United Auto Workers vette.
union and General Motors. “That one is juiced up a
His visit took place as long- little more,” he said.
standing problems with the The White House clearly
drinking water in Flint have intended to shine the spot-
begun to capture the na- light on Detroit, but prob-
tion’s attention. lems in Flint have inter-
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder vened. q
Parts of US South, East brace
for ‘perhaps crippling’ snow
WASHINGTON (AP) — bigger cities could get up
The U.S. South and East are to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of
bracing for a winter storm snow, but first the storm will
at the end of the week with bring ice and freezing rain
the potential for significant to Kentucky, Tennessee
snowfall, including in New and Arkansas on Thursday
York City. night into Friday.
The National Weather Ser- As the storm moves east
vice’s Weather Prediction Friday, it will bring snow
Center is warning of heavy, to West Virginia, Virginia,
“perhaps crippling” snow Maryland and Washington,
in the mid-Atlantic region, D.C.
including the Baltimore, It may reach Philadelphia
Washington and Philadel- on Friday night and affect
phia metro areas. New York City and Long Is-
Prediction center Meteo- land as it moves north.q
rologist Rich Otto says these
