The crisis in Flint, Mich., goes far beyond the lead in its water, and a new Netflix docu-series sheds light on the city’s much deeper economic and social problems.
“Outside investment is needed to really rebuild this community,” Zackary Canepari, one of the directors of “Flint Town,” told Cheddar.
Flint, home to about 100,000 people, reportedly has fewer than 100 police officers, and violence has run rampant.
Part of the reason is the city’s high unemployment, according to co-director Drea Cooper. He points out that issue stems from General Motors’ leaving town in the 1980s.
“It’s a town that’s missing a core industry,” Cooper said. “It was a town that was built on a singular industry, and now it’s trying to make its way.
“There’s been influx of universities coming in through the University of Michigan, hospitals are coming in, so they’re starting to find a new sort of niche and a new industry. But I think so many of these things start with education and job opportunities.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/welcome-to-flint-town).
The world of sports media continues to be a white-male dominated industry according to the latest Associated Press Sports Editors gender and diversity report card. For the sixth straight release of the report card, the industry received an F for its gender hiring practices. Jen Mueller, a Seattle Seahawks sideline radio reporter and entrepreneur, joined Cheddar's "Between Bells" to talk about some improvements she has witnessed over the span of her career but noted that while change has been evident on some level, much more needs to be done. Jen is also the founder of 'Talk Sporty to Me,' a professional development organization and you can learn more about it by visiting www.talksportytome.com.
Tinder is offering a new feature called Plus One, allowing users to signal that they're looking specifically for a date to a wedding or are open to attending one. The app is also partnering with WeddingWire to help single guests pay for wedding season with a grant giveaway promotion.
For the first time ever, the Food and Drug Administration authorized e-cigarette products for adults, authorizing the marketing of three new tobacco products. R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company can now sell its Vuse Solo products. According to the FDA, the company was able to show its e-cigarettes helped smokers either quit or significantly reduce their use of cigarettes. Derek Peterson, founder and CEO at Soter Technologies, joins Cheddar News to talk about the move.
"Star Trek" actor William Shatner's voice broke with emotion as he recounted his trip into space on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket to Jeff Bezos on October 13, 2021.
Netflix has come out to defend Dave Chappelle following accusations of transphobia leveled at his recent comedy special "The Closer." Despite the backlash, the streaming giant announced it will not remove the special from the platform.
