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Southwest Michigan Today: Wednesday April 4, 2018

A leak in the Straits of Mackinac comes from electrical transmission lines, not an oil pipeline. The Agriculture Secretary tries to reassure farmers about trade during a visit to Michigan. WMU drops a softball game to rival Central Michigan as a second game is called off due to weather. 

Two cables running under the Straits of Mackinac were shut down yesterday after leaking over 400 gallons of dielectric fluid into the straits. The lines are operated by American Transmission Company, which operates electrical transmissions between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, as well as other parts of the Midwest. A Spokesperson for the American Transmission Company says at least 400 gallons of fluid made it into the straits. She’s unsure of what if any environmental impact the leak may have on the Straits. (WCMU

US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the Trump administration won’t allow American farmers to be pawns in a trade war with China. This week, China imposed a 25 percent tariff on US pork and 15 percent on certain fruits, including apples. Michigan exports a substantial amount of both commodities. Speaking at Michigan State University, Secretary Perdue said he shares the anxieties of farmers. He said the administration is planning its next move but declined to give details. (WKAR)

Michigan’s pork industry could suffer financially due to increased tariffs on US imports to China. The changes were announced Monday for three billion dollars’ worth of US imports. The move affects nearly 130 goods including a number of pork products. About 25-percent of pork produced in the US goes to export markets. The CEO of the Michigan Pork Producers Association Mary Kelpinski says a 25-percent increase in tariffs for pork products could negatively affect some of Michigan’s two-thousand pig farms. (WDET)

In softball, Western Michigan lost to Central Michigan Tuesday 5-2. The Broncos and Chippewas were scheduled to play a double header, but the second game was called off due to weather. Western and Central will make up the game by playing a double header in Mount Pleasant April 11th.