Uran in drinking water and violence on school bus

Torsby Municipality warns residents in Åstrand and Fastnäs about excessive uranium in the drinking water. At the same time, a parent has reported violence and deprivation of liberty on one of the school transport services. Kristinehamn Municipality is terminating two collaborations with non-profit organisations.

Torsby municipality warns of uranium in drinking water

Residents in Åstrand and Fastnäs in Torsby municipality are urged not to drink water from the tap, because it contains too much uranium. The level is just over 30 micrograms per liter, according to the municipality's water and sewerage manager. During the year, Livsmedelsverket, the government agency responsible for rules on food and drinking water, among other things, tightened the permitted levels of uranium in drinking water.

Uran in drinking water can affect kidney function. The municipality has now set up a tank so that those living in the area will have access to suitable drinking water.

Source: SVT Nyheter Värmland

Parent raises alarm about fights on the school bus

A parent has reported several incidents on one of the school transport buses to the school administration, the part of the municipality responsible for schools. According to the parent, the incidents involve fights on the bus, children unfastening other children's seat belts, and children taking hold of other children.

Since school started again, 2 incident reports have been submitted. They concern the same bus route and were sent by the same parent.

Source: NWT

Kristinehamn ends collaborations with two organisations

Kristinehamn Municipality is ending two so-called IOPs – idea-based public partnerships, an agreement between a municipality and a non-profit organisation. One agreement concerns Brottsofferjouren Östra Värmland, which provides support to crime victims, and the other concerns Värme och Vila, a shelter for homeless people.

The announcement came in a press release on Tuesday from the Department of Labour, Skills and Social Welfare in Kristinehamn Municipality. Brottsofferjouren is highly critical of the decision and believes it could lead to far-reaching consequences.

Source: NWT

It voted down its own proposal in Forshaga

The Left Party, a political party, has proposed shortened working hours in healthcare in Forshaga municipality. But when the issue was to be decided, the party chose to vote it down. The situation is described by Anders Ljungsten (M) as a very remarkable situation.

The background is that staff cuts, high rates of sick leave and increased overtime in healthcare and elder care in Forshaga municipality have been a problem and have led to a worse working environment – but not to reduced costs.

Source: NWT

From shop manager to funeral entrepreneur

A 30-year-old woman in Karlstad has changed careers: from shop manager in the beauty industry to funeral entrepreneur. She says she believes she can be a source of reassurance for many people during their most unsettled time, and that she has been warmly received in the small, niche industry.

With an average age of 50, the funeral and cremation industry is among the 25 industries with the highest average age, according to SCB figures.

Source: SVT Nyheter Värmland

Åmål won the top match against Karlskoga IK

Two top teams met in the Hockeyettan western C division on Tuesday. The match ended with a victory for the visiting team Åmål, who defeated Karlskoga IK 6-2 (0-0, 1-1, 5-1) in the early series final.

Source: Värmlands Folkblad

In brief

• A stolen waste container from Kristinehamn municipality may be behind the pile of rubbish that greeted visitors at the Välsviken parking area – the municipality is missing a 38 cubic metre container. NWT
• During the night into Monday, refrigerators and freezers in food stores across Sweden went out, including at ICA Nära Viken in Karlstad, and according to the authorities it appears to have been a cyberattack. SVT Nyheter Värmland
• A Sola Air plane that was on its way to the runway at Kastrup turned back to the gate when a passenger was unaccounted for. NWT
• Hagfors won 6-5 (3-2, 2-0, 1-3) away against Karlskoga in division 1 Mellersta herr in floorball. Värmlands Folkblad
• An activist within RFSL, a federation working for the rights of gay, bisexual and transgender people, has been awarded the Robert Karlsson Svärd memorial prize. Värmlands Folkblad
• In the church tower at Silbodal Church in Årjäng there is a coffin full of forgotten documents, and the inventory has so far covered half of the diocese's 146 churches. SVT Nyheter Värmland