Michigan plans to charge ex-Gov. Snyder in Flint water probe

Corrosive water from the city's system caused lead to leach from pipes in 2014-15. The system was also blamed for a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.

Two people with knowledge of the planned prosecution said the attorney general’s office has informed defense lawyers about indictments in Flint and told them to expect initial court appearances soon. They spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

It's the latest twist in a scandal that began in 2014 when the source of the majority Black city’s water supply was switched to save money.

The disaster made Flint a nationwide symbol of governmental mismanagement, with residents lining up for bottled water and parents fearing that their children had suffered permanent harm.

Lead can damage the brain and nervous system and cause learning and behavior problems. The crisis was highlighted as an example of environmental injustice and racism.