Top Stories

The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

HIV-AIDS-small
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

foreclosure
By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

epa_logo
By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Investigative journalist to discuss toxic chemicals in everyday products and what to do about them

By Kevin Shopshire | 04.09.08 | 7:00 am

What can Michigan legislators do to help improve protections for the public against toxic products? That’s one of the questions to be addressed by investigative reporter Mark Schapiro this week in Ann Arbor.

Internationally acclaimed journalist Schapiro is editorial director of the Center for Investigative Reporting and author of the book “Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What’s at Stake for American Power.” He will be the featured speaker at the Ecology Center‘s annual membership meeting set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. in room 101 of the Morris Lawrence Building in Ann Arbor.

Schapiro’s new book investigates how corporations intent on thwarting passage of stricter environmental and health guidelines in the United States are forced to meet new demands by the European Union to improve their products. In his speech he will cover that issue and also discuss why Michigan receives toxic products from around the world and what the Michigan Legislature can do to help protect the public.

Schapiro has been an investigative journalist for more than two decades, focusing on environmental and international affairs, and his work has appeared in  “Harper’s, The Nation, Mother Jones” and “The Atlantic Monthly.” He’s also been a correspondent on the PBS program “NOW with Bill Moyers.”

The Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit organization focusing on investigative reporting. The work is led by a small West Coast staff and augmented by a nationwide team of independent reporters and producers.

The Ecology Center is a membership-based, nonprofit environmental organization founded by community activists after the country’s first Earth Day in 1970. It works at the local, state and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, environmental justice and a sustainable future. The event is free and open to the general public. Call (734) 761-3186, extension 104, for more information.

Comments