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 [...]
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.
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.
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.
The Kalamazoo City Commission unanimously repealed an ordinance to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression. The Commission approved the ordinance unanimously last month, but opponents, lead by the American Family Association of Michigan, collected enough signatures to put the ordinance up for a public vote.
The move means voters will not have to vote on the ordinance, and the ordinance is revoked and will not go into effect.
But according to the Kalamazoo Gazette, city leaders expect to bring the ordinance up again.
Commissioners talked individually over the past week, saying Monday they hoped a cooling-off period would allow for talks to negotiate a middle ground.
Opponents said the City Commission failed to take the community into account when it passed the law originally. And while opponents did gather enough signatures to put the ordinance to a vote, not one person spoke against the ordinance in the public hearings leading up to its passage.
Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell says he now is ready to move forward and find a way to protect the gay community in city ordinances.
From the Gazette,
“My intent is that we will have an ordinance that will provide protections to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals,” Hopewell told a standing-room crowd with mixed opinions.
Also in attendance and opposing the ordinance was former Republican State Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Texas Corners. Hoogendyk was a staunch opponent of LGBT inclusive legislation in the state house, and is currently running to be the chair of the GOP in Michigan.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter