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.
Royal Oak, Mich. attorney Kendra Kleber praised President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed economic stimulus package released Thursday by the House Appropriations Committee. Kleber represents persons living with HIV/AIDS who need Social Security benefits.
Among the targeted efforts outlined in the package Kleber pointed to one in particular that may have a dramatic impact on her clients:
Payments to Disabled and Elderly: $4.2 billion to help 7.5 million low-income disabled and elderly individuals with rising costs by providing an additional SSI payment in 2009 equal to the average monthly federal payment under the program (approximately $450 for an individual and $630 for a couple). This one-time payment will serve as an immediate economic stimulus as half of SSI recipients have no other form of income and the other half average outside income of less than $450 per month.
“It is eight percent of their income for the whole year. It is likely to create a little bit of breathing room for just a little bit,” Kleber said.
“I think its a terrific example of the idea of looking out for the people who most need to be watched out for. If this is the sort of community building this presidential administration is going to seek and provide, you bet I am very excited about this first step and the next four years,” Kleber added.
The summary is available at the House Appropriations Committee website.
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