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.
In case you’ve been wondering how economic stimulus is getting off the ground in Michigan, here’s a partially constructed timeline reflecting the start of the economic stimulus process with a focus on Lansing:
Jan. 13, 2009 –
Michigan Municipal League (MML) releases a list of improvement projects from across the state.
Jan. 15, 2009 –
Michigan Messenger reports that governor’s office does not have a list of “shovel-ready” projects; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has a list of 208 projects from MDOT,though. Not previously reported: MDOT does not return multiple phone calls to Michigan Messenger about the list of projects in AASHTO’s possession.
CRAM sends a second reminder to counties calling for project lists, a few hours after Michigan Messenger’s article is published. Only 41 of 83 counties have furnished their list as of this reminder.
Jan. 17, 2009 –
The U.S. Conference of Mayors Web site now has a list of “ready to go” projects, including a list of Lansing projects totally $132 million.
Jan. 20, 2009 –
Michigan Messenger reports on state list of “shovel-ready” projects; MML has a list, governor’s office is still working on list.
Jan. 24/25, 2009 (weekend) –
Lansing State Journal reports via LSJ.com on MML list.
Governor’s office connects with MML and arranges to have MML’s project list shared with them.
Jan. 26, 2009 –
Michigan Messenger reports on Elsie’s “rail to nowhere” and Meridian Township’s unwanted library.
Jan. 28, 2009 –
Michigan Messenger interview with State Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) notes confusion about economic stimulus projects list process.
In Washington, D.C., the economic stimulus package is passed by the House; the bill now moves to the Senate.
Jan. 29, 2009 –
Mayor Virgil Bernero meets with Lansing City Council, which has until now not seen any list from his office; the list Bernero submits today does not match that published on U.S. Mayors’ Conference of “ready to go” projects. At least one city council member expresses anger that they have not been consulted earlier about the project list or its preparation.
Sources say that a Michigan State Senate Fiscal Agency report released today says that the Republican-led state senate will be responsible for appropriating stimulus funds. We’re looking for verification of the actual final appropriation and approval process.
Jan. 30, 2009 –
Governor Granholm’s deadline for submitting “shovel-ready” projects for consideration under stimulus package funding; the governor’s office will make the official estimates of jobs to be created based on a formula not currently available, to be calculated by a formula generated by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
If this is what the process looks like in capital city Lansing, one might wonder what the process look like across the rest of the state’s municipalities, counties and state officials’ offices. Will we have not only “shovel-ready” but “shovel-worthy” projects submitted tomorrow to the governor’s office?
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