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.
[Ed. note: Michigan Messenger Fellow Todd Heywood has been on site this evening covering Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign event in Grand Rapids at the Van Andel Arena. Be sure to catch the liveblog post as well.]
The crowd has dispersed now after the motorcade carrying Barack Obama and John Edwards pulled away. Of note: Both Obama and Edwards left in the same dark SUV, Edwards clearly visible waving at the crowd. Before the candidate and former candidate departed, there had been a small number of Clinton supporters carrying signs and protesting among the crowd of Obama supporters waiting for the motorcade.
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Approximately two thousand people are waiting outside the arena after the event, waiting for Obama's motorcade to leave. 25 protesters have now started chanting, audible on the phone as Todd calls in his report. The leader of the protest appears to be Justin Zatkoff of College Republicans in Michigan.
Two white males, one wearing a red shirt with a swastika and the other wearing a Knight of the Ku Klux Klan t-shirt are standing across from the Van Andel Arena, jeering at people as they emerge from the Arena after Barack Obama's campaign event. Secret Service are watching them, as are members of the police department.
Van Andel Arena beginning to fill up with supporters. Many remain lined up blocks away from the Arena waiting their chance to get into the arena, which is seating on first come, first serve basis.
Attendees waiting outside.
Protesters' signage.
The smallish crowd of protesters in advance of the Obama event.
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