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.
As summer gets into full swing, motorcyclists from across Michigan once again have encouraged lawmakers to support legislation that would let them choose whether to wear helmets or not. While the state House and Senate recently passed bills that would allow changes to the law, on Friday Gov. Jennifer Granholm used her veto power and said no.
The legislation would have allowed motorcyclists to ride helmet-free if they purchase special permits. A permit would cost $100 per year or $200 for three years. The proposal was supposed to generate more than $25 million for road patrols, safety programs and other programs.
In the beginning of June, hundreds of motorcycle riders went the Capitol to lobby lawmakers for the right to not wear helmets. Some said they didn’t want government telling them what to do while others claimed that the law requiring the head gear is hurting Michigan’s economy because surrounding states do not require helmets and riders skip Michigan when out on the highways.
Granholm vetoed similar legislation in 2006, and did the same again late Friday (June 13), citing safety concerns. Repealing the state’s mandatory helmet requirement would cause an increase in severe head injuries and deaths, according to AAA Michigan, and in her veto letter to both the House and Senate, Granholm agreed. She said she believes helmets reduce serious injury. In a letter to the Senate explaining her veto, Granholm said: “I do not believe that the legal requirement to wear a helmet while operating or riding on a motorcycle in Michigan should be eliminated.”
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