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.
Amid the buzz around Al Gore’s rousing endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama last night at Joe Louis Arena was the presumed presidential nominee’s use of his campaign stop in Detroit to register voters, inspire droves of new volunteers and shore up his support in this crucial electoral state.
Obama spoke before a wildly enthusiastic capacity crowd during his third visit to Michigan in just a few weeks. The appearance came during his economic policy tour and addressed the state’s job losses and woes like home foreclosures and struggling schools.
“Here in the United States, here in Detroit, here in Michigan, there’s a quiet desperation,” Obama said. “The American people can feel the American dream slipping away.”
Obama, speaking at times with one hand casually in his pants pocket as he walked comfortably around the stage, sounded environmental themes throughout his speech, tying Michigan’s economic future to technology like alternative-fuel vehicles that could help ameliorate climate change. In a speech to one of the nation’s most heavily black cities, he only minimally addressed race. Obama’s words seemed aimed at the state as a whole.
The chief purpose of Obama’s appearance could be glimpsed not in the familiar face of the former vice president but in the excited faces of the people in the crowd. Obama stayed away from Michigan during the long primary season after the state Democratic Party chose to move its primary to Jan. 15 in violation of national party rules. His repeated recent visits in the past month indicate Obama is making up for lost time.
Continued -“This is significant because Barack Obama was not on our primary ticket,” said Detroit resident and educator Regina Randall. “People who believed in him had to vote `uncommitted,’ which did not sit well with us.Now that the primary is over, it’s time Barack Obama gives Detroit this due attention.”
Obama’s campaign clearly believes Detroit is fertile ground for new voters and volunteers. Attendees passed volunteer sign-up tables on their way into the arena, and it was difficult to walk a few feet without bumping into someone registering new voters. Detroit Pistons basketball star Chauncey Billups took the stage shortly before Obama’s speech to push audience members to register.
“Even though everyone came out today and showed up … we’ve got to make sure everyone goes out and registers to vote,” he said.
Event attendees had been asked to RSVP online, with the sole purpose of gathering their information for the campaign’s email list. And during his speech, Obama made his own bid for help from the audience.
“Starting tonight we need you to volunteer
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