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.
DETROIT — So far, not many voters have not cast their ballots in the city’s special mayoral election. The low turnout may reflect how voters prioritize the special election, which is being held to determine who will serve the remainder of ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s term. Or perhaps voters are not excited about the choice of candidates. But whatever the reason, many voters weren’t motivated to get out and vote on Tuesday.
On Detroit’s west side in District 22, which traditionally sees high voter turnout, many precincts had not reached 40 votes before noon. The low voter interest had been anticipated because February’s special election primary also had low turnout, which was around 14 percent. One poll worker at precinct 10 said today’s turnout so far was “about the same pace” as the primary.
At 10:30 a.m., the 5th precinct in District 22 only counted 13 votes. Other precincts in the district had a slightly higher turnout.
One woman leaving Winterhalter Elementary School’s polling station in the 20th precinct said she voted for businessman Dave Bing, but was not enthusiastic about either candidate. “I want something different,” said Bicki Hall, 37. “I want to see everyone new in city hall.”
The 14th precinct in district 22 had 117 votes counted by 11:30 a.m.
The low turnout disappointed Tim Gardener, who was passing out literature for interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. outside a polling station. “Let’s hope after work, people come out,” he said. “It’s not looking good.”
Cockrel said he was prepared for a low turnout.
“Turnout will be light unfortunately,” Cockrel told Michigan Messenger on Saturday. The interim mayor said he expected the turnout on Tuesday would be “along the lines of the primary.”
Polls close at 8 p.m.
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