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.
LANSING — Local unions came out and endorsed Lansing City Councilwoman Carol Wood for mayor on Wednesday at a gathering of about 65 people at City Hall Plaza, across the street from the state Capitol.
Lansing mayoral candidate Carol Wood poses for pictures with the leaders of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Teamsters and Lansing Building Trades Unions. (Photo by Todd A. Heywood/Michigan Messenger)
Included in the crowd was former Lansing Mayor Tony Benevides, who also endorsed Wood.
“I am one hundred percent convinced she can win,” Benevides, the city’s first Hispanic mayor, said. He said the union endorsements, first reported by Michigan Messenger on Tuesday, were “very important” to the mayoral race.
Benevides, however, was unwilling to assess how Lansing’s current mayor, Virgil Bernero, has been doing at the helm, only saying: “A lot of people are not happy with his leadership and they are looking for a change.”
Benevides has faced Bernero twice previously. The first time, in 2003, Benevides was victorious, going on to run the city for two years. But Bernero came back and ousted Benevides in 2005.
Benevides disputed Bernero spokesman Randy Hannan’s comments to Michigan Messenger that the unions who did not participate in the Bernero-organized “Save the American Dream” rally at the Capitol on Monday were just “sour grapes.”
“I think he just needed to say something,” Benevides opined. “There is no question [the mayor] has to be worried. Carol will be a challenge.”
Ray Michaels, from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 665, was even harsher in his response the Hannan.
“I think [Hannan's comments] are typical of the administration,” he said. “A simply bully tactic to devalue residents’ and labors’ legitimate issues.”
Wood walked away from Wednesday’s announcement with the IBEW 665 endorsement, Teamsters local 580, Lansing Building Trades and Bricklayers Local 9. She also had the endorsement from Benevides, and current City Councilmember Eric Hewitt, who represents the city’s 1st Ward.
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