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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

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 [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

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.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

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.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

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.

Alleged Holocaust Museum shooter’s writings maintained on Grand Haven man’s website

By Todd A. Heywood | 06.11.09 | 2:55 pm

The Associated Press is reporting that a website featuring the writings of an 89-year-old suspect in Wednesday’s fatal shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., is run by a man from West Michigan. The website, www.holywesternempire.org, was taken down on Wednesday.

It is registered to Steve Reimink, 45, who lives near Grand Haven in Ottawa County.

But the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate group activity in the United States, has a story that shows Reimink received ownership of the site on June 1. The ownership was transferred from the alleged shooter, James von Brunn. SPLC listed the website in 2003 as a hate website. It was created in 2000.

From the SPLC Blog:

Reimink’s E-mail address, “steveo1488@hotmail.com” includes the symbolic number 1488. In white supremacist circles, 14 refers to the very popular 14-word slogan coined by the late neo-Nazi David Lane: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The letter H is the eighth letter in the alphabet, and 88 often stands for “Heil Hitler.” Reimink’s cell phone was not accepting messages, and he did not respond to an E-mail request for comment.

The SPLC says there are 23 recognized hate groups in Michigan, including at least two such groups in the Grand Rapids area.

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