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 Mayor Virgil Bernero shakes hand with UAW Local 652 President Mike Green. (Photo by Todd A. Heywood/Michigan Messenger)
LANSING — Mayor Virgil Bernero accepted the endorsement of the UAW Local 652 and the UAW Capital Area Community Action Program Council on Friday. The CAP Council represents 27,000 Lansing-area UAW workers.
“Virg has been an outspoken advocate for auto workers and American manufacturing throughout his first term,” Green said in a statement. “He understands that everyone in Lansing is connected to the auto industry in some way and he has taken our city’s fight to Washington. We believe he is the most qualified to advance a progressive, pro-worker agenda in Lansing and we are proud to offer our endorsement.”
“I have often said whatever I am, UAW is part of, could not have made it this point,” Bernero said when accepting the endorsement. Bernero touted his own family history with UAW, saying his father was a UAW worker and as a result he got experience a “middle class lifestyle.”
Describing calls for the end of auto manufacturing a “recipe for disaster,” Bernero also launched into defense of his national television appearances.
“There’s a lot of discussion, as you know, about the future of the auto industry, about the future of manufacturing in Michigan and around the country,” he said. “The UAW is at the forefront of that fight, and I am at the forefront of that fight with you. I’m proud to be shoulder to shoulder with you in the fight for manufacturing.”
Bernero blames the floundering auto industry on free trade agreements, and has woven criticism of the national policy into his bid to be re-elected mayor.
The mayor has been facing criticism from local unions, with many choosing to endorse one of his opponents, Carol Wood, a city council member, while others have opted not to endorse at all. Bernero dismissed those concerns in an interview with Michigan Messenger June 11, saying:
“I know some journalists, some outfits, have been trying to say that there is a lack of labor [support] and that’s just false.”
Bernero will face Wood, Lansing school board member Charles Ford, and student Ben Hassneger in an Aug. 4 primary. The top two vote getters will move onto a November general election.
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