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 said Wednesday that he is “not unwilling” to ask Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox to conduct an investigation into the release of the HIV-positive status of a man arrested in a May 22 sting operation in a local nature center.
“I am looking at the request [for the investigation] and I am looking at the allegation,” said Bernero, who is running for re-election in the Aug. 4 primary.
On Monday, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Community Health told Michigan Messenger that city officials should request an investigation by the attorney general into the situation, which came to light earlier this month when City Attorney Brigham Smith released documents related to a May 22 sex sting operation conducted in Lansing’s Fenner Nature Center. Two men were arrested in the sting, and the documents released by Smith included arrest reports, one of which revealed the HIV-positive status of one of the arrested men, which may be unlawful.
The man in question was charged with, and subsequently pleaded guilty to, one count of indecent exposure. Michigan Messenger is not identifying the man in question over privacy concerns related to his HIV status.
Some observers, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Lansing Association for Human Rights, have argued that the disclosure violated a stringent state law making the disclosure of one’s HIV status — either negative or positive — illegal except under very specific conditions. None of those conditions includes such disclosures in police reports.
Smith said on Monday the city would not seek an investigation from the attorney general’s office.
Bernero told Michigan Messenger that the allegations that Smith violated state law were “concerning.” He also tried to make clear that private medical information would not be disclosed through official police and fire reports.
“I can assure [residents] I’m going to follow the law,” Bernero said. “I will do everything to ensure that’s done in compliance with the law.”
Bernero also said he does not believe HIV information or other medical information should be released.
“I think it’s a person’s right — again in accordance with the law — to have that and all medical records held as their own information, as their own private information,” Bernero said.
Bernero’s brother died from HIV infection, a fact he talks about to gay gatherings, including June’s Michigan Pride march and rally at the state Capitol.
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