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.
On Thursday, one of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s attorneys reached out to Gov. Jennifer Granhom to discuss the possibility of a pardon for the crimes to which Kilpatrick has pled not quilty — and which the governor flatly refused to consider. In what appears to be a desperate move Friday, Kilpatrick is trying to seek a plea bargain. Perhaps word that his former mistress was seeking immunity in exchange for her testimony has caused a panic?
Panic, the constant strain of all the media attention, fear of the wrath of God, whatever, the reality of the situation doesn’t seem to have really sunk in yet for Kilpatrick. His idea of a plea deal is nothing more than arrogant demands for no jail time in exchange for the promise of resigning his office, and never darkening our doorways again:
“The mayor’s team would like to see prosecutors remove perjury charges from the table, let the mayor plead to misdemeanors, step down as mayor, and agree not to run again.”
Local 4 news also learned Sharon McPhail, the former City Council member and the mayor’s attorney in his forfeiture hearings, is trying to get the mayor some form of immunity from prosecution during the hearings the governor will oversee. She sent a letter to the governor mentioning a pardon as an example of the kind of protection to which the mayor is legally entitled.
But the governor said Thursday she will not pardon the mayor and cannot grant immunity. She plans to proceed with her hearing in September.
Also Thursday, [Michigan Attorney General Mike] Cox’s office told [Detroit's Local 4 Business Editor Rod] Meloni they have had no discussions with the mayor’s attorneys on any subject and a plea bargain is not under consideration.”
It seems everyone agrees that they want Kwame to just go away — even the Obama camp – but will he still be wearing his trademark expensive suits and diamond stud earring when he gets to where he’s going? Stay tuned…
(Ed. note: Welcome contributor Diane Sweet, who joins Michigan Messenger’s team of Fellows this week!)
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