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.
The Michigan Dept. of Community Health announced today that beginning Oct. 1 it will offer a free one day supply of potassium iodide tablets to people who spend time within ten miles of the state’s three nuclear power plants.
In the unlikely event of a nuclear power plant incident, a radioactive iodine release could occur. Radioactive iodine can be stored in the thyroid gland, causing thyroid cancer or other thyroid related illnesses. A non-prescription drug called potassium iodide (also called “KI”) can prevent these illnesses by reducing the thyroid gland’s ability to absorb radioactive iodine. KI is effective only if taken within a few hours of exposure to radioactive iodine. If a General Emergency is declared at a nuclear power plant, taking KI is recommended as an additional health protective measure, supplementing other emergency measures such as evacuation and protection of the food supply.
MDCH spokesman, James McCurtis, said that today’s announcement is the culmination of a 7 year long effort to develop a potassium iodide distribution plan.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will supply the potassium iodide tablets and administrative costs for the program will be covered by a $62,236 contribution from the state’s nuclear facilities, McCurtis said.
The operating nuclear power plants in Michigan are: Entergy’s Palisades plant in Van Buren County, American Electrical Power’s DC Cook plant in Berrien County, and DTE Energy’s Fermi facility in Monroe County.
More information about the potassium iodide program is here.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter