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.
Teachers from the Flint School District are due in court Thursday to prove that a planned move from one health insurance plan to another violates the union’s agreement with the district.
The Flint Journal reports that Flint school officials are dropping MESSA insurance, which is run by the Michigan Education Association, in favor of HealthPlus of Michigan coverage.
Union officials from the United Teachers of Flint say the change in insurance violates the district’s agreement with teachers which mandates changes in insurance coverage require the plans to have the same offerings.
Union officials say the two plans are not the same, while district officials say they are the same, reports the Flint Journal.
Flint teachers do not have a current employment contract with the district, and are operating under an extension deal while the two sides negotiate.
The battle over insurance will be heard Thursday in an evidence hearing before Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah. The teachers filed a request for an injunction Monday and Farah ordered the hearing on Thursday calling the situation “somewhat of an emergency.”
District officials say the move could save the school system as much as $3 million a year.
In his order Monday, Farah mentioned the teachers such as Lisa Eikey and the likely impact of an insurance shift. Eikey is on medicine to prevent cancer which costs $467 a month, while her husband tallies $5,486 in costs. They pay only $5 for each prescription under MESSA.
District officials contend the new plan will have a $5 co-pay as well.
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