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.
In an announcement that is surely no surprise to political observers in Michigan, State Rep. Pam Byrnes, the speaker pro-tem of the House, will announce on Sunday Dec. 13 she will seek a seat in the state Senate.
According to AnnArbor.com, Byrnes has this to say in a press release:
“Residents of Washtenaw County need a state senator who will bring a progressive social message to Lansing and deliver business-friendly policies that promote economic growth for Michigan in the global economy,” she said in a press release. “I have spent my tenure in the House being a consensus builder who finds a ‘way to yes.’ I want to take that leadership to the Senate.”
Michigan Messenger has written about the expected Byrnes Senate run since June, when the Lyndon Township Democrat announced she would introduce legislation to repeal Michigan’s Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Observers have noted that Byrnes, whose 52nd House District seat encompasses sections of the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County towns and townships north and west of the city, may be eying a run for the 18th Senate District seat that takes in much of Democratic-dominated county. That district, currently represented by Liz Brater, who is term limited, is said to be eyed by State Rep. Rebekkah Warren of the 53rd House District, which takes in the majority of the city of Ann Arbor and portions of neighboring townships. Warren is the daughter of State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith of Salem Township, who is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
With Byrnes now in the race, and Warren still poking around the edges in consideration of a run, expect to see more moves to progressive legislation dealing with reproductive health, protecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders and more.
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