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 controversy about tasers has bubbled to the surface again this week. This time an incident in Sandusky has led police to defend the use of the weapon which delivers up to a 50,000 volt electrical charge.
TuscolaToday.com reports that an officer attempted to subdue a suspect, later identified in the Port Huron Times Herald as Kent Kramer, 30. The officer discharged the taser, but it had no effect. The officer then resorted to using their gun, killing Kramer.
Sanilac County Sheriff’s office is investigating the shooting, and officials have told the Times Herald the taser may not have worked because Kramer was wearing a heavy coat. The prongs on the taser have to touch the skin in order to be effective.
But officers from various agencies in the Thumb region are defending the use of tasers in law enforcement.
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said deputies started to carry stun guns six or seven years ago.
“It’s one of the best, if not the best, law enforcement tools I’ve seen in the last few years,” he said.
While the officers paint the weapon as less than lethal, Michigan Messenger has been following numerous cases of taser involved incidents across the state, some of which were fatal.
State Rep. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) in Novemeber defended his legislation to allow citizens access to personal tasers.
“I developed a very strong feeling after 33 years in law enforcement — 31 of those with the county of Eaton — that people have the right to protect [themselves] from rape or death,” Jones said.
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