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.
At least 3,500 Michigan teachers gathered at the state capitol today to protest school budget cuts and cuts to teacher and staff benefits.
The Detroit News reports that the gathering appears to be the largest demonstration at the capital this year.
The teachers are protesting retirement reforms that require them to contribute 3 percent of their pay to cover retiree health care, without a promise that they’ll get those benefits when they retire. They’re also worried lawmakers could tap into a surplus in the School Aid Fund to help balance the state budget.
The Michigan Education Association is calling the event the “Enough is Enough” rally.
According to the MEA website:
… Michigan parents, teachers and school support staff have had enough of the constant attacks on school employees — attacks that persist even though school employees have already saved the state almost $1 billion through salary and benefit concessions.
… Michigan parents, teachers and school support staff have had enough of legislators who try to resolve budget shortfalls on the backs of school employees by slashing their salaries, robbing them of their benefits, taking away their jobs through privatization, or forcing them to retire.
… Michigan parents, teachers and school support staff have had enough of an antiquated and ineffective tax structure, including tax incentives that do nothing to create jobs or generate revenue for schools.
The teachers union said that cuts have forced layoffs that have increased class size, forced the elimination of art and music classes and field trips, and caused trusted, trained professionals to be replaced by staff from private and sometimes foreign corporations.
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