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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

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 [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

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.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

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.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

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.

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Study: Min. wage not enough to live on

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 05.31.11 | 3:12 pm

Michigan’s minimum wage — $7.40 per hour — doesn’t cover the basic necessities of life for anyone according to a new study by Wider Opportunities for Women and the Michigan League for Human Services.

The report found that a single worker would need to make $12.24 per hour to cover food, shelter and transportation and a single parent of two would need to make $24.49.

The Michigan League for Human Services says that many of the jobs that are being created don’t pay enough for people to make ends meet.

According to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, job growth through 2018 is expected to be greatest in the several industries that pay low wages, including retail salespersons, home health aides, and food service workers. Indeed, only 42 percent of jobs expected to be created in Michigan over the next seven years will provide a [Basic Economic Security Table] BEST income to a single parents with two kids. And worse, only 19 percent of jobs that do not require a four-year degree will provide a BEST wage to single parents.

The League also said that the state government’s move to put a 48-month time limit on cash assistance and eliminate tax credits for the working poor will further threaten the economic security of families.

Comments

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Laurel-Zanardelli/100000779757443 Laurel Zanardelli

    A job 10 years ago that paid $15/hr, now goes for the whopping sum of at most $10/hr…costs for everything are far higher than they were back then…tell me, how can this make any sense to anyone? That $5/hr difference goes straight into businesses’ pockets, and I’m supposed to contribute MORE in this joke of a ‘shared sacrifice’?

  • Anonymous

    preaching to the choir…..

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WRMM7GXY4TFYFMFBHTKT7FBIS4 HollyHawks

    I understand the low wage issue, but I have to add that if the article is stating that the income level for a single mother of two isn’t making enough to live on then I would honestly believe that the mother is getting other forms of state and federal assistance.  This could be anything such as subsidized housing, utility assistance, food stamps, WIC, welfare, free lunch program at schools, qualifying for Earned Income Credit on both state and federal taxes. Yes, I agree it would be nice for everyone to be employed and to earn a decent wage (or a living wage) so taxpayers wouldn’t have to subsidize anyone, but being a realist I just don’t see it happening.  Where I live in Michigan there is no industry and the jobs that are here are held to low pay. College costs are increasing year over year for young people and it’s getting to the point where it’s no longer affordable.  I’ve advised many young people to join the military so they can get out of this state, learn a trade and receive a 4yr college education under the new GI Bill. Being stuck in a dead-end situation and making it a lifetime career only limits persons possiblities. 

    • Anonymous

      that is exactly why capitalism is doomed to destroy itself

      for the first time in human history, the state must feed its slaves, instead of the slaves feeding the state

       

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1580611162 Betsy Rose

      I live in Michigan.  Governor Snyder wants to get rid of the earned income tax credit and everything else that helps low income people and give it all to his rich buddies.  I hope you get out of Michigan because you have no support for this state.  Advising young people to join the military is really such bad advice.  Voting is good advice.  Electing officials who are fair and ethical and qualified is good advice.  Getting killed at a young age is not good advice.  With a friend like you who needs enemies.  Holly Hawks that name suits you.  A bird of prey.

  • Aaron Midcalf

    Working minimum wage puts everything in a hard predicament,
    however with the care of a host family essentially i take my cash from my paycheck and have to divide up, people i owe, gas, $30-ish a week for food, rent $100 / week, $5 worth of music, thats about it.
    i just find ways to save small amounts of money and save up for my bands tours, pretty brutal, but at this point it’s what i can do.

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