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 union that represents Detroit Public School food service workers, bus attendants, and special education teaching assistants is preparing to sue over the 10 percent wage cut imposed by DPS Emergency Manager Roy Roberts.
The Detroit Free Press reports that American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 345 will sue to stop pay cuts for its members who earn on average less than $20,000 per year.
The cuts, scheduled to take effect Aug. 23, will be the fourth round of pay cuts for the union since 2005, he said. “We’re already poor. (DPS is) making us poorer,” [AFSCME Local 345 Keith January] said.
The workers will report to work Aug. 29 and will not strike, he said. “We honor the collective bargaining agreement, and we expect Detroit Public Schools to honor it.”
Public Act 4 gives state-appointed emergency managers the power to change or nullify contracts, as well as remove elected city or school officials. Last month, Roberts announced 10% pay cuts districtwide, including for himself. All workers also have to pay 20% of their benefits costs starting Sept. 1.
Earlier this month unions representing teachers, teachers assistants and office personnel filed suit against Roberts and state Treasurer Andy Dillon in Detroit federal court.
Roberts was criticized last week for using school funds to purchase a $40,000 Chevrolet Tahoe.
DPS is facing a $337 million deficit.
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