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 Rev. Mark Bidwell of Ferndale is coming under fire after police responded to an emergency call to his home on Sept. 21.
Ferndale Police arrived to find 43-year-old Steven Michael Fitch unresponsive, reports the Daily Tribune in Royal Oak. According to the report, Bidwell, 52, and Fitch allegedly shot up crystal meth, then invited a third man over to Bidwell’s home.
Bidwell is hospitalized, and Ferndale Police say that his position as a chaplain with the force has been terminated because of the incident. Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson told the Tribune:
“Based on the information we have it is sufficient to determine he is not a person we want associated with our department,” Wilson said.
Bidwell is the pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church in Ferndale. That church is a Christian congregation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. Bidwell has conducted mass commitment ceremonies on the steps of the Ferndale City Hall for several years at the annual pride celebrations.
Crystal meth — the street name for methamphetamine — has been a growing problem in Michigan’s LGBT community. It has been tied nationally to a growing number of new HIV infections because the drug lowers sexual inhibitions.
Ferndale Police say there are unlikely to be criminal charges in the incident.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter