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 Michigan Senate may take up a non-enumerated anti-bullying bill Tuesday morning in its regular session.
A version of the bill was voted down last week when Democrats attempted to attach it as an amendment to a bill to remove the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. Republicans also rejected a fully enumerated amendment.
At the heart of the argument is a belief by Democrats and most advocates that an enumerated bill — which specifically lists protected classes — would be more effective in addressing bullying. However, Republicans and their allies, including Gary Glenn at the American Family Association of Michigan, argue enumeration does not protect every student and that it is also part of the “homosexual agenda.”
The hoopla over last week’s votes was followed by Republican senators allegedly laughing while explaining their no votes, Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing) told the Messenger last week. That behavior, he said, led to him staging a one-man sit-in at the Capitol on Thursday night. On Friday, plans to have citizens join him were derailed by Capitol officials who threatened arrest for anyone who remained in the building after 5:30 p.m. Both Gleason and Westland Democratic Sen. Glenn Anderson were both told they could not stay in the Capitol either since they did not have offices in the building. They were also told if they stayed at least one senate Sergeant-at-Arms would be required to stay, costing the state overtime during a significant budget shortage.
Gleason stayed in his office at the Farnum building Friday night.
The battle to create comprehensive anti-bullying laws — which are preventative in design — has been going on for 13 years. Michigan is one of only three states in the U.S. without a law to address bullying in the schools.
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