The Michigan Messenger

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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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House says it will delay health exchange creation bills

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11 | 1:00 pm

The House Republican leadership says it will delay approving the creation of a statewide health insurance exchange, in part to await the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the constitutionality of the health care reform law which mandates the creation of the exchanges.

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Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11 | 11:05 am

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.

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Schuette fights important mercury regulations

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11 | 11:38 am

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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First Amendment scholar: Anti-bullying legislation badly written

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.08.11 | 8:52 am

A leading legal scholar says controversial anti-bullying legislation passed last week in the Michigan Senate is vague, confusing and will do little to address the problem of bullying.

Republicans want to make Pledge of Allegiance mandatory

By Ed Brayton | 11.07.11 | 5:58 am

Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) has submitted a bill, SB 637, that would require all public school districts in the state of Michigan to require each and every student to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day. The bill says:

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Appeals court greenlights welfare cuts

By Ed Brayton | 11.04.11 | 7:30 am

The Michigan Court of Appeals has overturned a ruling from the Genesee County Circuit Court that had put a hold on implementing legislation that would remove thousands of families from the public assistant rolls. The lawsuit continues, but the state government can continue to remove people while the trial is pending.

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Supreme Court asks for more info on Emergency Manager law case

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.03.11 | 3:30 pm

The Michigan Supreme Court has asked Gov. Rick Snyder to supply more information about why he thinks the high court should rule directly on a legal challenge brought against the Emergency Manager law in Ingham Circuit Court.

Photo courtesy of Tar Sands Action

Another Keystone XL lawsuit coming

By Ed Brayton | 10.31.11 | 7:06 am

A coalition of environmental groups are preparing to file another lawsuit over the approval process for the Keystone XL process, arguing that the federal government has failed to comply with the law regarding the protection of endangered species in considering the project.

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Greenpeace sues Dow over spying, again

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 10.27.11 | 2:11 pm

In a civil suit filed in DC Superior Court this month, Greenpeace is charging Dow Chemical with trespassing, tapping their phones, hacking into their computer systems and infiltrating their organization.

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Court rules against Scott on recall election again

By Ed Brayton | 10.27.11 | 7:46 am

Rep. Paul Scott was delivered another setback by the Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday when the justices ruled that his recall election would take place on Nov. 8 as originally planned.