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.

Posts Tagged HIV-as-terrorism

Alleged victim in HIV-as-terrorism case says he’s glad some charges remain

By Todd A. Heywood | 06.03.10 | 3:49 pm

The alleged victim in the Macomb county HIV-as-terrorism case is speaking out. In an interview with both the Macomb Daily and the Detroit News, Winfred Fernandis, Jr., 28, responded to questions about Thursdays ruling by Judge Peter Maceroni which resulted in the dismissal of bio-terrorism charges against defendant Daniel Allen, 45. Here’s what the Detroit [...]

HIV-as-terrorism charges dismissed by Macomb County Judge

By Todd A. Heywood | 06.02.10 | 9:37 pm

Advocates, legislators are pleased that Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Peter Maceroni has dismissed a controversial bio-terrorism charge against a 45-year-old HIV-positive man.

Defense: Bio-terrorism charge should be dismissed

By Todd A. Heywood | 05.10.10 | 5:19 pm

MT. CLEMENS — Daniel Allen, the 44-year-old Clinton Township man facing unprecedented bio-terrorism charges, will have to wait a while longer before he finds out if that charge will be rejected by the courts.

Defense in HIV-as-Terrorism case says charge should be dropped

By Todd A. Heywood | 05.07.10 | 11:34 am

Attorney James Galen has filed a motion in Macomb Circuit Court on behalf of his client Daniel Allen arguing that the terrorism charge against the 44-year-old Clinton Township man should be dropped. Allen was charged with bio-terrorism under state law following a fight with a neighbor. The neighbor, Winfred Fernandis Jr., alleges Allen bit him [...]

HIV-as-terrorism case delayed

By Todd A. Heywood | 04.27.10 | 3:54 pm

A hearing on motions from groups asking a Macomb County Circuit Court to dismiss bio-terrorism charges against a 44-year-old HIV-positive man has been delayed. The hearing was scheduled before Macomb Circuit Court Judge Peter Maceroni on Monday, but was postponed until May 10 to allow the prosecution time to respond to amicus briefs filed by [...]

Four groups file brief in HIV-as-terrorism case

By Todd A. Heywood | 04.20.10 | 12:07 pm

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and three Michigan groups who represent or work with HIV-positive individuals have filed an amicus brief in the case of Daniel Allen. Allen, 44, was charged last year with bio-terrorism for allegedly biting a neighbor during a fight. Prosecutors charged him because Allen is HIV-positive. They argue that spit [...]

Accused HIV-as-Terrorism suspect rejects plea deal

By Todd A. Heywood | 04.09.10 | 12:15 pm

The man facing charges under Michigan’s bio-terrorism laws has rejected an offer from Macomb county prosecutors. The Macomb Daily reports 44-year-old Daniel Allen was in court Thursday and rejected an offer to plead guilty to a ten-year felony assault with intent to great bodily harm less than murder. He is facing charges of assault with [...]

In Macomb County, HIV-as-terrorism suspect asks FBI to investigate alleged victim

By Todd A. Heywood | 01.21.10 | 3:10 pm

Daniel Allen, the 44-year-old Clinton Township man charged with bio-terrorism stemming from an Oct. 18 fight with a neighbor, has asked the FBI to investigate the fight as a hate crime, says Allen’s attorney James Galen, Jr. “My client and I went to the Clinton Township FBI Field Office for two hours yesterday,” Galen said [...]

HIV terrorism defendant gets legal defense fund

By Ed Brayton | 01.05.10 | 11:28 am

Daniel Allen, the Macomb County man who has been charged under a state bio-terrorism law for biting someone during a fight, has set up a legal defense fun to help pay the costs of defending against those unprecedented charges. Here is the contact information: The Daniel Allen Defense Fund C/O James. L. Galen Jr. 17097 [...]

Year in review: Michigan’s top HIV stories of 2009

By Todd A. Heywood | 12.24.09 | 1:13 am

From terrorism to discrimination to privacy issues, HIV-related issues made headlines in Michigan in 2009.

1. HIV-as-terrorism case in Macomb County

Perhaps the most watched, and outrageous, HIV related story of 2009 is the situation facing Daniel Allen, a 44-year-old Clinton Township resident who has been charged by Macomb County prosecutors under state terrorism laws.