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 Michelle McManus

Sen. McManus uses public resources to brag about deer kill

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.22.10 | 7:38 am

The Traverse City Record Eagle is criticizing outgoing Republican State Sen. Michelle McManus of Lake Leelanau for directing her office staff to send out a press release and photo in which she used “breathless prose” to boast about her success in bagging an 8-point white-tailed deer on the opening day of Michigan’s fire arm season.

Secretary of State candidate McManus accused of more legal violations

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 08.27.10 | 1:08 pm

A former aide to State Sen. Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau) who worked on her 1998 congressional campaign claims that McManus directed her to break election law and to sign a false affidavit to conceal that act. Christi Carpenter told the Traverse City Record Eagle, that during that campaign McManus told her to sign her name [...]

Land endorses Brown for Secretary of State

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 08.24.10 | 1:07 pm

Term-limited Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, a longtime Republican activist and former Kent County Clerk, has endorsed state Sen. Cameron Brown (R-Sturgis) to be her successor, stating that he would bring dignity and respect to the office. The Detroit Free Press reports that Land’s endorsement could give Brown a leg up against State Sen. [...]

County clerk claims McManus pressured her to approve flawed election forms

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 08.23.10 | 10:58 am

Grand Traverse County Clerk Linda Coburn, a Republican, claims that Secretary of State candidate Michelle McManus, the Republican state senator from Lake Leelanau, and her father Mike McManus, tried to pressure her into approving flawed affidavits from candidates seeking election as precinct delegates. The Traverse City Record Eagle reports:

Benson releases pre-election fundraising numbers

By Ed Brayton | 08.18.10 | 1:17 pm

The Jocelyn Benson campaign for Secretary of State released their fundraising numbers this morning for the period leading up to the general election. The campaign raised $540,000 from 2,000 individual donors and has $410,000 in cash on hand. A press release from the campaign said:

Sec. of State Terri Lynn Land campaigns for Bouchard, and herself

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 07.28.10 | 3:33 pm

Many Secretaries of State around the county have taken oaths of non-partisanship and don’t endorse candidates out of concern that it could make them appear biased in their role as election administrator. Michigan’s Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has taken a different approach.

Sec. of State candidates stay quiet on financial disclosure for TV issue ads

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 07.21.10 | 7:12 am

In recent weeks the candidates for Secretary of State have traded criticisms over which party has a better platform for election reform, but so far no candidate has chosen to weigh in on one of the most central issues in campaign finance — television issue ads.

Dead heat in GOP race for AG, McManus leads SoS race

By Ed Brayton | 07.20.10 | 7:19 am

During a poll of Republican voters on the gubernatorial race by the Glengariff Group, respondents were also asked which candidates they support in the races for Attorney General and Secretary of State. In the AG race, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop got 19.4 percent and former state judge Bill Schuette got 18.8 percent, a virtual [...]

Benson outlines priorities for campaign finance reform, agrees to debate

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 07.13.10 | 10:25 am

Democratic Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson issued a list of her six priorities for campaign finance reform today and she criticized Senate Republicans and GOP Secretary of State candidates for failing to support a campaign finance reform package in the House. Yesterday, in a public letter, State Sen. Michelle McManus challenged Benson to debate [...]

McManus challenges Benson to debate on campaign finance issues

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 07.12.10 | 2:12 pm

Republican Secretary of State candidate state Sen. Michelle McManus of Lake Leelanau has challenged her Democratic rival, Jocelyn Benson to a debate on campaign finance issues. “I look forward to a spirited debate with you in the contest for Secretary of State,“ McManus wrote in a letter circulated today. “While I am familiar with your [...]