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.

Reproductive Rights

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Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11 | 8:00 am

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.

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Abstinence presentations may violate state law

By Todd A. Heywood | 11.01.11 | 8:12 am

At least two Michigan school districts may have violated laws related to sex education in the state in order to play host to a Colorado-based abstinence-only sex education program. A third district did not completely follow state laws in booking the group.

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Michigan anti-abortion-rights bill would force women to pass coercion test

By Sofia Resnick | 10.28.11 | 5:50 pm

A new anti-abortion-rights bill introduced in the Michigan House Thursday calls for criminalization of “coercion to abort.”

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New study ties injected birth control to risk of HIV transmission

By Todd A. Heywood | 10.05.11 | 8:37 pm

A study that could have far-reaching implications on birth control regimens around the world has found an increased risk of HIV transmission for women on injection hormone therapies with an HIV-positive partner..

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Did science find HIV’s Achilles heel?

By Todd A. Heywood | 09.29.11 | 10:46 am

A new report published this week in the Journal Blood may point the way to the Achilles heel of HIV.

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Senate, House pass ‘partial-birth abortion’ ban

By Todd A. Heywood | 09.22.11 | 8:07 am

In spite of a series of amendments from Democrats, the Michigan Senate Wednesday morning approved a two-bill package banning so-called “partial birth abortions.”

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Snyder likely to sign ban on partial-birth abortion

By Todd A. Heywood | 09.20.11 | 9:21 pm

The Michigan Senate is set to vote on a measure to bar partial-birth abortions on Wednesday morning and Gov. Rick Snyder is likely to sign the bill if it passes.

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Snyder health message ignored HIV and AIDS

By Todd A. Heywood | 09.20.11 | 8:37 am

When Gov. Rick Snyder issued his health and wellness message to the legislature last week, HIV activists were hoping to hear from Snyder about how he intended to address the HIV epidemic in the state. They were sorely disappointed.

Anti-retroviral medications and condoms: the future of HIV prevention? Photo Illustration by Todd A. Heywood

Immigrant won’t face deportation over passing out condoms

By Todd A. Heywood | 08.29.11 | 3:34 pm

A permanent resident alien from the Dominican Republic will not face deportation after being convicted in 2007 of passing out condoms in Minnesota brothels.

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Indiana using inaccurate HIV consent forms

By Todd A. Heywood | 08.25.11 | 8:44 am

Mirroring a situation in this state that was fixed by the Michigan Department of Community Health, at least some counties in the state of Indiana are using consent and acknowledgment forms for those who test positive for HIV that are medically and legally inaccurate.