Michigan

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/4500663

Seven Indigenous nations have withdrawn from discussions over an oil and gas liquids pipeline in Michigan, citing federal agencies’ failure to adequately engage with tribal governments during the process.

The move is expected to trigger lawsuits the tribes hope will block the controversial Line 5 project, a 645-mile pipeline that carries over half-a-million barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids per day and runs between the United States and Canada. Enbridge, the company behind Line 5, has proposed a tunnel under the Great Lakes in order to replace a section of the 72-year-old pipeline.

The tribal nations have been involved with the permitting process since 2020, when Enbridge applied to build the underground tunnel for the pipeline, but have grown increasingly dissatisfied with negotiations they say ignored tribal expertise, input, and concerns, and undermined treaty rights.

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document,” they wrote in a March 21 letter to the corps.

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“I can’t do what she [AOC] does, because we live in a purple state and I’m a pragmatist.“

= compromise with the Nazis to keep your position

“Everyone you mentioned has a lot of words, but what have they actually done to change the situation with Donald Trump?”

Uh gee maybe if the rest of y’all got on the same page instead of impeding them and folding to the Republicans then we could actually have some sort of defense against him and his cronies?

Their names:

Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn Rep. Peter Herzberg, D-Westland Rep. Tullio Liberati, D-Allen Park Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mt. Clemens Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Twp. Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Twp. Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren

If you're in their district or have time call their office and let them know you disagree

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/24260962

Pictured: “Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Jeff Dionne directs Emerson Wolfe, the safety organizer for the march, to step out of the street onto the sidewalk as they lead demonstrators down Ottawa Avenue toward Rosa Parks Circle on Saturday, March 8, 2025 during the “Unite and Resist” march for International Women’s Day in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich.”

Several organizations gathered to table and rally at Women's March-led rally and march on Saturday.

Additional coverage:

• WoodTV8: ‘Encouraging’: Crowds gather in Grand Rapids for Women’s March
• MLive: Women’s Day march draws 100s of demonstrators to downtown Grand Rapids
• Fox17: 'This is what democracy looks like': Thousands march in Grand Rapids on International Women's Day

“They truly are a coiled menace,” McClinchey said. “The moment you take your foot off of them, they spring back.”

This statement is also true about the lampreys.

Petty much?

The bell has rung on round three in the legal fight between the Macomb County prosecutor and county administration, as the prosecutor seeks a court order that allows him to upgrade a current staffer’s position.

Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido alleges Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel has again not lived up to his duty to implement the board-approved budget, which he says allows for his office to upgrade his office manager’s position to chief operations clerk.

Under that, Office Manager Angela Burke’s salary would increase from $68,000 to nearly $83,000 to reflect her expanded duties, according to the complaint filed in the Court of Appeals on Jan. 8. “It’s Pete being Pete’s typical self,” Deputy County Executive Andrew McKinnon told MIRS, adding that Lucido served Hackel with the suit at his home one day prior to formally filing the complaint with the court.

“… He didn’t get what he wanted so he’s going to court to try to … I believe the court will do the proper thing and reject it as a collective bargaining issue,” McKinnon added.

According to the complaint, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners approved the funds for a chief operations clerk in November and Lucido submitted authorization for the reclassification to the county’s human resources office in December. However, Lucido alleges the human resources office “took no action” to allow the hire of a chief operations clerk and declined to process the contracts.

McKinnon said the county board agreed to the upgrade only if the human resources department found the upgrade was necessary.

And, he noted, after taking an “objective look at” the request, the human resources department determined that Burke was not entitled to a position upgrade because she is doing the work of an office manager.

According to a November resolution, the board supported the increased funding only if the position was “reclassified to chief operations clerk,” which McKinnon said is a position in the elections department.

Lucido’s attorney, Donn Fresard, who served as Lucido’s former chief deputy, said state statute allows Lucido to appoint “as many assistant prosecuting attorneys” and other staff, including clerks as necessary.

Lucido’s complaint also renewed a claim that he should receive $42,500 to pay for permanent legal costs from independent attorney contractors, but he agreed to put that request on hold as it is currently before the Michigan Supreme Court in a prior complaint challenging appropriations from 2024. The state’s high court is expected to hear that matter in April along with Hackel v. Macomb County Board of Commissioners

You might want to check and see if there are similar programs in your town

Armada Township Fire Chief Stephen Kohut reminded residents that the fire department has smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available free of charge for township residents.

He said that so far roughly 70 detectors have been installed.

Kohut shared the details of the program at the Jan. 8 Armada Township Board of Trustees meeting.

“This is a free program. If you call the fire department mainline at 586-784-9464, talk to one of the friendly firefighters, they will explain the program to you,” he said.

A firefighter will come to a resident’s house and check their smoke detectors.

If they are outdated or there are no smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in the house, one with a 10-year battery will be installed at no cost thanks to a grant from the Michigan State Fire Marshal’s office.

Kohut also reassured the residents that the staff are more than happy to pay a visit.

“Please don’t worry about imposing on the department. We’ve been out a couple of times to houses that we’ve inspected and said everything is absolutely perfect, you don’t need anything, and they were equally as happy,” he said.

The fire department also received a Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge Energy in the amount of $2,500.

It will be used to purchase weighted manikins for fire rescue training.

“This allows more realistic rescue training as the manikins are the size and weight of actual adults and require considerable team coordination to move,” Kohut said.

The order was placed this past week and is expected to be approved by the board at their February meeting.

The board also had their public hearing for Community Development Block Grant funding.

Armada Township had $1,850 in funds for 2025.

A total of $850 was given to Armada Police Athletic League to send children to their summer camp, $318 was given to Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers and $682 was given to Samaritan House.

“I wish we could get more (for Samaritan House),” said Armada Township Trustee Steve Nikkel, who said he paid a visit to the Washington Township charity and was impressed by the way they distribute food to the needy. “It hits hard when you see that. That organization is really something to see. Without them, these people go without.”

In other business, the board of trustees:

Heard an update from Armada Township Attorney Christine Anderson on a tax appeal from Blake’s. Blake’s wants to be exempt from paying school taxes due to agricultural use under the Right to Farm Act and under general property tax act. The appeal is expected to take several months. Approved the allocation of the SMART Municipal and Community credits for fiscal year 2025-26. Approved a resolution to purchase community transit services from Richmond/Lenox EMS with the SMART Municipal and Community Credits.

Why would you run for re-election in November if you are going to retire in December? freep.com/story/news/local/mic…

Michigan is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, and a report released Tuesday by the Michigan Department of of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says the state is on track.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites the public to meet in person Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6 to 8 p.m. CST (7 to 9 p.m. EST) to discuss walleye regulation changes for Lake Gogebic. The public meeting will be held at the Marenisco Village Township Hall, 314 Hall St. in Merriweather.

Lake Gogebic, the largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula, currently falls under the existing statewide regulation for walleye: There is a 15-inch minimum size requirement and a daily possession limit of five fish.

The regulation change to be considered for public input adds a protected slot limit. This means that anglers would not be able to possess any walleye measuring between 18 inches and 23 inches in the daily possession limit of five fish and could possess only one walleye 23 inches or greater.

Lake Gogebic walleye caught during the 2017 population estimate survey.
The Management Plan for Walleye in Michigan’s Inland Waters was published in 2021 and provides a framework to guide walleye management efforts. Using guidance from the management plan, the primary goals of this regulation proposal are to increase spawning stock and promote long-term resiliency of the species in more variable environmental conditions. Regulation changes such as this one must be approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, after soliciting public feedback. The proposal also will be shared at the spring Conversations and Coffee meetings and through citizens advisory groups. Dates and times for the Conversations and Coffee meetings will be announced in an upcoming news release

Anyone unable to attend the Jan. 21 in-person meeting is invited share their comments regarding this regulation proposal by completing this form: forms.office.com/g/VrCXxJMD11. Comments shared in person and digitally will be considered.

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to providing Michigan residents the opportunity to share input and ideas on policy decisions, programs and other aspects of natural resource management. To learn more about how the DNR manages Michigan's fisheries for current and future generations, visit Michigan.gov/Fishing.

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I know this is a shameless plug, but the kid has big goals this year.

digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/s…

I don't know if I have been living under a rock or what, but this is the first time I've heard of this. It could be a game changer. Personally, I have been a big proppant of community colleges for years, particularly as I feel I learned a lot more during my time at Oakland Community College than I did at Northern Michigan University. It makes a big difference learning from instructors that actually work in the field rather than those that have spent their entire lives hidden away in academia. My biggest question with this, however, is how much is enrollment going to increase? Can our current community colleges support such?