LANSING, Michigan, July 21 -- The Michigan Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release: As a result of high demand for the Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant program, and a clear need to help small farms mitigate risks of the COVID-19 virus in their operation, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced it will begin accepting applications for the MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant program at 9:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, July 21 at michiganbusiness.org/agsafety. Modeled afte  more

DETROIT, Michigan, July 21 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan issued the following news release on July 20: ACLU of Michigan, Black Legacy Coalition, Detroit and Michigan Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Detroit Council of Elders, Detroit Justice Center, East Michigan Environmental Action Coalition, Hush House Black Community Museum, James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Michigan Liberation, Moratorium Now Coa  more

DEARBORN, Michigan, July 20 -- The American Human Rights Council issued the following news release on July 18: The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day, a UN designated day that falls on July 18 every year and celebrates the legacy of Nelson Mandela. This special occasion is to honor the legacy of former South African President Nelson Mandela, a leader who changed history by ending Apartheid in South Africa. The day was officially declared by the  more

DETROIT, Michigan, July 24 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan issued the following news release: Flint residents won their lawsuit challenging the Flint City Clerk's failure to comply with the rights of absentee voters who found that her office was closed and not issuing ballots in a timely manner in the run-up to the August 4 primary election. The clerk has since opened her office for in-person absentee voting, and today's order, issued by Judge Celeste Bell of Genesee County Ci  more

FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan, July 24 -- The American Concrete Institute issued the following news release: The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recently announced the addition of several new certification programs, marking a total of more than 30 certification program offerings now available. To keep pace with the growing demand for ACI-certified personnel on various concrete construction projects, the Institute has launched the ACI Certification Verify app to help supervisors verify the status  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 20 -- Annals of Family Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal that says it advances knowledge to health and primary care, published research articles on the following topics in its July/August 2020 edition: Original Research: * Transforming Primary Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: A Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative * Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence and Beliefs About Partner Violence Screening Among Young Men * Participation in  more

ROYAL OAK, Michigan, July 24 -- Beaumont Health issued the following news release: Before the pandemic, the World Health Organization declared 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birthday. With nurses throughout the country and world at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, celebration of their strength, grit and sacrifice could not come at a more relevant time. Already three of Beaumont Health's eight hospit  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 24 -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network issued the following statement: This statement can be attributed to CJ Heisler, caregiver to his dad and volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "As a cancer caregiver to my dad who is currently battling cancer for a second time while also going back and forth with his insurance about getting oral chemotherapy recommended by his doctor, I want to thank Sen. Stabenow for taking th  more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Children's Defense Fund issued the following news release: As Congress swings back into session this week, the need is clear for another robust COVID-19 relief package that includes flexible emergency assistance to help families cover groceries, the rent, and housing. We've heard stories all over the country of families having to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. Stories like that of Glenda Miggins of Detroit, Michigan, who has a son   more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Clean Water Action issued the following statement by Sean McBrearty, Michigan legislative and policy director: "Last week, Governor Whitmer asked Enbridge Inc., to provide financial assurance mechanisms as well as an insurance policy for the Line 5 pipeline that names the state of Michigan as coinsured. We know that nothing will protect the Great Lakes from an increasingly likely Line 5 oil spill short of revoking Enbridge's easement, but at the very least Enbridge's insu  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 24 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: The Ford School welcomes Christian Davenport as faculty with a courtesy appointment. Davenport's primary research interests include political conflict (particularly that involve governments and those affiliated with them) and peace and peacemaking (particularly understanding what it is, how it can be measured and what can be done to create/sustain/expand it.) This fall, he will teach a Ford Sc  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 21 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Christina Weiland, associate professor in the School of Education, is joining the Ford School with a faculty appointment by courtesy. She expands and deepens the Ford School of Public Policy's strength in education policy. She co-leads the University of Michigan's Predoctoral Training and Postdoctoral Training Programs in Causal Inference in Education Policy Research and serves as core faculty   more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 22 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Alan Deardorff, Ford School professor and one of the world's leading experts on international trade policy, was referenced in a Politifact "Trump-O-Meter" fact-check of Trump Administration policy promises. The stated policy: "Any country that devalues their currency to take unfair advantage of the United States and all of its companies that can't compete will face tariffs and taxes to stop th  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 23 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Ford School Towsley Policymaker in Residence Javed Ali argues in an opinion piece in Newsweek July 22 that the deployment of personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Portland, Oregon, rightly has caused widespread concern and controversy. The article, written with Tom Warrick of the Atlantic Council, argues that the "Trump administration's continued reorientation of DHS towa  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 21 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Ford School Dean Michael S. Barr, Associate Dean and Poverty Solutions Director Luke Shaefer and Alford A. Young Jr., Professor of Sociology and African and African American Studies and courtesy faculty at the Ford School, discussed some of the ways that policymakers and communities are attempting to combat poverty during the COVID-19 crisis in a Policy Talk on July 15. Here are some highlight  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 22 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Ford School professor of Environmental Policy Barry Rabe writes in an essay for the Niskanen Center July 16 that" the recent Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act-buoyed with overwhelming bipartisan support-is a remarkable achievement in these hyper-partisan times." He writes: "The legislation, which has since moved to the House, would approve permanent annual funding of $900 milli  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 22 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Ford School professor and national voting rights advocate Edie Goldenberg made a strong argument for the safety of mail-in voting in an essay in The Conversation July 16. "The evidence finds that voting by mail is rarely subject to fraud, does not give an advantage to one political party over another and can in fact inspire public confidence in the voting process, if done properly," she states  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 21 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: An article in Bridge Detroit on July 9 looked at suburbanites engaging with the history and policies of their communities in the wake of Black Lives Matters demonstrations. Some of these suburbs were developed as anti-Black "sundown towns". Ford School researcher and sociologist Reynolds Farley is featured, saying, "There was just a massive effort on the part of many cities to remain all-white  more

SOUTH GATE, Michigan, July 24 -- The Infant Mental Health Journal, a peer-reviewed journal that says it focuses on infant social-emotional development, caregiver-infant interactions, contextual and cultural influences on infant and family development from the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health and the World Association for Infant Mental Health, published research articles on the following topics in its July/August 2020 edition: ARTICLES: * Triadic interactions, parental reflective   more

OAKLAND, California, July 23 -- The Institute for College Access and Success issued the following news release: Michigan's legislative leaders and Governor Whitmer acted to protect financial aid for thousands of low-income students in Michigan during this uncertain time. We commend these leaders for taking this crucial action to extend access to the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), which provides free tuition at community college and $500 per semester towards a B.A. for qualifying low-income st  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 24 -- The Journal of Clinical Investigation-Insight, a peer-reviewed journal that says it features preclinical and clinical research studies from the American Society for Clinical Investigation, published research articles, including the following topics, in its July 23, 2020 edition: Research Articles: * Satiety induced by bile acids is mediated via vagal afferent pathways * Proteomics identifies a convergent innate response to infective endocarditis and extensive   more

LANSING, Michigan, July 22 -- The Michigan Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is looking for Michigan-based companies to join a special episode of Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, a 60-second pitch competition for companies and startups with innovative business concepts. Michigan currently ranks sixth in the nation for its number of inventions and fourth for its innovative R&D spending, highlighting the state's ingenuit  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 23 -- The Michigan Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release on July 22: As communities across Michigan face budget uncertainties due to unanticipated costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has made available $20 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CARES Act funding to 77 non-entitlement counties to provide economic relief. The funding will allow non-entitlement counties  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 24 -- The Michigan Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release: The Durfee-Central community in Detroit will gain a new and improved playspace through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and nonprofit Life Remodeled announced. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $10,372 by August 20, the project will win a match  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 24 -- The Michigan Environmental Council issued the following news: Wednesday was historic in the fight for clean water. Michigan adopted enforceable limits on harmful chemical compounds in drinking water. The move, years in the making, will boost the physical and developmental health of those that have fought for years to make the limits a reality: the people. A joint committee in the state's legislature quietly allowed proposed limits on seven per- and polyfluoroalkyl  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 23 -- The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on July 22 by President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs on the 2020 state budget agreement: "We can't wish or will this fiscal crisis away any more than we can COVID-19. But in both cases, we can and must do what we can to lessen its impact on our state and its people. The severity of the COVID health crisis and the related budget crisis, along with the urgency of the timing in the fiscal year, left litt  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 21 -- The Michigan Municipal League issued the following news release: The Michigan Municipal League is honoring 22 graduates of its 2020 Elected Officials Academy this summer. Now in its 23rd year, the Elected Officials Academy is an ongoing four-level program that educates and recognizes elected officials across the state for their dedication to becoming as professional and knowledgeable as possible in the role of public servant. The Elected Officials Academy, a vol  more

KALAMAZOO, Michigan, July 22 -- The Michigan Nurses Association issued the following news release: A charge was filed against Ascension Borgess Hospital with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the Kalamazoo hospital violated federal labor law by engaging in multiple instances of anti-union activity including preventing nurses from expressing support for their union. Additionally, a charge will be filed later with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging   more

MERRIFIELD, Virginia, July 22 -- The National Wildlife Federation issued the following news release: The National Wildlife Federation supports recent action by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources requiring Enbridge Energy to provide financial assurances for Line 5 due to the high risk the pipeline poses to our Great Lakes, economy and drinking water. "The National Wildlife Federation supports the Department of Natural Resources for taking a first step to hold Enbridge accountable, bu  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Education Reform Now issued the following news release: A new report, released, details how Michigan state officials can use the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to address troubling racial and socioeconomic disparities in the number of students earning a degree at Michigan colleges and universities, as well as abnormally high student loan default rates among Michiganders. The report, by a former Obama administration Assistant Secretary of Education writing on behalf   more

MIDLAND, Michigan, July 23 -- The Mackinac Center for Public Policy issued the following news release: The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, in conjunction with the Miller Johnson law firm, filed its opening brief yesterday at the Michigan Supreme Court. It challenges Gov. Whitmer's unprecedented use of emergency powers, which resulted in her possessing unilateral control over all state policies related to COVID-19. The case, Grand Health v. Whitmer, will be heard on Sept. 2 by the Michigan Sup  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, July 22 -- The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy issued the following news: Mara Ostfeld joins the Ford School of Public Policy as faculty by courtesy, adding to her faculty roles at the Center for Political Studies at the Institute for Social Research and at LSA Political Science. It is a return to the Ford School for Ostfeld, who was a postdoctoral fellow at Weill Hall in 2016. Her research focuses on the relationship between race, media, and political attitudes. Sh  more

LANSING, Michigan, July 18 -- The Pacific Legal Foundation issued the following news release on July 17: In a momentous victory for homeowners and their property rights, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that counties may not steal the savings that people stored away in their homes. Until today, counties could seize property from those who fall behind on their taxes -- like Uri Rafaeli, whose tax debt was a mere $8.41 -- then sell the property for amounts much larger than the initial debt and p  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, July 20 -- Phytobiomes, a journal that says it features microbiology, virology, nutrient cycling, climate change, ecology, agronomy, entomology, nematology and plant pathology from the American Phytopathological Society, published research articles on the following topics in its May 2020 edition: REVIEW: * Species Identification in Plant-Associated Prokaryotes and Fungi Using DNA PERSPECTIVE: * Community-Driven Metadata Standards for Agricultural Microbiome Research R  more

AUSTIN, Texas, July 21 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: The Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan on Friday held that the Township of Canton's tree ordinance is an unconstitutional taking and seizure of private property and dismissed Canton's claims against the Texas Public Policy Foundation's clients, Matt and Gary Percy. "The court rightly recognized that it is the Percys, not the government, that own the trees on their property," said TPPF's General Coun  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 18 -- The Buckeye Institute issued the following news release: On Friday, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the Michigan Supreme Court both ruled favorably on cases in which The Buckeye Institute filed amicus briefs. In Rafaeli, LLC v. Oakland County, the Michigan Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a Michigan law that previously allowed Oakland County, Michigan, to sell Mr. Rafaeli's property for $25,500 and pocket the profits  more

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 22 -- The Online Computer Library Center issued the following news release: Three public libraries have been selected to receive OCLC Community Engagement Awards for outstanding programs that have transformed lives in the communities they serve. The programs and libraries selected as OCLC Community Engagement Award winners are: Orlando Children's Business Fair, Orange County Library System (OCLS), Florida; Project BRIDGE: Building Relationships In Diverse Generational Experi  more

DETROIT, Michigan, July 20 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following statement on July 18 by President Rory Gamble on the death of Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia: "The world John Lewis leaves behind is a very different world than the one he entered, in large measure because of his courage, tenacity and belief in the human spirit. "Our own UAW history is forever linked to John Lewis and our support in Selma. Today, UAW members lost a friend; the nation lost a civil rights leader; and th  more

DETROIT, Michigan, July 23 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following statement: "For working families, the ability to focus on work and productivity is often challenged by demands at home. Often at the bargaining table, issues of child care and elder care become key issues both for our members and their employers. Challenges at home can impact absenteeism, productivity and stress in the workplace. "In the case of children access to quality child care increases their learning at a   more