WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The American Public Power Association issued the following news release: Sixty-seven public power utilities have earned a Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Association for demonstrating commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support a goal of providing low-cost, quality, safe, and reliable electric service. Chris Van Dokkumburg, Planning Analyst at Holland Board of  more

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Oct. 30 -- The American Coalition for Ethanol issued the following news: The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings testified today during the public hearing in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed supplemental rulemaking to its proposed 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The proposal seeks comment on "projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exemp  more

LANSING, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan issued the following statement by Policy Counsel Kimberly Buddin: The American Civil Liberties of Michigan (ACLU) applauds Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) for the introduction of the Drive SAFE bills, which would allow for undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. Prior to 2008, Michigan immigrants were able to obtain drivers licenses, regardless of their status. These bills are supported by local Michigan  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan issued the following statement by Executive Director Dave Noble: The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) applauds Michigan House representatives for introducing the Reproductive Health Act (RHA). The legislation would modernize state reproductive rights by repealing unconstitutional prohibitions on reproductive healthcare and would regulate abortion like other forms of healthcare. Under the RHA, people  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 31 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan issued the following statement by Executive Director Dave Noble: The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) commends the Michigan legislature and Governor Whitmer for passing Raise the Age legislation, which raises the age a person is considered an adult from 17 to 18, when charged with a crime. The new law makes Michigan the 47th state to end the practice of charging and punishing children as adults. Dave  more

LANSING, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties of Michigan (ACLU) applauds Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) for the introduction of the Drive SAFE bills, which would allow for undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. Prior to 2008, Michigan immigrants were abl  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) applauds Michigan House representatives for introducing the Reproductive Health Act (RHA). The legislation would modernize state reproductive rights by repealing unconstitutional prohibitions on repro  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 31 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) commends the Michigan legislature and Governor Whitmer for passing Raise the Age legislation, which raises the age a person is considered an adult from 17 to 18, when charged with a crime. The new law  more

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines, Oct. 29 -- Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following news: Adrian Dominican Sisters from North America - the Dominican Republic and the United States - experienced inspiration, joy, and many graces and memories when they attended a Congregational gathering with the Adrian Dominican Sisters serving in the Philippines and their Partners in Mission. This summer, July 31 to August 4, 2019, the Adrian Dominican Sisters held a congregational gathering, Embracing the Fu  more

ADRIAN, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- Adrian Dominican Sisters issued the following news: While the United States is known as a nation of immigrants, recent federal policies have made it much more difficult for today's immigrants to obtain permanent resident status, for people from Central America to be granted asylum, and for "Dreamers" who may have only known life in the United States to be safe from deportation. That was the gist of a presentation October 29, 2019, by immigration attorney Sister Attr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The Alliance for American Manufacturing issued the following statement by President Scott Paul: Manufacturing employment dropped in October, with the sector losing 36,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. The bulk of the job loss occurred in motor vehicles and parts, which lost 41,000 jobs. Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said: "The autoworkers' strike largely explains manufacturing job losses in October. That said, the res  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 30 -- The American Counseling Association issued the following news: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed HB 4325 into law--effectively protecting the scope of practice for licensed professional counselors and ensuring they retain the ability to diagnose patients and use psychotherapy techniques. "This new law will ensure that more than 150,000 Michiganders can still access critical mental health care," stated Whitmer. "And it will protect 10,000 professiona  more

ROYAL OAK, Michigan, Oct. 30 -- Education Trust-Midwest issued the following news release: * * * - The "Nation's Report Card" demonstrates need for equitable investments, data-informed solutions * * * Today, the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) released its new findings, showing Michigan did not make meaningful improvement for fourth-grade reading since 2003. The findings are among the mixed results from the recent NAEP release, also called The Nation's Report Card which  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Grow America's Infrastructure Now Coalition issued the following statement by spokesman Craig Stevens: In a key legal decision today for pipeline developer Enbridge, a Michigan Court of Claims judge ruled the law creating the authority to oversee the construction of a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac to house the Line 5 pipeline is constitutional. Line 5 transports propane, used for home heating, and crude oil to refineries. This is a significant step forward for th  more

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois, Nov. 2 -- The Illinois Farm Bureau issued the following news release, dated Oct. 30: Illinois Farm Bureau is amongst the organizations voicing their concerns on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed supplemental rule for small refinery exemptions for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Five Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) members traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan to give prepared testimonies urging the U.S. EPA to protect the integrity of the RFS. The group joi  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Nov. 2 -- The Journal of Clinical Investigation, a journal from the American Society for Clinical Investigation that says it publishes basic and phase I/II clinical research on such biomedical specialties as autoimmunity, gastroenterology, immunology, metabolism, nephrology, neuroscience, oncology, pulmonology and vascular biology, published 35 research articles, including the following topics, in its Nov. 1, 2019 edition: * AAV8-vectored suprachoroidal gene transfer produc  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Nov. 2 -- 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 26 research articles, including the following topics, in its Nov. 1, 2019 edition: * A20 as an immune tolerance factor can determine islet transplant outcomes * Athletes feature greater rates of muscle glucose transport and glycogen synthesis during lipid infusion *   more

LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 28 -- The Michigan Economic Development Corp. issued the following news release: * * * - Forbes white paper released highlighting future of mobility and Michigan's leadership next generation transportation * * * Over the next several days, up to 9,000 young leaders, founders, investors and creators from around the world will be experiencing Detroit firsthand, participating in Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit taking place at the Masonic Temple. As a supporting sponsor of the   more

LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 31 -- The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following news release: * * * - League CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs gives remarks alongside Gov. Whitmer, bipartisan legislators and advocacy partners * * * The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's signature into law of the Raise the Age legislation to change Michigan's age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 17 years old to 18. Right now, Michigan is one of only four   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Americans for Prosperity issued the following news release: The Michigan state legislature late Wednesday overturned restrictions imposed by regulators on access to cancer immunotherapy already approved by the FDA and covered by Medicare - a vote welcomed by Americans for Prosperity. The move reverses a decision last month by the state's Certificate of Need Commission (CON) to require providers of immune effector cell therapy to go through an expensive and lengthy third-p  more

LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- The Michigan League for Public Policy issued the following statement by President and CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs on the House Judiciary Committee's passage of criminal legislation (H.B. 4980-4985) to expand and simplify the state's criminal record expungement process: "Right now, nearly anyone who commits a criminal offense is being given a de facto life sentence. The repercussions of a criminal record haunt these individuals for the rest of their lives, making it diffic  more

LANSING, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- The Michigan Municipal League issued the following news release: Saginaw will soon have a community welcome center and gathering space through a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Saginaw Community Foundation and 633 South Washington Avenue L3C announced today. The dilapidated Lee Mansion estate will be transformed into an indoor and outdoor multi-purpose community space, creating an anchor for the neighborhood. The campaign is  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Oct. 30 -- The Altarum Institute issued the following news release: * * * - Research will provide an estimate of the economic benefits of replacing the estimated 460,000 lead service lines in Michigan. * * * Led by Michigan State University pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a multidisciplinary team from MSU and Hurley Children's Hospital's Pediatric Public Health Initiative, Safe Water Engineering, and Altarum will conduct a detailed analysis of the economic costs and  more

YPSILANTI, Michigan, Oct. 30 -- The National Biodiesel Board issued the following news release: Today, National Biodiesel Board (NBB) staff and members testified at the Environmental Protection Agency's public hearing on the Supplemental Notice for Proposed Volumes for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021. NBB made a case that in the final 2020 rule, EPA should account for the impacts of past small-refinery exemptions, properly address the D.C. Circuit's remand in Americans for Clean E  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The National Black Caucus of State Legislators issued the following news release: The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is saddened by the news of the passing of former Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI), and extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Monica Conyers, their two sons, and the rest of the Conyers family. Conyers, who represented Michigan in Congress for more than five decades, passed away on October 27, 2019, at the age of 90. He was the   more

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Nov. 1 -- The National Board of Certified Counselors issued the following news: The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has proposed rules that would drastically affect the counseling profession in the state. The proposed rule changes, referred to as 2019-063 LR, repeal nearly the entire scope of practice for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in the state as well as all of the rules regarding the training of counselor supervisors in t  more

LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- The National Institute for Reproductive Health issued the following news release: * * * - As Supreme Court takes aim at Roe v. Wade, Gov. Whitmer supports passage of Reproductive Health Act to repeal dozens of unconstitutional state abortion laws * * * Today, the Michigan State Legislature introduced legislation to fully guarantee every person the fundamental right to make individual decisions about their own reproductive health care. If signed into law, the Rep  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 29 -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association issued the following news release: Last week, State Senator Rick Outman (R-SD-33) visited the Avalon and Tahoe Manufacturing's pontoon facility in Alma, Michigan. At last month's Michigan advocacy fly-in, President and CEO of Avalon, Jim Wolf extended Senator Outman the invitation to tour the facility, which is one of the largest employers in the city and county. Plant visits with elected officials are an important oppo  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 30 -- The National Marine Manufacturers Association issued the following news release: Last week, State Senator Rick Outman (R-SD-33) visited the Avalon and Tahoe Manufacturing's pontoon facility in Alma, Michigan. At last month's Michigan advocacy fly-in, President and CEO of Avalon, Jim Wolf extended Senator Outman the invitation to tour the facility, which is one of the largest employers in the city and county. Plant visits with elected officials are an important oppo  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following news: The National UAW-Ford Council convened today and voted to send the proposed Hourly Tentative Agreement with Ford Motor Company for a ratification vote of UAW members. In doing so, the UAW released details of the tentative agreement as approved by the UAW-Ford National Negotiators and the Council. The National UAW-Ford Council consists of Ford local leaders nationwide. Local Unions will now proceed with infor  more

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Nov. 1 -- The National Wildlife Federation issued the following news release: * * * - Michigan citizens could be on the hook for Line 5 oil spill in Straits of Mackinac * * * Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a report yesterday documenting how Enbridge Energy - the Canadian company operating twin oil pipelines that cut across the Straits of Mackinac - lacks proper insurance coverage for an oil spill from Line 5 into the Great Lakes. Lacking proper insurance  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release: * * * - Nongraphic Pixar-Style Ad Illustrates World From Mouse's Point of View * * * Because 52 violations related to the treatment of mice and rats were reported, as required by law, by the University of Michigan between January 2015 and April 2017--including an incident in which a rat who hadn't been euthanized properly was found dead in a cooler after chewing through a bag--PETA is  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The Religious Freedom Institute issued the following news release: The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) is pleased to announce that Todd Huizinga has joined RFI as its first Senior Fellow for Europe. Huizinga is a former American diplomat who has served in multiple positions in Europe and in the State Department's European Bureau. Currently, he is the President and Executive Director of the Center for Transatlantic Renewal. From 2013-2017, Huizinga was a Senior Research   more

LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 31 -- RespectAbility issued the following news release: Earlier this month, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation focusing on the stigmas and barriers associated with "invisible or hidden" disabilities for Disability Employment Awareness Month. Her statement spoke about how "10 percent of people live with a condition which could be considered an invisible or hidden disability" and that "nearly half of Americans are living with a chronic medical condition."  more

TROY, Michigan, Oct. 29 -- The Society of Plastics Engineers issued the following news: The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) recently announced the finalists for its 49th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition, the oldest and largest recognition event in the automotive and plastics industries. Nominations were first subjected to a pre-qualification review and then were presented before a panel of industry experts on September 26-27, 2019. That panel sent f  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The R Street Institute issued the following news release: The R Street Institute welcomes yesterday's news that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to raise the age of criminal majority. This means that 17-year-olds will no longer automatically be treated as if they are adults in the state's justice system. By passing this legislation, Michigan will improve public safety, more effectively use taxpayer dollars and most importantly, protect the dignity and wel  more

DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 30 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following news: The UAW Ford National Negotiators, UAW President Gary Jones along with UAW Vice President Rory Gamble, Director of the Ford Department, have announced that they have reached a proposed tentative agreement. "Our national negotiators elected by their local unions have voted to recommend to the UAW-Ford National Council the proposed tentative agreement," said Gamble. "Our negotiating team worked diligently duri  more