Dana's Dispatch: MSU shooting, keeping abortion pills legal, dark money from utilities, & more

[logo]( Attorney General Nessel Issues Statement on Michigan State University Shooting “As a parent, there is no greater fear than having your child tell you there is an active shooter at their school. I experienced this terror along with thousands of other MSU families last night. While my Spartan sons are safe, I am mourning the devastating loss and senseless violence. The events at Michigan State University are a tragedy for the entire state of Michigan. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and loved ones. I want to thank everyone in law enforcement who worked to secure the campus and protect the community. I am hopeful that the investigation reveals how we can better protect our children, our neighbors, and all those who call Michigan home.”     SCAM ALERT: Phishing text messages claim EBT cards are locked Michiganders are reminded to be aware of phishing messages claiming their SNAP EBT cards are locked. Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said the phishing text messages include a phone number to call for help. Responding to the messages may allow scammers to access the card's funds. If you are in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program and received a text message about your EBT card being locked, do not respond—this is a scam. [READ MORE]( Samantha Sayles, Mid-Michigan NOW (February 10, 2023) SCAM ALERT: Phishing text messages claim EBT cards are locked Retrieved from: [SCAM ALERT: Phishing text messages claim EBT cards are locked](   Michigan AG Nessel warns of gambling scammers ahead of Super Bowl LVII The Super Bowl is one of the most bet-on events in the world, second only to the world cup. This year more than 50 million Americans will bet a record amount on the Eagles-Chiefs match-up and with all that money changing hands, there are new warnings. Rod Meloni, WDIV First Attorney General Dana Nessel warning, with a record of more than $16 billion expected to be bet this weekend nationwide, scammers are on the prowl. “Don’t trust your money to fraudulent websites and please don’t gamble more than you can afford,” Nessel said in a video posted online. Nessel also warned about a recent data breach for Mailchimp users that could put their information at risk on some of the biggest names in online betting including DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM. Nessel told gamblers to check their accounts and credit scores, change passwords, set up two-step verification and get rid of old accounts. “You may not have used that old account in years but that doesn’t mean somebody else didn’t already log in,” she said. [READ MORE]( Grant Hermes, WDIV (February 11, 2023) Michigan AG Nessel warns of gambling scammers ahead of Super Bowl LVII Retrieved from: [Michigan AG Nessel warns of gambling scammers ahead of Super Bowl LVII](   Michigan Democrats push for more gun control laws after MSU mass shooting Authorities are searching for a motive behind Monday's shooting at Michigan State University that left three people dead and five wounded. As questions remain about the suspect’s connection to the university and the gun used to carry out the attack, state Democrats are amplifying their call for stricter gun reform. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the effort. Amna Nawaz, PBS NewsHour, February 15, 2023   Nessel requests greater transparency from utilities on lobbying spend Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office is requesting the state regulator of utilities demand more transparency around the money spent to influence public policy when electric and gas companies file their rate cases. The current requirements aren't sufficient, according to the filing signed by Assistant Attorney General Michael Moody. It suggests requiring details around the utilities' and affiliates' expenses for influencing regulation or legislation directly or indirectly and for influencing public opinion. Additionally, Nessel's office asked for transparency for costs related to Michigan Public Service Commission proceedings, for contributions utilities make to nonprofit organizations and for litigation to overturn rules or statutes. The comments recommend utilities provide the information for the most recent five years and for the forecasted period in rate increase requests. Michigan's major utilities say these types of costs aren't factored into customers' rates. Utilities are traditionally major political players. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have criticized and accepted money from utilities. How much isn't always clear thanks to unreported "dark money" contributions and those made by connected nonprofit funds, which are used for political advertising in elections that don't expressly tell people how to vote. “Utilities are government-created monopolies regulated by the state,” Nessel said in a statement on Wednesday. “Accordingly, customers of these monopolies should have the right to know whether and how much their utility is spending to influence legislation or other public policy that impacts the utility and consumers." [READ MORE]( Breana Noble, The Detroit News (February 15, 2023) Nessel requests greater transparency from utilities on lobbying spend Retrieved from: [Nessel requests greater transparency from utilities on lobbying spend](   License revoked of west Michigan nurse after toddler dies in her care A west Michigan nurse who allegedly was high on methamphetamines when a ventilator-dependent toddler under her care died has had her license revoked, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday. Judith Maria Sobol, 42, of South Haven, had her nurse's license suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' Michigan Board of Nursing Disciplinary Subcommittee, Nessel said. It also leveled a $150,000 fine against her. Sobol is accused of working an overnight shift on June 20, 2022, while under the influence of methamphetamines and responsible for providing care to a 3-year-old girl on a ventilator, according to authorities. They said the next morning, the girl's parents found their daughter unresponsive with her trachea tube disconnected and an incoherent Sobol. The parents and medics tried to revive the toddler but were unsuccessful. "Sobol’s actions are an egregious violation of the public trust, and pose an imminent threat to the public’s health, safety, and welfare," Nessel said in a statement. [READ MORE]( Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News, (February 17, 2023) License revoked of west Michigan nurse after toddler dies in her care Retrieved from: [License revoked of west Michigan nurse after toddler dies in her care](   Attorneys general from Democratic-led states urge judge to keep abortion pill legal Attorneys general from 21 Democratic-leaning states are calling on a Texas judge to keep the abortion pill on the market, rejecting claims anti-abortion medical groups made in a lawsuit that’s centered on the medication’s approval more than two decades ago. Photo courtesy of Michigan Advance The latest brief in the case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will likely bring even more attention to a lawsuit that could have sweeping, nationwide effects for medication abortion. The two-medication regimen, consisting of mifepristone and misoprostol, is approved for up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy and accounts for more than half of abortions in the United States. New York Attorney General Letitia James filed the brief on behalf of her state. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who has been a big supporter of reproductive rights, signed onto the brief. Other states that are included are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. [READ MORE]( Jennifer Shutt, Michigan Advance, (February 15, 2023) Attorneys general from Democratic-led states urge judge to keep abortion pill legal Retrieved from: [Attorneys general from Democratic-led states urge judge to keep abortion pill legal](   KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DANA: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Web Site]( Any donor history information in this email reflects what we have on file for this specific email address. If you have donated with a different email address, with a check, or with a spouse – thank you so much. We have that on file and cannot thank you enough for your support. Paid for by Friends of Dana Nessel Friends of Dana Nessel P.O. Box 11141 Lansing, MI 48901 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please [unsubscribe](.