Dana's Dispatch: calling for greater transparency from utilities, opposing transport of cryogenic ethane in rail cars, new gun control bills a near certainty, & more

[logo]( 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]( Michigan AG: New gun control bills a near certainty after Michigan State shooting Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel joins MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss new calls for gun control legislation in the wake of the fatal mass shooting at Michigan State University and the newly-elected chair of the state’s Republican Party, election denier Kristina Karamo. Lawrence O’Donnell, MSNBC   AG Nessel shares resources following the MSU shooting Attorney General Dana Nessel encouraged people to check on their mental health after the mass shooting on the campus of Michigan State University. Photo courtesy of Annette Giachino The Michigan Department of Attorney General said in a statement that it is typical for people to experience emotions like “survivor guilt” after a traumatic event. Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel encouraged people to check on themselves after Monday’s shooting. “The violent attack at MSU last week has shaken us all, and in the aftermath of a tragedy such as this, no one is untouched,” said Nessel. “There are many resources available for students and parents alike who may be struggling. Dealing with the grief, shock and trauma after a tragic event can take time, and I encourage anyone impacted to utilize these tools and to take care of themselves.” [READ MORE]( Brendan Vrabel, WILX (February 20, 2023) AG Nessel shares resources following the MSU shooting Retrieved from: [AG Nessel shares resources following the MSU shooting](   Michigan man sentenced for stealing 7,000 identities in $11M Medicaid cell phone scheme A Michigan man has been sentenced to prison time for stealing the identities of 7,000 people in an $11 million Medicaid cell phone scheme, authorities announced. Dewan Williams, 47, of Detroit, was sentenced last week in 3rd Circuit Court to two to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Judge Mariam Bazzi also ordered restitution. Williams previously pleaded guilty to conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony; and identity theft, a five-year felony. The scheme used personal information stolen from thousands of identity theft victims to defraud the state of Michigan’s Medicaid program and financially benefit himself, according to the release. “The threat of identity theft is real, and I urge Michigan residents to educate and protect themselves against potential victimization,” AG Dana Nessel said in a statement. “My Michigan Identity Theft Support team, known as MITS, stands ready to assist victims of identity theft in recovering from the impact of this crime and my team of prosecutors will continue to work to hold perpetrators accountable.” [READ MORE]( Justine Lofton, MLive (February 21, 2023) Michigan man sentenced for stealing 7,000 identities in $11M Medicaid cell phone scheme Retrieved from: [Michigan man sentenced for stealing 7,000 identities in $11M Medicaid cell phone scheme](   MSU tragedy brings out fake photos and Spartan Strong scams On Tuesday, Michigan State noted that MSU Licensing has seen an uptick in the number of scams involving unlicensed Spartan Strong gear. "Unscrupulous businesses and individuals have engaged in selling unlicensed apparel and other merchandise," according to a university statement. "The university cannot verify that proceeds from the sales of these unlicensed products will be donated to the Spartan Strong Fund." The fund was created to support the evolving needs of those most critically impacted by the shooting. MSU asked consumers who believe they have seen products or services that do not appear to be licensed by MSU to contact University Licensing Programs at licensing@union.msu.edu or 517-355-3434. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also warned consumers about potential scams and unlicensed merchandise that purports to support the Spartan Strong Fund. “As the mother of two current Spartans, I am heartened by the outpouring of support that Michiganders have shown in the wake of this tragedy," Nessel said in a news release late Wednesday. "Unfortunately, bad actors often take advantage of times such as these, when individuals are most vulnerable, to prey on our generosity,” Nessel said. “I urge residents to always do their research before donating to ensure that their contributions will be put to good use.” [READ MORE]( Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press (February 22, 2023) MSU tragedy brings out fake photos and Spartan Strong scams Retrieved from: [MSU tragedy brings out fake photos and Spartan Strong scams](   Wyoming man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 Michigan teens 10 years ago A Wyoming man pleaded guilty recently to sexually assaulting two victims a decade ago in Michigan. Michael Vincenzo Johnson, 30, is accused of raping an 18-year-old Western Michigan University freshman in a dorm in January 2013 while she "was physically helpless and in a state of extreme intoxication." He was 20 at the time and an upperclassman at the school. Authorities say he forced himself on a 16-year-old high school girl at a home in Augusta, Mich. the following month. In 2017, the WMU Police Department referred the case to the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) project, which re-opened the first case in June 2020. Kalamazoo SAKI discovered the second victim, who had reported her sexual assault to the Augusta Police Department in 2013. Both the victim and Johnson were interviewed by police. The victim’s sexual assault kit was tested in 2013 and the victim underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam. However, no police report was generated. "It took a lot of courage for the survivors of these assaults to come forward and help the Kalamazoo SAKI team identify this offender," Nessel said. "He had already moved to another state to continue his pattern of assaulting young women and girls. I’m grateful for the hard work of the Kalamazoo SAKI investigators and participating law enforcement agencies in Michigan and Wyoming for their help in taking a sexual predator off the streets." [READ MORE]( Amber Ainsworth, Fox 2 Detroit, (February 23, 2023) Wyoming man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 Michigan teens 10 years ago Retrieved from: [Wyoming man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 Michigan teens 10 years ago](   Nessel joins coalition opposing transport of cryogenic ethane in rail tank cars In the wake of the derailment, and subsequent environmental disaster, in eastern Ohio earlier this month of a train carrying hazardous materials, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of attorneys general last week in opposition to a request that would allow more potentially dangerous chemicals to be shipped across the United States, potentially through Michigan. Photo courtesy of Ken Coleman Led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and New York Attorney General Letitia James, Nessel was one of 14 AGs on Thursday submitting comments opposing a request by Gas Innovations LNG Refrigerants Inc. for a special permit to ship cryogenic liquefied ethane in rail tank cars from a facility in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania to undisclosed locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  According to a [press release]( from Nessel’s office, shipping cryogenic ethane presents significant safety challenges, “as any release of cargo is likely to lead to the formation of extremely cold and highly flammable ground-hugging vapor clouds that present unique safety risks to nearby communities and emergency first responders.” “Shipping liquefied natural gas by rail has not been proven safe for communities along the train’s routes,” said Nessel. “There have already been more than a dozen derailments this year of trains carrying hazardous materials, which illustrates the danger of transporting these chemicals by rail.” [READ MORE]( Jon King, Michigan Advance, (February 23, 2023) Nessel joins coalition opposing transport of cryogenic ethane in rail tank cars Retrieved from: [Nessel joins coalition opposing transport of cryogenic ethane in rail tank cars](   Judge releases man in 1990 slayings of 2 Michigan hunters A man was released from a Michigan prison Friday after nearly 21 years, freed from a life sentence after state authorities acknowledged that an Ohio serial killer could have been the person who killed two deer hunters in 1990. "A state of shock," Jeff Titus, 71, told The Associated Press moments after walking out of a prison in Coldwater. "Not having handcuffs on or prison blues. I can't wait to get out and walk in the woods." Titus emerged a few hours after a judge threw out his murder convictions under an agreement between the attorney general's office and the Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan law school. Titus' rights were violated at trial in 2002 when his lawyer never was informed that sheriff's investigators in Kalamazoo County had gathered evidence years earlier against Thomas Dillon, the state's conviction integrity unit said. Local prosecutors at the time apparently didn't know about Dillon, either. Attorney General Dana Nessel acknowledged it was "powerful evidence" that might have prevented Titus from being charged. [READ MORE]( Ed White, Associated Press, Detroit Free Press, (February 24, 2023) Judge releases man in 1990 slayings of 2 Michigan hunters Retrieved from: [Judge releases man in 1990 slayings of 2 Michigan hunters](   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](.