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Benson has conflict in ruling on Whitmer’s recall cash

Jocelyn Benson’s self-serving decision to allow Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to funnel $3.4 million in improperly raised funds to the Democratic Party or other candidates, if allowed to stand, will make a joke of Michigan’s campaign finance laws. The secretary of state previously said Whitmer couldn’t keep for herself money donated to fight a recall effort that never materialized. But instead of demanding she return the cash to donors, she issued an opinion last week that the governor could give it to a political party or individual candidates for office, if she chooses. If the money ...

Redistricting commission couldn’t get much more wrong

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was wrong. Not just a little wrong, but really wrong. So wrong a majority of Michigan Supreme Court justices were forced to tell them as much, and order the commissioners to release a recording and documents they erroneously withheld from public view. Documents that contributed to those commissioners’ decisions about how and where Michigan’s political district boundaries should run for the next decade. Documents that should’ve been public from their creation considering the Michigan Constitution requires the panel to ...

The best holiday is a safe holiday

At the beginning of this year, there was a sense of hope that maybe we would have a more traditional holiday season once fall and winter came. Sadly, that just is not the case. But it doesn’t mean we can’t have a great Christmas. Just as Americans and Europeans were eagerly awaiting their most normal holiday season in a couple of years, the omicron variant has unleashed a fresh round of fear and uncertainty — for travelers, shoppers, party-goers and their economies as a whole, wrote Associated Press business writers Paul Wiseman and Anne D’Innocenzio. A heightened sense of ...

Pet owners: Celebrate the holidays safely

With the holiday season in full swing, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development encourages pet owners to celebrate responsibly by following six easy steps to help keep their pets healthy and safe. Happy Tummies: Avoid feeding pets people foods Unfortunately, pets cannot enjoy the same foods that humans do. Fatty foods (like turkey/turkey skin, meat fat, and gravy) can cause pancreatitis — even when consumed in small amounts. Additionally, chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions, and xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many candies and gum) can be poisonous to ...

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan offers support to the trans and non-binary community

We, the leadership of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, are saddened by the news that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette has called upon its clergy to withhold baptism and other sacraments from persons who are Trans, Transgender and Non-Binary until they deny their personhood and repent of who they are. This is does not reflect the loving, liberating and life-giving God we know. We believe and proclaim the Good News that all people are created in the image of God and that all people are beloved children of God. Because this is true, we are called to advocate for and ...

Michigan should prioritize early COVID treatments

When lawmakers return after the first of the year, they should consider this their No. 1 priority: allocating federal virus aid to combat the impact of COVID in Michigan. The House last week signed off on around $1 billion in funding that would invest in new treatments and increase locations for receiving them, in addition to other measures aimed at easing the burden on the state’s hospitals and health care staff. But the Senate still must give its approval. This is an excellent use of some of the billions in relief dollars the state has yet to spend. Michigan continues to lead ...