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Vaccines, flu shots especially important this holiday season

As COVID-19 and flu cases rise in the region, state health officials are urging residents to take precautions. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday asked residents to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, wear masks in indoor settings, practice social distancing when possible and stay home when they are ill to prevent additional outbreaks of the flu and COVID-19. “As we head into respiratory virus season, it is important to take every mitigation measure we can to prevent outbreaks of the flu, RSV and COVID-19,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief ...

Driver refunds prove reforms are working

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently advocated for giving Michigan drivers refunds from a $5 billion surplus held by the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, and it appears this will happen. The refund is welcome news, and an indication that auto insurance reforms are working. Residents are reaping the benefit of 2019 bipartisan reforms to the state’s notorious no-fault insurance requirements that have lowered the price of insurance premiums and medical costs associated with auto accidents. For too long, Michigan drivers paid the highest insurance rates in the country — and not by a ...

The season for more vehicle-deer crashes

It’s late autumn, with night coming earlier and sunrise later. It can put motorists on the road at dusk or before dawn, in darkness when deer are moving as well. Add to that nearly 600,000 hunters out Monday for the start of the firearm deer season in Michigan and it’s not surprising that more than 43% of vehicle-deer crashes occur in Michigan from October through December, according to AAA Michigan. Last year, five people in the state were killed in deer crashes, three in motor vehicles and two on motorcyclists. Another 1,400 people were injured in vehicle-deer crashes, ...

Lingering lead water lines are a nationwide problem

Just because we can’t see something, doesn’t mean it won’t hurt us. It seems we find ourselves relearning that lesson collectively time and again these days as the inventions we relied upon to accelerate into modern life now have come back to haunt us. Think about what we’re now learning about PFAS chemicals that now lace our groundwater in many places and cause a bevy of health problems when we drink them in contaminated tap water. Those chemicals were integral in waterproofing processes, nonstick cookware and foam that effectively extinguishes chemical fires. Similarly, ...

State this week emphasizes being ready for winter

With winter weather at hand, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division encourages Michigan residents to prioritize winter emergency preparedness. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed this to be Winter Hazards Awareness Week in Michigan. “Michiganders should take every opportunity to prepare for winter weather before it’s here, bringing with it the potential for frozen pipes, propane shortages and power outages,” said Col. Joe Gasper, state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and director of the Michigan State Police. ...

Hiring veterans a smart decision

As our country emerges from the longest war in its history, the 4.5 million veterans who served during this period are poised to lead our workforce — and the U.S. economy — into the next decades. This group of talented Americans, known as the post-9/11 veterans, have channeled their talent, skills and leadership into post-military success, achieving higher labor participation rates and over 30% higher earnings than their non-veteran peers, according to the Census Bureau. Veterans have proven themselves to be extremely productive, often earning promotions at an accelerated rate in ...