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Sirhan Sirhan should spend rest of his life behind bars

It takes a person of a certain age to recall with any accuracy, just how awful 1968 was. The Vietnam War was raging in its full fury, punctuated by the Tet Offensive early in the year. A resounding military defeat for the North Vietnamese and their Viet Cong conrades, the offensive was a great political victory back home in the U.S. where a war-weary population was getting its fill of rosy pronouncements from military and political leaders while burying thousands upon thousands of American servicemen and women. And then, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, ...

We need to do better at ‘leave no trace’

When you come upon a view in nature that strikes you like lightning, it’s not unusual to feel gratitude. Gratitude to an inspirational higher power, gratitude for the laws of natural science, gratitude for your feet for carrying you — even gratitude for your tax dollars at work. But public land is being overtaxed by a tsunami of use. Nationwide, parks and trails are battered by crowds stoked by pandemic cabin fever. According to the Washington Post, the National Park Service reported that more than 31 million people had visited its 423 sites in June alone — a crush that ...

Lorinser COVID address to MAPS board makes sense

The Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education voted to have its Back to School Committee reconsider its recommendations for students returning to school following a presentation at the meeting by Dr. Bob Lorinser, medical director of the Marquette County Health Department. With many area schools opening their doors to students next week, Lorinser’s advice to the board is something they may want to consider. In his presentation to the board regarding COVID-19, Lorinser said, “COVID will be with us for years — for years — and we need to learn how to live with it.” He ...

What just happened in Afghanistan? Ask this former Marine

We don’t know Lucas Kunce in The Mining Journal newsroom, but we wish we did. That’s because Kunce, who hails from Missouri, appears to be that rare bird in politics who tells the truth about a nettlesome issue because he has been there and done that. A candidate for U.S. Senate, Kunce drew upon his substantial experience as a U.S. Marine serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in penning a recent opinion piece for The Kansas City Star. While we encourage readers to look the piece up and read it for themselves (here’s the online address: ...

No-fault reform side effects are catastrophic

Unintended consequences sometimes are the most destructive. The worst predicted side-effects of Michigan’s 2019 car insurance reform are coming true. The bills lawmakers and advocates contended would help rein in Michigan’s highest-in-the-nation auto insurance rates were applauded by many when they passed. Who wouldn’t appreciate the promise of lower insurance rates in a state where folks often pay twice as motorists in nearby states for comparable coverage? Unfortunately, many of us haven’t seen the kind of savings we hoped for — the kind of reductions that would bring ...

Catch up on vaccines during Immunization Awareness Month

Vaccines are proven to protect people from serious diseases at every age. During Immunization Awareness Month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are urging Michigan families to talk to their healthcare provider to ensure family members are up to date on all recommended vaccines. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some individuals missed routine checkups and vaccinations. With children going back to school and adults going back to the workplace, it is now more important than ever for everyone to get back on track with routine ...