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When sending children back to school this fall, using logic is a must

With the Fourth of July behind us and back to school sales popping up everywhere you look, there still seems to be some inconsistencies as far as how each individual school plans to address health and safety measures once the fall semester begins. A Tuesday article by The Associated Press cited a few examples: Students in Wichita, Kansas, public schools can ditch the masks when classes begin. Detroit public schools will probably require them unless everyone in a room is vaccinated. In Pittsburgh, masks will likely be required regardless of vaccination status. And in some states, schools ...

Our Great Lakes deserve a group effort to protect them

Taken separately, the threats to the health of the Great Lakes are enough to raise alarm. Together they are a crisis, the root of which we must recognize and take seriously. Mercury, PCBs, PFAS, fertilizer, pesticides, microplastics, water withdrawal, toxic algae, botulism, invasive species, sewage leaks — they all damage the Great Lakes every day. And they all sprout from the same root cause: us. Every major threat to the health of the Great Lakes finds its origin in our activities. Our carelessness. Individually, each of those problems is a serious challenge, and many are ...

McBroom found strength, truth in election probe

We were pleased with the work undertaken recently by the Michigan Senate’s Oversight Committee, chaired by none other than state Sen. Ed McBroom. The Waucedah Township Republican, against the expectations of many, found that the 2020 election in the state of Michigan was honest and held with integrity. While the finding was no suprise, the fact that it came from a Republican-donimated state Senate panel gave it gravitas it otherwise wouldn’t have had. Politically, McBroom has benefited in some broad way from this situation. After developing — rightly or wrongly — a ...

Copper Country remembers longtime sheriff

Given that he was the longest-serving sheriff in Michigan at the time of his death, it is hard to find someone in the Copper Country whose life was not touched by Houghton County Sheriff Brian “Slim” McLean. First elected to office in 1996, he served the community well over the years. As news broke of his passing Monday night, we posted our updated story on Facebook, prompting several people to respond in the comment section. “RIP Slim,” said Kathleen Caspary. “What a great loss to our community!” “Condolences to all the McLean family,” said Kelly ElRite Fox. “A ...

Incompetence reigns at unemployment agency

The state’s response to COVID-19 has lifted the veil of incompetence on numerous government offices, but none so much as the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. The jobless claims spike following the pandemic overwhelmed the office. It never caught up with demand and Michigan residents suffered, including those who were put out of work by shutdown orders from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The latest show of mismanagement is truly indefensible. Nearly 650,000 individuals who filed for unemployment benefits are now being told by the state that they may have to repay that money. And ...

Ease travel ban with Canada

The COVID wall that has blocked travel between the United States and Canada for 16 months should come down. As post-pandemic life resumes most of its normal activity, foreign travel should be restored as well. America’s northern border remains closed to tourist traffic. If the travel ban remains in place through the rest of the year, it will come at an estimated cost of $175 billion and 1.1 million U.S. jobs. Much of that impact will be borne by Michigan, which shares a long border with Canada. Last week, 75 House members implored President Biden to reopen international travel, ...