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Watch redistricting process carefully

With the 2020 census done and data wizards crunching numbers as we speak, the time is almost near for the decennial redrawing of congressional and legislative districts that can determine which political party maintains control of state and federal government. According to the terms of both the state and federal constitutions, political districts are drafted so each congressperson and each state representative and state senator represents similar numbers of people. For years in Michigan, those districts were drawn by whichever political party held the majority in the legislature, ...

Transparency isn’t about journalists, it’s about public access to government

Seeing is believing , and in Michigan, we wouldn’t see much of our government without laws like the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. Those laws are meant to set in stone requirements that guarantee Michiganders have a chance to pop the hood and see the inner workings of the government we pay to operate. It’s essential that we all take time to look beyond the shiny veneer regularly and examine the guts of our governance. After all, the machinations that often occur behind closed doors have a heck of a lot of impact on our lives and wellbeing. Think about it, ...

With spring warmth comes flooding risk

Warmer spring temperatures are a welcome relief, but they also mark a return to flood season. Flooding from melting snow or heavy spring rains is one of the most common hazards and it puts lives and property at risk each year. To encourage everyone in the state to be prepared, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has declared this to be Flood Safety Awareness Week in Wisconsin. ReadyWisconsin and the Department of Health Services asks everyone in the state to take this week to assess their flood risk and learn how to protect themselves before, during and after a flood. “Floodwaters can put ...

Sunshine Week puts spotlight on need for transparency

For most people, transparency in government is little more than an abstract concept that shows up from time to time in news reports but has little apparent impact on people’s daily lives. Of course, everyone wants to know what’s going on at City Hall, when those goings on are important. But it isn’t anything anyone should worry too much about. We, in the news business, would argue just the opposite is true. The more the average taxpayer knows about his or her government, the better the quality of governance will be. In fact, transparency in government was the central reason ...

Fixing PFAS notification process isn’t debatable

Analysis paralysis seems to have its grip on state environmental policymakers. And the inaction places more Michiganders’ health in danger. Two weeks have passed since the Record-Eagle turned a spotlight toward state and local officials’ failure to place the health of East Bay Township residents ahead of scientific dogma. To refresh everyone’s memory, a reporter recently found records that show state and local officials had flagged about 20 homes near Traverse City’s airport they believed were at risk of exposure to PFAS chemicals through private water wells. Those same ...

Students, schools, teachers need clarity on tests

We, like many parents and educators, have our doubts about the value of standardized tests. But we have no doubt about the importance of clarity and consistency to teachers, parents, school administrators, and students. School life can be stressful enough for everyone involved, and any confusion about what to expect, what you’re working toward, only makes things harder. That’s exactly what the state and federal government are doing to schools and families as they debate whether schools should be required to administer standardized tests during the coronavirus pandemic. The ...