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Enough is enough: Gun violence in US must be stopped NOW

Another day, another mass shooting in America. Unlike the shooting in Buffalo earlier this month, which targeted elderly Black people, this one made elementary school children the target. Both suspects were 18-year-old males. On Tuesday, the gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school barricaded himself inside a single classroom and “began shooting anyone that was in his way,” authorities said Wednesday in detailing the latest mass killing to rock the U.S., The Associated Press reported. All of the victims were in the same fourth-grade classroom ...

Tax cuts are much better than tax rebates

Michigan finds itself in the rare spot of having more money coming into the state budget than it needs to run the state. Both Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agree that at least some of the $6 billion in extra funds should be returned to taxpayers. But they are far apart in how to accomplish that goal. Whitmer wants one-time rebate checks of $500 a person, something she says will help residents deal with inflation immediately. Lawmakers have already passed a bill, with some bipartisan support, that would cut the income tax rate to 4% from 4.25%, a ...

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, which serves as a reminder to get tested for hepatitis B and C. It also highlights one year of progress of the We Treat Hep C Initiative. Launched on April 1, 2021, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services initiative is designed to eliminate hepatitis C virus, or HCV, by increasing access to hepatitis C treatment among Michigan Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries. Since the launch, nearly 2,000 Michigan Medicaid beneficiaries living with hepatitis C have received curative treatment. Viral hepatitis primarily affects the ...

Waiver good but continue digging

Sometimes it’s what’s not said that catches the attention. Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency announced last week that more than 55,000 claimants will not have to pay back approximately $431 million in federal pandemic unemployment benefits — overpayment benefits that the agency previously determined to have been improperly awarded.î Not said: "previously determined to have been improperly awarded" — by the UIA. Overall, the finger-pointing comes secondary to relief for the 55,000 people left in limbo after losing their job in the pandemic, then getting a ...

Revamping term limits would help Michigan

Michigan voters will have the chance to revisit the matter of term limits this November after 30 years of a system that failed to deliver on its promised benefits. This is the first tangible step to fixing a serious problem. Each chamber of the Legislature on Tuesday widely approved putting the measure on the ballot, securing the necessary two-thirds majorities. Voters will decide whether to modify the length of time lawmakers can spend in the House and Senate, in addition to adding transparency requirements. It’s somewhat concerning this moved through the Legislature so quickly, ...

Community should support farmers markets

Do your health and your community a favor by visiting the first market of the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market’s 23rd season to find some locally grown items and to support area farmers and other product producers. The kickoff market will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at The Commons in Marquette. The market this year has updated hours, a new market layout to allow for full capacity, and, after a two-year hiatus, programming, said the DMFM in a news release. In the release, Sara Johnson, market manager, said: “It feels really good to be back at full capacity after an ...