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Editorial

Stop bickering, offer drivers relief at pump

Republicans and Democrats in Lansing continue to fight over how best to offer relief at the pump, and it’s Michigan drivers who are left in the lurch. The aggravating back and forth over proposals to suspend taxes on fuel means nothing is getting done — all while gas prices remain above $4 a gallon. Our state’s politicians need to put their partisan bickering aside and work together on finding a solution. Both Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and GOP legislative leaders have said they’d support different ways to reduce taxes on fuel, so it seems a compromise is within reach. A recent ...

Cutting the discipline disparity makes a difference

Small nudges today can result in massive shifts in trajectory years from now. That principle is at work in our schools every day, especially when we’re talking about at-risk students – those who face challenges because of instability at home. A caring teacher, encouraging administrator or compassionate counselor has immense power to shift the future for students who face outside struggles. That’s why we are both encouraged and concerned with the data logged and examined by the researchers at University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions. Their findings show students who ...

Make healthy choices about food

Michiganders can spice up Nutrition Month by trying healthy seasonings from around the world this month. As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaims March to be Nutrition Month in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and its Diabetes and Kidney Unit is joining with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to remind Michiganders about making healthy dining choices. This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month, “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” is a reminder that the U.S. and Michigan have diverse populations with unique backgrounds and tastes. “Trying ...

Damn roads still need fixing

Ahhh, the sounds of spring return after a long winter. Among them — the robins’ trill, the cooing of doves at dusk — comes the the jaw-clacking crunch of car wheels in a pothole. We squint at our roads like gunslingers, taking their measure as we dodge and weave but there’s a statistical inevitability to the season. For every few craters we avoid, the odds demand one tire-popping, rim-bending divot-dive. It’s a particularly bad year for potholes as evidenced by the banner year for complaints, reports Michigan’s Department of Transportation. “Volatile weather” ...

Safety tips for dealing with potholes

As Michigan’s rollercoaster winter weather continues, the brutal cycle of heavy snow, freezing temperatures and the upcoming warming trend is a perfect recipe for more potholes to pop up on Michigan roads. Cracked and crumbling pavement is the perfect environment for potholes to form. Moisture collects in these crevices and as temperatures fluctuate, it expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This breaks up the pavement and, combined with the weight of passing cars, eventually results in a pothole. These concrete craters can wreak havoc on a vehicle’s tires, alignment, ...

Broadband expansion will be transformational for area, region

Great news for people, institutions and businesses across the Upper Peninsula: Northern Michigan University will expand LTE broadband service to rural communities in the U.P. and northeastern Lower Peninsula through its Educational Access Network. This was made possible by the recently approved $1.5 trillion federal omnibus spending package, which includes $1.2 million in congressionally directed spending for NMU to expand its EAN. This broadband expansion is likely to be transformational for rural communities throughout the region, as it’s a well-known fact that many have struggled ...