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Cases of measles reported

Passing all but unnoticed in recent days were reports of a measles outbreak in the Lower Peninsula. News outlets in and around Washtenaw County say three linked cases have been reported since March 12, all in that county. This isn't good, from at least two vantage points: Number one, of course, is the fact that measles is an extremely contagious and dangerous viral illness that can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, brain damage (encephalitis), and death, particularly in children under 5 and unvaccinated individuals. Approximately 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. ...

Celebrate National Ag Day by buying local products

Today is National Ag Day with this year’s theme being “Together We Grow.” ... I encourage all Wisconsinites to take time to thank their local producers for the hard work they do every single day to feed, clothe and power the State of Wisconsin and beyond. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has declared 2026 the Year of the Neighbor, which is a theme the agriculture industry knows well. Without the collective work of producers across the state, Wisconsin’s $116.3 billion agriculture industry wouldn’t be the internationally recognized powerhouse that it is. Alongside producers, we’re ...

Blizzard was one for the books

The blizzard of 2026 is in the books, so to speak, although we’re told informally that plowing and shoveling leftover snow from last week’s historic dump continues in scattered locations. And what a blizzard it was. Much of the Upper Peninsula was impacted with the central U.P. and some locations elsewhere coming in for the heaviest snowfall. The light (in terms of weight) snow was driven relentlessly by winds that approached 65 mph, piling up drifts, blocking doorways and socking in vehicles for 48-plus hours. In general terms, the greater Marquette area received 2 feet of snow ...

It’s cloudy in Michigan this Sunshine Week

Every Sunshine Week, the Michigan Press Association honors a public official who advances open government. This year, for the first time, we’re giving no award. That’s how cloudy it is over transparency in Michigan. “Unfortunately, this year’s legislative and policy landscape does not reflect the progress or commitment to openness that the award is designed to celebrate,” the MPA said in advance of Sunshine Week, which began Sunday. “Rather than closing that gap, the past year has seen little forward movement – and in some cases, proposals that would further restrict ...

Red Cross needs blood donations after storms

The winter storms that came through in the past few days had one other, less visible but significant effect: A drop in donated blood and platelets in the region. The American Red Cross of Wisconsin urges people to act now to rebuild the blood supply after to donation appointments were disrupted across the state due to the storms. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to schedule a blood or platelet donation as soon as it’s safe to travel, the Red Cross said in a news release. Over the past few days, more than 30 blood drives have been canceled across the Wisconsin region, ...

State advises 187K students about Tuition Incentive Program

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential — MiLEAP — recently mailed more than 187,000 letters to Michigan students and their families notifying them of their eligibility for the Tuition Incentive Program, or TIP. TIP, a longstanding state scholarship program, provides tuition support for eligible Medicaid recipients pursuing skill certificates, associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees at participating Michigan colleges and universities. “Every Michigan student deserves a clear path to pursue higher education,” Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, ...