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Safety paramount when on ice

It seems that every winter, a number of people fall through ice they thought was safe, never mind how cold the temperature has been. That fact alone serves to underscore what might be obvious to some and not so much to others, that despite the recent cold snap, many lakes and streams remain unsafe for fisherman and others to venture out on. The deaths and rescues happen all over the state, especially if the cold snaps are separated by even slight warming trends. That's what likely took place recently in the city of Marquette's Lower Harbor where at least one of the many hundreds of ...

Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy backfiring

How does a Republican lose by 14 points in a safely conservative Texas state Senate seat that President Trump carried by 17 points in 2024? Answer: When there’s a voter backlash against the Trump Administration, notably its mass deportation debacles. That’s what happened Saturday in a special election to fill a GOP seat in Tarrant County in the Fort Worth area. Democrat Taylor Rehmet, a labor union leader and veteran, romped over Republican Leigh Wambsganss, who had a Truth Social endorsement from Mr. Trump and vastly outspent Mr. Rehmet. The election timing was awful for ...

Shovel snow using care, caution

Winter has done a lot more than simply visiting sub-zero temperatures on the area in the past week. According to local officials, as much as a 2-3 feet of snow, pushed by gusting winds, has piled up, especially in the outlying areas, snow that has to be relocated from drive and walkways. That means, for the people who don’t have snowblowers or access to strong-backed support, shoveling. And in some cases, a great deal of shoveling. The American Heart Association notes that for most people, shoveling snow may not lead to health problems. However, the risk of a heart attack during snow ...

Keep meters clear this winter

Now that we have plenty of snow to talk about, residents probably don’t have to be reminded to keep snow off their driveways and away from mailboxes. However, some might have to be reminded to keep your gas meter clear of snow and ice. It might be easy to forget, but it’s needed. Built-up snow and ice place stress on the regulators and meter piping, which could cause gas to leak into a home and create a hazardous situation. You also might want to clear a path to your meter so a reader can access it. But back to the potentially unsafe condition. Natural gas customers are asked ...

Caution needed to stay safe on winter roadways

“Drive slow in ice and snow.” It’s a catchy phrase we’ve become used to hearing. But warmer than normal weather may have put the pesky reality of wintry conditions out of our minds up until recently. According to the state of Michigan website, there were 202,232 crashes attributed to snowy and slushy roads reported between 2016 to 2020. Of the crashes in that four-year span, 370 were fatal and 2,530 meant suspected serious injuries for those involved. And while it’s pretty easy to blame the weather, there are several things drivers can do to avoid getting into a traffic ...

Big surprises in the 2030 census estimates

About a month late, presumably due to last fall's government shutdown, the Census Bureau has released its estimates of the populations of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for July 1, 2025. It provides an interesting picture of what the country is, and is becoming, halfway through ...