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State police in midst of stepped-up speed enforcement

Speeding is no big deal, right? Everyone does it, right? And what real harm does it cause? Actually, pushing that pedal down can be dangerous for more than just the driver, state law enforcement officials warn. Speeding is far from just a violation of traffic laws. Aggressive driving not only puts drivers and passengers at risk, it can affect the lives of all roadway users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. So the Michigan State Police, along with city and county police departments across the state, are conducting dedicated speed enforcement throughout July, the MSP states in a ...

Michigan observing Culinary Careers Month

This is Culinary Careers Month in Michigan, offering a chance to recognize the culinary industry’s role in Michigan’s economy, culture and community identity. Hospitality creates tens of billions of dollars in annual sales in Michigan and employs 10% of the state’s workforce, or more than half a million residents, according to a proclamation from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Culinary Careers Month seeks to inspire students and job seekers to explore the opportunities available. Meanwhile, the continued success of the hospitality industry depends on fostering awareness and support for ...

Antitrust lawsuits, political speech don’t mix

The Biden administration stretched antitrust laws for political ends, and now the Trump crowd is doing the same. The latest exhibit is the Justice Department's bizarre legal filing in a lawsuit (Children’s Health Defense v. WP Company) by anti-vaccine activists against media companies. Children’s Health Defense — the anti-vaccine outfit that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously led — and like-minded plaintiffs claim the Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press and the BBC colluded with Big Tech companies to censor them. The platforms are ...

Stonewalling on Epstein files will do Trump little good

Donald Trump has thrived on conspiracy theories — “birtherist” lies that Barack Obama was born outside the U.S.; the lunacies of the Q-Anon movement; false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. All centered on the idea that the “deep state” was lying to, and thus cheating, ordinary people. Mr. Trump was their tribune. It’s hard not to feel schadenfreude now that he’s at the sharp end of a theory that he at times encouraged and allies eagerly pushed — claims that the prison death of the pedophile Jeffrey Epstein might not be suicide after all, and that ...

Public media a lot more than political views

When the private sector doesn’t provide an important service, the government often steps in. That is why the framers established the U.S. Postal Service; they believed no one else would deliver the mail to the entire country.  Many places in America, especially in rural communities, would not have a library without public funding. Police departments, the military, Medicare, Social Security and public education offer other examples. So does public media, including PBS, NPR and their local affiliates. As newspapers and television stations across the country fold, public radio and TV ...

Copper Country filled with sound of music

We’re now past the halfway point of July, which means, for all intents and purposes, we’ve also passed the halfway point of the summer season. Let us not bemoan that summer is half over, but rather embrace all that lies ahead. And looking forward, what lies ahead is music, lots of great music. The Houghton Summer Slam concert series, organized by Good Times music, continues to draw big crowds with an eclectic collection of local performers. Still to come through Aug. 20 are evenings of jazz, country rock, bluegrass and more. The Calumet Theatre’s Summer Concert Series holds ...