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Bergman will not meet constituents

To the Journal editor: Once again Jack Bergman, our congressman, is afraid to hold a town hall to hear valid concerns from his constituents. Yet he’s miraculously able to attend a Republican Lincoln Day dinner on Oct. 3 at little old Belgiumtown restaurant outside Stephenson, a very safe territory where he’ll not be pressed for truthful answers on his votes. In spite of countless invitations to appear at town halls, Bergman has not met with us since 2017. Why do voters continue to support a congressman who will not actually address nor represent your best interests?

The rise of AI populism

Last week, the unlikely duo of Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon keynoted a Washington conference to demand a stop to AI, its data centers, and the risks AI poses to jobs and even to the human species. Notably, both lambasted the corporate oligarchs behind AI. The most potent force in American ...

‘Laughing gas’ no laughing matter

There are some things in life that simply aren't worth taking a chance on. Recreational nitrous oxide should be one of them. Mining Journal readers recently learned that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning residents about increasing misuse of nitrous oxide, commonly known by names such as “laughing gas,” “whippets,” “balloons,” “Galaxy Gas” and “NOS.” The problem isn't that nitrous oxide exists. It has legitimate uses in medicine, dentistry and food preparation. The problem is what happens when people treat it like harmless ...

Future shock: Is this Team Humanity's last chance to stand up to AI?

Since we last visited the artificial intelligence industry in this column, a lot has happened, much of it seeming to confirm my worst fears. Seven weeks ago, I wrote about the "Hugging Face" breach, so called for the company that got hacked with no human intervention by "rogue" AI agents ...

Veterans should take another look at VA benefits

The Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain has earned another national honor, and while that recognition is certainly worth celebrating, the bigger message for veterans across the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin is this: If you have never enrolled in VA health care — or were turned down in the past — it may be worth taking another look. The Iron Mountain facility has been named one of the nation's top VA facilities for the sixth time, receiving the Department of Veterans Affairs' 2025 Best Experience Award for Level III small, low-complexity ...

Air travel advocacy

To the Journal editor: To candidates seeking to represent the Upper Peninsula, the election season brings familiar promises: economic development, new employers, stronger tourism, better healthcare and more reasons for young people to stay. So here is a practical question for every candidate making those promises: What will you do to improve commercial air service at Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport? This is not about ticket prices. It is about whether flights are available and whether they can be counted on. When only a handful of flights arrive and depart each day, one ...