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Families should learn the signs of drowning

For World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday, a trauma expert in Wisconsin warned that drowning can be fast, silent and difficult to recognize when seconds count to react in time. World Drowning Prevention Day, observed annually on July 25, serves as a reminder that many drowning deaths are preventable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings occur in the United States each year, an average of 11 deaths per day. An additional 8,000 near-drownings are treated in emergency departments annually. "The biggest thing we ...

Primary voting options abound

At a time when voting by mail has been increasingly challenged — President Donald Trump has repeatedly leveled unfounded claims of fraud against absentee ballots, including in his prime-time speech a week ago in which he called them "inherently corrupt" — state election officials this week said more Michigan voters are opting to use this method this summer. With two weeks left before the Aug. 4 primary election, 572,553 Michigan voters had already cast their ballot, according to data publicly available on the relaunched Michigan Voting Dashboard, mi.gov/votingdashboard. Voter ...

Lots more than books at the library

Libraries play key roles in the communities that host them. Far more than simply a venue that stores books and recordings, the typical public library these days has become something of a community crossroads for all kinds of "unlibrary-like" activities. Arts and culture, nutrition, recreation and employment are just random examples of the kinds of services even smaller libraries offer. The lists can get quite long. The Peter White Public Library in Marquette gets a lot of ink here and attention elsewhere for the programs it offers, and rightly so. Even a brief scan of its website ...

MSP reminds public it’s OK2SAY for safer schools

The state's OK2SAY program — a means for reporting potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees or schools — had a busy year in 2025, officials said. OK2SAY recorded 10,777 tips, its second-highest use volume since its 2014 start, Michigan State Police stated in a news release marking the release Tuesday of the 2025 OK2SAY Annual Report. The number highlights the vital role OK2SAY "plays in safeguarding Michigan's youth and fostering safer school environments," according to MSP. The goal of OK2SAY is to stop harmful behavior before it occurs by ...

Weather can, does change in matter of minutes

If Superiorland residents and visitors alike needed additional proof that area and regional weather patterns can change very quickly, that proof came early Monday evening in the form of a severe thunderstorm that passed through. The skies went from small patches of blue here and there to a light gray to dark gray and boiling, all in the space of less than 30 minutes. What followed in much of the central Upper Peninsula was a severe thunderstorm watch that switched to a warming to a tornado watch and warning. Rain came down in sheets and in downtown Marquette, lightning lit up the ...

Road construction season is here – drive accordingly

It seemed like Upper Peninsula residents waited a little bit longer than usual for the lingering winter of 2025-26 to dissipate and consistent summer-like weather to arrive. And along with summer comes all the things we expect, including picnics, camping, swimming and a great many road construction projects. Yes, mixed in with all the things we look forward to during nice weather are those road projects that can seem a little annoying, especially if they delay a trip. However, these projects will be making improvements to the routes we travel by motor vehicle and when finished will be ...