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NMU’s Fall Fest coming up

One of the really nice activities open to Northern Michigan University students each year is happening Monday at the Northern Center lawn on campus. Fall Fest is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. It’s a can't-miss opportunity for students to learn more about local businesses and non-profits, NMU departments and student organizations. While Fall Fest is designed to literally have something for everyone, we’d especially recommend attendance for new NMU students, as it provides a golden opportunity to find out what’s happening on campus and off, what might a good fit ...

ICE wants our emails

When a government agency comes to an internet service provider demanding information about Americans because of what they have said on social media, the provider should discard the demand, close the door or hang up the phone. The government is not entitled to rummage through the political ...

Let voters decide Cambensy’s candidacy

We are pleased that the Michigan Board of Canvassers has seen fit to approve the petitions submitted by Sara Cambensy to appear on the November ballot as an independent candidate for the state senate. The decision Monday reflected a staff recommendation from the previous week. The state board, in effect, sent Cambensy’s candidacy for the 38th state senatorial district to the voters to decide. In our opinion, that’s exactly who should decide. All of this can trace its roots — publicly, at least — to local resident Linda Donckers, who had submitted a challenge to Cambensy's ...

University impact on area significant

The greater Marquette area is on the cusp of undergoing an annual conversion when Northern Michigan University students return in numbers for the fall semester. Although a reduced number of NMU students have been present throughout the summer, the real change will take place in the next several days as thousands of young people, often ferried by worried parents and/or guardians, find homes in the university’s dormitories or off campus. And it’s a change that a great many permanent area residents, including us at The Mining Journal, have learned to anticipate and appreciate over the ...

Kids going back to school – drivers beware

Driving in and around Superiorland is about to become more challenging, courtesy of children of all ages returning to the classroom School buses will soon be picking up passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings and harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present — especially before and after school. Here are a handful of common sense rules and practices suggested by law enforcement that motorists should consider: If you're dropping ...

Precipice of catastrophe

The budget of the federal government is the largest of any organization in human history. It's larger than the entire economy of every foreign country except China. And it mostly grows automatically, without regular input from elected officials. In the past, huge surges in the national debt were largely caused by wars or recessions. They were temporary. When the war concluded or economic growth resumed, debt as a share of the economy would fall. That's not how it works anymore. The debt increases due to demographic trends as the bulk of spending goes to programs that serve an aging ...