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Editorial

Before lighting up fireworks, consider effects on others

It’s time for the annual reminder that while fireworks spark awe and delight for many, they are a source of dread for some in the community. Michigan law establishes 12 days in which local governments can’t ban fireworks, all around federal holidays. They are: • Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. ...

Federal waste of office space stifles economies at many levels

The federal government is the largest owner of U.S. real estate, including more than half a billion square feet of office space. That is far more than it needs, and the cost of maintaining it has ballooned to unsustainable levels. The Public Buildings Reform Board recently identified 26 ...

Think about animals as fireworks season begins

As the country approaches the celebration of its 250th Independence Day, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding Michiganders to take precautions to keep pets and animals safe. “Fireworks and Fourth of July festivities with new people, new sounds and lots ...

Hegseth’s vaccine policy puts military trainees in firing line

An influenza outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas sickened almost 160 people in the past few weeks and might have even killed one person going through basic training. If it wasn’t already clear why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to eliminate the military’s universal flu ...

US health care system needs a real public option

Long ago, when most Americans left the house for mass entertainment, they flocked to carnivals that crisscrossed the country to delight small towns and big cities. Shows typically included a barker whose steady stream of superfluous oratory enticed folks to spend their hard-earned cash on ...

State wants public’s help on aquatic invasive species

Be it Eurasian watermilfoil, Asian apple snails, European frog-bit, rusty crayfish or zebra and quagga mussels, a host of invasive species have made their way into Michigan’s lakes, rivers, wetlands and streams. To help track the spread of these and other nonnative plants and animals, the ...