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War against sea lamprey expensive but worth the money

While it might seem to some that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is throwing good money after bad fighting the invasive sea lamprey, we support continued efforts by this agency and others to rid the Great Lakes and adjacent waters of the nasty invasive species. Sea lamprey are parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean that invaded the Great Lakes via shipping canals in the early 1900s. They attach to fish with a suction-cup mouth lined with sharp teeth, feed on their body fluids, killing up to 40 pounds of fish during their parasitic phase. Many Great Lakes anglers can ruefully ...

Families urged to vaccinate before the school year starts

With Michigan classrooms set to reopen in a matter of weeks, doctors and public health leaders Thursday urged parents to check their children's immunization records and catch up on any missed vaccines before the first day of school. The call comes as the U.S. logs its worst measles year in 35 years, and as vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and chickenpox continue to circulate in the state, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports in a news release. As of July 22, the U.S. had recorded 2,321 measles cases nationwide, according to the Johns Hopkins ...

Houston Chronicle: Feds are still blocking an independent investigation into ICE shooting death

More than two weeks after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo dead on a Houston street, the U.S. federal government stands in the way of an independent, transparent investigation. ICE hasn’t cooperated with local law enforcement, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told a Congressional forum in Houston on Friday. In fact, at the same time that Teare was answering representatives’ questions, his key witness was in a federal hearing about whether or not he’d even get to stay in the country. Salgado’s brother, Victor, is “by all accounts ...

US-Saudi nuclear agreement further erodes international safeguards

Even as he threatened to escalate an unlawful war sold in part as preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon, Donald Trump opened the door to proliferation in the region on Wednesday. The US announced that it had signed a deal with Saudi Arabia which would potentially allow the kingdom to enrich uranium in future and to avoid the fullest inspection rights for the international watchdog. Experts have long warned that a civilian nuclear programme could create a path towards a nuclear-armed Riyadh. Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and de facto leader, has said that if Tehran ...

Staying safe when out on the water

While summer might be winding down, conditions remain hot enough that taking to the often-cooler conditions on water is tempting. So the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has reminded all boaters to share the water and use safe practices. The state's waters are enjoyed by swimmers, anglers, recreational boaters and paddlers alike during the summer months. Boaters should be aware of others on the water and give space. "We urge boaters to be mindful of their speed and wake size and how it can impact all others enjoying the water — including other motorboats, paddlers and ...

Shop smart to avoid back-to-school scams

Hard — and perhaps depressing — to believe the 2026-27 school year will begin in only a few weeks. The back-to-school season is a busy time of year for both students and guardians. Consumers of all ages will be searching for the best deals on the supplies and products they need -- and for scammers, this presents an opportunity, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warned in a news release. The DATCP offered these tips and resources to avoid pitfalls when getting ready for classes to start: Online shopping scams Online shoppers may be drawn to ...