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Congress needs to rein in America’s ‘turbo’ gerrymandering

The redistricting arms race now roiling American politics was not merely predictable, but inevitable. It began the moment President Donald Trump picked up the phone last year to demand that Missouri, Texas and other red states gerrymander their congressional districts mid-decade to give Republicans an advantage in the upcoming midterms. Some Democratic-held states have responded in kind. The result is that in much of America this November, voters won’t be allowed to choose their politicians; the politicians are instead choosing their voters. It’s an untenable situation that will ...

Stay alert on the road as deer crashes spike

Those who live in the northwoods know deer on the roads can be a hazard when driving, no matter the time of year. But spring brings some special circumstances that increase the risk of vehicles and deer having a nasty encounter. Deer activity goes up in May and June, as does look for places to give birth and last year’s fawns separate from their mothers. In turn, this means more deer crossing the roads and a greater chance for crashes, experts say. Motorcyclists are at greater risk of injury in a deer crash. In 2025, 223 of the deer crashes involved a motorcycle, resulting in four ...

Watch for Adopt-A-Highway groups doing roadside cleanup

Groups of volunteers will be doing spring cleaning along Michigan’s highways in coming days, picking up the trash and other discarded materials. Beginning today, motorists should be on the lookout as Adopt-A-Highway volunteers fan out across far northern Michigan for the first of three scheduled collections in 2026. The pickup period continues through Sunday, May 17. Taking part will be the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Iosco, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, ...

The real reason Trump doesn’t want Congress to vote on war powers

(A week ago) Thursday marked 60 days since the start of Trump's failed war in Iran. The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) gives Congress the power "To declare War," and the War Powers Resolution of 1973 — enacted over Nixon's veto — mandates that troops be withdrawn within 60 days ...

Career in law enforcement not for everyone

In a world that is increasingly more and more technical, it's not easy for young people these days to chose a viable career that's likely to maintain itself for years into the future. And the building prominence of artificial intelligence only complicates the decision-making process for many. That's chief among reasons a program offered by the Michigan State Police and Gogebic Community College is so intriguing. MSP and GCC will give young people the opportunity to explore careers in law enforcement in a five-day academy set for June 7-12 at the Ironwood school. According to an MSP ...

Students step up to underscore Barnes-Hecker memories

Hats off to a group — actually two groups — of high school students from the west end for investing time and effort to keep memories alive of a tragedy that took place a century ago. Earlier this week, National Honor Society members from Ishpeming High School traveled to the Ishpeming Cemetery to clean the graves of miners who died in the Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster. Students from Westwood High School will be cleaning graves next week. Both efforts are a part of a number of events leading up to the 100th anniversary of the disaster in November. Because it was on Nov. 3, 1926, that ...