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Editorial

Shovel snow using care, caution

Winter has done a lot more than simply visiting sub-zero temperatures on the area in the past week. According to local officials, as much as a 2-3 feet of snow, pushed by gusting winds, has piled up, especially in the outlying areas, snow that has to be relocated from drive and walkways. That means, for the people who don’t have snowblowers or access to strong-backed support, shoveling. And in some cases, a great deal of shoveling. The American Heart Association notes that for most people, shoveling snow may not lead to health problems. However, the risk of a heart attack during snow ...

Keep meters clear this winter

Now that we have plenty of snow to talk about, residents probably don’t have to be reminded to keep snow off their driveways and away from mailboxes. However, some might have to be reminded to keep your gas meter clear of snow and ice. It might be easy to forget, but it’s needed. Built-up snow and ice place stress on the regulators and meter piping, which could cause gas to leak into a home and create a hazardous situation. You also might want to clear a path to your meter so a reader can access it. But back to the potentially unsafe condition. Natural gas customers are asked ...

Caution needed to stay safe on winter roadways

“Drive slow in ice and snow.” It’s a catchy phrase we’ve become used to hearing. But warmer than normal weather may have put the pesky reality of wintry conditions out of our minds up until recently. According to the state of Michigan website, there were 202,232 crashes attributed to snowy and slushy roads reported between 2016 to 2020. Of the crashes in that four-year span, 370 were fatal and 2,530 meant suspected serious injuries for those involved. And while it’s pretty easy to blame the weather, there are several things drivers can do to avoid getting into a traffic ...

Big surprises in the 2030 census estimates

About a month late, presumably due to last fall's government shutdown, the Census Bureau has released its estimates of the populations of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for July 1, 2025. It provides an interesting picture of what the country is, and is becoming, halfway through ...

The Washington Post says RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine campaign will make Americans sicker

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already inflicted great damage upon America’s vaccine infrastructure, yet the health and human services secretary is only getting started. His next target is the system that makes vaccines economically viable. Vaccines are expensive to develop, but for them to be effective, they must also be cheap so that large populations can access them. That means manufacturers must operate at slim margins, making them particularly vulnerable to expensive lawsuits. In the 1980s, litigation was driving drug companies out of vaccine production. While immunizations save ...

Take steps to protect against identity theft

It’s Identity Theft Awareness Week. In Wisconsin, to help consumers and taxpayers protect themselves from identity theft, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Department of Revenue are partnering to promote best practices for identity theft prevention and share trusted resources. While identity theft can occur year-round, consumers should take special care during tax season — January through April — to keep their personal information secure, the Wisconsin DOR advises in a news release. Tax-related identity theft occurs when a consumer’s Social ...