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Keeping animals healthy and safe this Halloween

Getting ready to celebrate Halloween? Make sure it doesn’t turn out to be a frightful night for pets, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advises. “Considering the needs of our animals is important when making plans for Halloween to ensure they won’t have any unpleasant scares or additional stress,” State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland said in a news release. “From keeping them away from the candy bowl to ensuring they have up-to-date identification, there are many precautions owners can take to keep their animals safe this Halloween.” MDARD ...

Emphasizing the importance of bats this Halloween week

Take a moment this week to consider a mammal that has struggled in this region in recent years: bats. As the only mammal capable of true flight — the others all glide — bats are not just unique and fascinating but also extremely important members of our natural world, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “They are vital to many ecosystems and provide significant positive environmental, economic and public health benefits. For example, insectivorous (bug-eating) bats consume large numbers of agricultural pests, saving farmers and forest-owners billions of ...

First amendment speakers should not become Pentagon publicity outlets

An important set of circumstances is playing out at the Department of Defense these days that many readers either may not be aware of or know about it f but haven’t thought it through. On Oct. 15, Defense Department officials — read Secretary Peter Hegseth and others in his orbit — said they wanted media organizations to sign onto new Department of Defense media policies that would limit access and information. At least 30 news organizations refused to agree to the policy. The reason given was the same one federal officials always give when clamping down on the press: Hegseth is ...

Be ready when health insurance enrollment begins

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is encouraging state residents to be ready for the upcoming Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period that starts Nov. 1. A record 530,000 Michiganders are currently enrolled in health insurance through the Marketplace. Recent federal changes, as well as expiring tax credits, mean it has never been more important to review health insurance coverage and make a selection during the upcoming Open Enrollment period. “Health insurance improves health outcomes and helps protect your family’s health and financial ...

National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday

The Michigan State Police is once again taking part in a national initiative that encourages residents to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription pills. All of MSP’s 31 posts will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. This is one of two annual events held in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other police agencies, MSP advises in a news release. “Proper disposal of unused or expired prescription medication helps prevent misuse, protects the environment and keeps our communities safe,” said Col. ...

Your taxes, your schools, your safety: Why your local news matters

I am a journalist. And proud of it. I hope my readers, whether in newspapers, magazines or online, also feel that’s a title worthy of pride. True, journalists and the news media are being targeted and maligned, and polls show public trust in the press is declining. But what isn’t up for serious debate is the essential role that we play.  I appreciate how Dale Anglin, the executive director of the Knight Foundation’s Press Forward initiative, describes the situation — not as a plea to “save struggling journalism” but as a call for the citizenry to “support trusted ...