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MDARD offers advice on using disinfectants safely

As temperatures and daylight declines and people spend more time in enclosed spaces, the chance to spread illness grows — it’s the start of the cold and flu season for a reason. So the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued some recommendations on using disinfectants safely and responsibly to help guard against the “bugs” that can be harbored indoors. Disinfectants used on surfaces are classified as pesticides and regulated by both MDARD and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, MDARD advised in a news release. Before using any ...

Don’t throw out fall leaves

It's autumn and area forests are replete with blazing colors and, of course, falling leaves. Speaking of leaves, what should a person do with them? The initial urge might be to rake them into bags, but that’s not necessarily the best option for nature. According to the National Wildlife Federation, leaves form a natural mulch that suppresses weeds and fertilizes the soil as it breaks down. Removing leaves also gets rid of valuable wildlife habitat. How is that possible? You might not see them, but many moth and butterfly caterpillars spend their winter in fallen leaves ...

Hunters Feeding Michigan sets record for donated venison

Deer hunting has a hallowed place in Michigan’s culture. Going into the woods in the fall is a cherished tradition and bonding time for many in the state, across generations. In this area, schools often will have a day off for the opening of the gun deer season on Nov. 15. But the deer hunt has played another significant role in the state as well — helping to feed those in need, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The program Hunters Feeding Michigan — which connects hunters, wild game processors and charities — processed 140,000 pounds of donated ...

Worth putting pressure on parties to find peace in Gaza

Two years after the Hamas atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, when militants killed about 1,200 Israelis, and amid the genocide in Gaza, in which Israel has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, the need for peace has never been more urgent. Palestinians are desperate for an end to starvation and airstrikes. Israelis want the war to end for the sake of remaining hostages and soldiers. Violence has reverberated across the region. Momentum has been growing around U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal, with both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas grudgingly indicating ...

Get out to a farm during Agritourism Month

October is the perfect time of year to find an area farm that welcomes the public to come enjoy the harvest season. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed October as Michigan Agritourism Month, encouraging residents to visit any of the hundreds of agritourism farms and orchards across Michigan during crisp autumn days. The celebration recognizes the economic and social benefits of agritourism to the state’s farms and communities and provides a chance to recognize Michigan’s thriving food and agriculture industry, state officials said in a news release. “Agritourism connects ...

Trump appointee blocks his Guard callup in Oregon

The 10th Amendment says that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution belong to the states. A federal judge, nominated by President Donald Trump, ruled Saturday that he likely violated Oregon’s 10th Amendment rights, infringing on its state sovereignty and police powers, by federalizing its National Guard over the objections of its governor. The judge’s temporary restraining order, which the administration will appeal, offers a template for how other states, including Illinois, can challenge similar deployments. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut ...