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Take steps to stop spread of oak wilt

Editorial

It’s time to leave those oak trees alone. Due to the possibility of beetles spreading oak wilt fungus from tree to tree, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources advises homeowners and landowners not to trim or prune any oak trees from mid-April to mid-July. Sap-feeding nitidulid beetles are most active during this period and can transfer spores from infected trees to healthy trees through wounds, the DNR states in a news release. Recent research at Michigan State University indicates that in Michigan, oak wilt infection risk peaks in May and June. The DNR recommends that ...

MAGA is anti-Christian now

Columns

The past few days have featured the vice president of the United States lecturing the pope on morality and church doctrine; Sean Hannity making it official that he worships at the Church of Trump; Pete Hegseth quoting made-up verses from "Pulp Fiction" as if they were actual scripture; and ...

Is the SPLC indictment about fraud or something more sinister?

Columns

When it comes to the U.S. Justice Department's stunning announcement of criminal charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, as an old saying goes, where you stand depends on where you sit. If you sit with the broad section of Americans who revere the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement ...

Leonard exit from race should be cautionary tale

Editorial

Many Upper Peninsula residents are only vaguely familiar with former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard, who suddenly halted his campaign late last week. Of course, Leonard had some degree of name recognition going in given his time as a state representative from Clinton and Gratiot counties. He also served as speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. But he was still struggling to put himself on the front burner of Republican politics in the mostly conservative Upper Peninsula when he stepped away from the race. Why? Because, in his own words, he is weary of the ...

All redistricting reformers are hypocrites

Columns

Hypocrisy was triumphant, as it usually is in arguments over redistricting, in Virginia this week, as voters approved a "fairness" constitutional amendment allowing the Democratic-majority legislature to enact a congressional districting plan that is expected to increase Democrats' edge in its ...

Check for restrictions, be careful if burning

Editorial

With the snow mostly gone and longer sunny days drying everything out, spring fire season has arrived — that dangerous period before enough new greenery grows to make the brown grasses and bare branches less vulnerable to a stray spark or ember. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds the public to check fire danger and burn permit restrictions before conducting outdoor burning activities, as recent storms have increased the amount of debris on the landscape across much of Wisconsin. Even with recent heavy rainfalls and severe weather, Wisconsin last week had 50 ...