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Opinion

Hard to find negative impact from legalized recreational marijuana

Editorial

If you talked to Michigan residents 10 years ago, the idea of legalizing recreational marijuana was a divisive topic. For some, it was a pipe dream, no pun intended — but people on the other side of the issue saw it as a nightmare. The logistics of implementing rules for legalized pot. ...

Fear factor prevails

Columns

Donald Trump has gotten indicted yet again, and, as usual, most of the other Republican candidates have been sympathetic, if not outright deferential, to him. It’s another episode that raises the question: Can someone who is afraid of Trump defeat him? Of all the advantages that Trump ...

Government and freedom of speech observed

Columns

“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech.” —First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Here is a pop quiz: If the states ratified an amendment to the Constitution repealing the First Amendment, would we still enjoy the freedom of speech? That depends on which value ...

Scams against old people are scourge of our society

Columns

I oversaw the care of an elderly friend in his last years. Up until age 86, Frank was pretty much in control. But then he was diagnosed with cancer. The disease and the drugs greatly sapped powers that old age had already altered. The telephone became his conduit to the outside world. ...

Addressing health issues

Columns

Summer is a time for fun and outdoor activities, but it also brings a higher risk of certain injuries. From sunburns to insect bites and heat-related issues –which could be a concern even this far north with temperatures predicted to reach the 90s later this week — it’s essential to know ...

State stagnates on septic

Columns

Michigan is the land of 11,000 lakes and 36,000 miles of streams. We are the Great Lakes State. But. We also are the land of 1.3 million septic systems – and the only state in the union with no uniform code to regulate them. Environmental regulators estimate that hundreds of thousands of ...