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Editorial

War against sea lamprey expensive but worth the money

While it might seem to some that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is throwing good money after bad fighting the invasive sea lamprey, we support continued efforts by this agency and others to rid the Great Lakes and adjacent waters of this nasty invasive species. Sea lamprey are parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean that invaded the Great Lakes via shipping canals in the early 1900s. They attach to fish with a suction-cup mouth lined with sharp teeth, feed on their body fluids, killing up to 40 pounds of fish during their parasitic phase. Many Great Lakes anglers can ruefully ...

A better conversation needed on data centers

Much of the public conversation has focused on preventing data centers from coming to the Upper Peninsula. That concern is understandable, but it overlooks how land use regulation actually works. A statewide prohibition on data centers would be a matter of state law. Local governments, on the other hand, are responsible for considering where all lawful land uses may be permitted and what standards they must meet. Through my work as a regional planner and participation in Michigan’s Statewide Data Center Working Group (a collaboration of statewide land use experts, attorneys, planning ...

When college access grows, Michigan reaps the benefits

For decades, college has been — and continues to be — the most reliable path to well-paying careers. But when students and families hear stories about the rising costs of college, the growing student debt crisis, and the rapidly changing job market, it’s natural for them to wonder if postsecondary education is worth the time and money. Yes, barriers do exist. But frustrations with cost, debt and completion should push us to remove barriers, not dismiss these opportunities — and Michigan can’t afford to discourage students from college when 84% of high-demand jobs require at ...