Breaking News

Editorial

Federal waste of office space stifles economies at many levels

The federal government is the largest owner of U.S. real estate, including more than half a billion square feet of office space. That is far more than it needs, and the cost of maintaining it has ballooned to unsustainable levels. The Public Buildings Reform Board recently identified 26 buildings across 15 states — totaling more than 7.3 million square feet — as potential candidates for the government to dispose of due to poor usage and high maintenance costs. It’s the third set of disposal recommendations since Congress created the board in 2016. That’s a great start, but the ...

MDARD shares food safety tips for Independence Day

State officials want to help America remain the land of the free ... from food poisoning. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has offered these food safety reminders to help Michiganders prepare for Fourth of July picnics and barbecues: KEEP IT CLEAN — Wash hands thoroughly before and after cooking and before eating to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Use soap and water, hand sanitizer or sanitizing hand wipes. — Clean and sanitize all food preparation and serving surfaces before use, including cutting boards and picnic tables. Take precautions ...

Before lighting up fireworks, consider effects on others

It’s time for the annual reminder that while fireworks spark awe and delight for many, they are a source of dread for some in the community. Michigan law establishes 12 days in which local governments can’t ban fireworks, all around federal holidays. They are: — Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1; — Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend until 11:45 p.m.; — June 29 to July 4 until 11:45 p.m.; — Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend until 11:45 p.m. Local governments may have ordinances on just what, when and where fireworks can be used at other times, so before setting ...