Opinion

Keeping invasive pests out of Michigan starts with firewood

It should have come as absolutely no surprise to anyone paying the least amount of attention, a recent state decision to quarantine out-of-state firewood as one viable way to battle invasive species and plant diseases. But beginning Jan. 1, that’s what’s going to happen. From where we sit, it’s a great idea and one that has significant scientific underpinnings. The new policy was announced by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan Invasive Species Program. Firewood may look harmless, but it can harbor pests and pathogens that are difficult ...

America's deadly addiction to war

America has a deadly addiction to war. Since 1950, presidents of both political parties have sent American troops into conflicts across the globe, killed countless people, sacrificed the lives and limbs of American servicemen and women, and wasted trillions of dollars. Yet these wars have ...

The grumpy, trumpy turkey on the table

Pick a Thanksgiving table, any Thanksgiving table in America, and it's sure to have a turkey and a grumpy uncle. Sometimes they are one and the same, stuffed with all the trimmings. As the midterms draw near, this November will be an especially heated month, right? We the people are so ...

Editorial cartoon for Oct. 31, 2026

Almanac for Oct. 31, 2026

Today is Saturday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2026. There are 61 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 31, 1984, Indira Gandhi, India's Prime Minister for more than 15 years, was assassinated by two of her own security guards. Also on this date: In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation making Nevada the 36th state, eight days before the presidential election. In 1913, the Lincoln Highway, the first automobile highway across the United States, was dedicated. In 1941, work was completed on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, begun in ...

Social (In)Security

"We will always protect Social Security, Medicare!" says President Donald Trump. That would be nice. But when I look at these programs' balance sheets, I don't see how he's protected anything. Both Social Security and Medicare are on track to run out of money. Politicians mostly ignore the ...