Opinion

National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday

The Michigan State Police is once again taking part in a national initiative that encourages residents to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription pills. All of MSP's 31 posts will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. That includes the MSP Iron Mountain post, 1916 N. Stephenson Ave. on the city's North Side. This is one of two annual events held in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other police agencies, MSP advises in a news release. "Safely disposing of unused and expired medications is a simple ...

Almanac for Oct. 22, 2026

Today is Thursday, Oct. 22, the 295th day of 2026. There are 70 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 22, 2012, cyclist Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of his seven Tour de France victories and received a lifetime ban from Olympic sports after the International Cycling Union chose not to appeal doping charges against Armstrong by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Also on this date: In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin of France made the first successful parachute drop, descending about 3,000 feet to the ground from a balloon over Paris. He was hailed as the first ...

Editorial cartoon for Oct. 22, 2026

The Anti-French revolt in France

"All my life," Charles de Gaulle famously said, "I have had a certain idea of France." This, though, was presumably not what he had in mind. France has been wracked by riots targeting public buildings and symbols of the nation, as well as ordinary commercial concerns. Of course, France ...

AI investors will demand a return sooner or later

It's too soon to call what happened last week to artificial intelligence stocks a correction. Call it instead a reminder: Hype about new technologies is an inevitable human temptation, and sometimes it pays off, but eventually investors demand returns on capital. That's the way to think about the disconcerting market swings of recent days. Many tech shares have taken a dive, sometimes by large percentages. That has dragged down the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 index, which has come to be dominated by those companies. Our advice is to go for a relaxing walk this weekend instead of checking ...

Almana for Oct. 20, 2026

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 2026. There are 71 days left in the year. Today in history: On Oct. 21, 2014, Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide for shooting and killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The conviction was later upgraded to murder; Pistorius was released on parole in January 2024. Also on this date: In 1797, the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides," was christened in Boston Harbor. In 1805, a British fleet commanded by Vice Adm. Horatio Nelson defeated a French-Spanish fleet in the Battle ...