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Almanac for Aug. 4, 2026

Local columns

Today is Tuesday, Aug. 4, the 216th day of 2026. There are 149 days left in the year. Today in history: In 2020, nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored for years in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, exploded, killing more than 200 people, injuring more than 7,000 and devastating nearby neighborhoods; it was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded. Also on this date: In 1790, the U.S. Coast Guard had its beginnings as President George Washington signed a measure authorizing a group of revenue cutters to enforce tariff and trade laws and ...

When college access grows, Michigan reaps the benefits

Editorial

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 ...

Trump was never funny

Local columns

In a display of Stockholm Syndrome, the White House Correspondents’ Association invited Donald Trump to be the keynote speaker at their annual festival of self-appreciation. Because he is who he is, he did not take the opportunity to do the kind of gentle press ribbing that past presidents ...