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Opinion

Political ignorance, House control

Editorials and columns

When candidates, campaign managers, and political consultants say their prayers at night, they most likely ask that Michigan voters continue to be ignorant. That’s because an ill-informed citizen is easy to exploit for political gain. Or, to put it another way, it is infinitely easier ...

Auditor general should be fully funded

Editorials and columns

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer carved out a clear position on government transparency by proposing to slash the budget for the one office in Lansing that holds lawmakers to account. The governor’s spending plan would cut funding for the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) by $8.3 million, or 28% of ...

APS hears your voices, opinions

Editorials and columns

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education, APS administration, and I have been focused on listening to our staff and community. Throughout each year, the district provides multiple opportunities for students, parents, staff, and the community to engage with the district. Opportunities ...

Understanding the local language

Editorials and columns

My family has been a few places. In a world of reduced regionalism and increased mobility, our tribe is a pretty decent example. My parents were born in Western Pennsylvania and both went to college in West Virginia. My first five years of life were spent in the Ohio River Valley in Eastern ...

APS smart to engage staff

Editorials and columns

Alpena Public Schools leaders aren’t happy with being average. A consultant this week told the APS Board of Education that a survey found a third of the school district’s staff are considered engaged with their employer. That’s about typical across industries in the U.S. and Canada, the ...

Just what exactly is a ‘traditional man’?

Editorials and columns

“Manliness consists not in bluff, bravado or loneliness. It consists in daring to do the right thing and facing consequences whether it is in matters social, political or other. It consists in deeds not words.” — Mahatma Gandhi “Wise men are not pacifists; they are merely less likely ...