Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a plan to help more Americans obtain health insurance. The White House's reaction was that the proposal would "take health insurance away from millions and increase costs for seniors and hard-working families."Let's think about that. ...

Here we go again, or do we?The head of the Michigan Education Association trotted out this diddy the other day. He is convinced that the wealthy DeVos family from West Michigan is methodically laying the groundwork to revisit the voucher issue. "Sure they are," opines Steve Cook."There is no ...

Nowhere is the Fourth of July better than in Northeast Michigan.Of course mention the Fourth, and one naturally instantly thinks of fireworks. With access to fireworks so much easier today than in years past, we also remind residents to exercise caution when using them.Even the most innocent of ...

Whether it was Flint, the Straits or Waukesha, Wis., water highlighted the news from this week for Michigan residents.First, out of Flint, it was announced late in the week by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials that testing has confirmed that filters on water were working and the ...

When Carolyn Cassin lost her baby son, she went back to work the following Monday, devastated.The year was 1976 and people didn't talk openly about grief and loss. She remembers the platitudes - you're young, you'll have other children - and the silence. Cassin realized that nothing much had ...

In Omar Mateen's twisted mind, he was an "Islamic soldier" whose self-professed loyalty to the Islamic State terrorist group was more important than any moral compunctions he might have had about slaughtering 49 innocent people. The FBI says he was "radicalized domestically," not directed by ...

Congratulations Bruce Anschuetz and Jamie Anschuetz-Gohlke for leading the charge on a successful 2015-16 United Way Campaign.Even more importantly, congratulations to each of you who donated for helping the organization reach its $200,000 goal.Thanks to your efforts 15 Northeast Michigan ...

With the Fourth of July fast approaching, I have received many questions about fireworks. Fireworks remain a staple for evening and weekend enjoyment during the holiday weekend.Due to a change in Michigan's law, consumers may now legally purchase and use more powerful fireworks, including ...

George H. Healey was the Macebearer at Cornell University and a professor of English in the 1960s when I was a student there. The Macebearer proceeded the President of the University at official events. As a senior, I took an upper level Shakespeare course taught by Healey and found him to be a ...

President Barack Obama's endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president did not compromise the FBI's ongoing investigation into Clinton, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday. Almost beyond doubt, she is right about that.But the interviewer who asked Lynch about the endorsement was asking ...

The first generation to never know a time before computers has entered the workforce and things haven't been the same since. This can be seen as welcomingly positive for those seeking to appeal to this group of consumers.The Millennial Generation is regarded as those children born between ...

In the rush to do something about people like Omar Mateen, mistakes are going to be made. What should concern Americans is some of those errors will make life more difficult for law-abiding people while accomplishing little, if anything, to prevent massacres such as that committed by Mateen.It ...

There is much good in a defense spending bill approved overwhelmingly by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. For example, the measure specifically bars President Barack Obama from closing the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.At the same time, the bill, approved 85-13, is one more example of how ...

While many of the commentators and the chattering class have come unglued over the latest round of Donald Trump-isms regarding the ethnicity of a judge and the president's comments about the shootings in Orlando, the first guy to endorse the Donald in Michigan is as sanguine as you could ...

Seconds are precious in times of emergency.Thus, any advantage emergency responders have in responding to a crisis is very much welcomed.With boating season having arrived in Northeast Michigan incidents on the water have increased in recent weeks. Over the past seven days, for instance, Alpena ...

Every now and again you read one of those stories that tugs at your heart and leaves you with a smile on your face.The story of Army veteran Ben Eberle, his family, and their new smart home in Alpena this week was one of those.Theirs is a story of tragedy, tears, hope, frustration, inspiration, ...

Father's Day is Sunday. I've never claimed to be the World's Best Dad, but I have learned a few things over the past 22 years, many of them, oddly enough, from watching the lovely yet formidable Marcia, who is great dad and mom all rolled into one: Being silly and playing with your kids is one ...

The sound of freedom filled the air again this week over Northeast Michigan.The Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center was hosting two squads of Air National Guard units and their jets as the groups were practicing air-surface weapon training over Lake Huron.The Guard was making use of ...

President Barack Obama's proposed $10-per-barrel tax increase on oil deserved what it got Friday - a 253-144 vote against it in the House of Representatives. The Senate should follow suit.Implementation of a tax increase at that level would wreck the domestic oil drilling industry. Low prices ...