President Barack Obama wants us to think of him as the environmental president. It just isn't true.In his single-minded drive to promote "alternative" energy, Obama has given billions of taxpayer dollars to wind- and solar-generation companies. He also has allowed them to break some ...

It's budget time in many Northeast Michigan communities. It's a time when local government establishes its foreseeable expenses and projects its revenue to cover those expenses.These are our tax dollars at work, the reason we pay taxes to our city, township and county. The reason we live where ...

Even if you flunked physics, you understand the concept that for every action, there is a reaction.Ask the teachers in Detroit if they get it.All day Wednesday last week and well into the wee hours of the morning the reaction among GOP House members was over the top as they blasted the teachers ...

The 15 hours spent on the House floor on Wednesday into early Thursday, debating the best option for Michigan's largest school district, was a fraction of the time it took for Detroit Public Schools to get to its present state and how long until it's financially stable. This didn't happen ...

The Cedarville and its crew will be remembered in a ceremony this afternoon in Rogers City.At 2 p.m. a bell at the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum will be rung 35 times, once for each member of the crew that ended up in the Straits of Mackinac May 7, 1965. The Cedarville was struck in the fog ...

Why should Northeast Michigan residents bail out a failing educational system in Detroit?The answer is obvious - because of the students, who are innocent pawns in the debate over how to deal with a situation that, over the years, has gone from bad to worse. If we ever hope to rise above the ...

It's strange sometimes the little things that will bring back a flood of memories. Such was the case Friday when an AP Member Exchange story moved that was slugged "Milk Crate Basketball." I gave it a quick read-through to make sure someone hadn't stolen a childhood memory and capitalized on it ...

President Obama made an overdue point in Flint this week. He said, "I'm not here to go through the full history of what happened. Government officials at every level weren't attentive to potential problems the way they should have been." The larger problem, he said, is the "corrosive attitude ...

It's time for Alcona County residents to vote on funding the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team through a millage.Last month the issue was discussed, but no action was taken by commissioners. Wednesday the issue was discussed again by commissioners, who heard an update on the HUNT program from ...

Last week, some of the corporate management of the Five Guys restaurant chain came to town to cook lunch for a fellow and about 60 pals and family. The menu was a predictable burgers, hot dogs, fries, and the trimmings. Alpena is too small a market according to demographics to support a Five ...

We Americans have big hearts. They go out to people forced from their homes by vicious terrorists, including the Islamic State. But we have wide-open eyes and ears, too. We are aware that in Europe, some groups of refugees from the Middle East, especially Syria, have been infiltrated by Islamic ...

Not long ago Steve Murch - this publication's managing editor - wrote a column bemoaning the failure of some area coaches to provide The News with stats from their team's games. Steve noted the importance of such information's publication not only to the readers of The News but to the athletes ...

Some employers have very good reasons for rejecting job applicants with criminal histories. For example, you probably don't want your local police department offering jobs to convicted felons. Likewise, it probably is not a good idea for the Internal Revenue Service to consider hiring people ...

State should prep for costly Power PlanThe Clean Power Plan would significantly harm Michigan's economy beyond spiking electricity bills. The behemoth energy regulations could hurt personal incomes and slow the economy generally.That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. But there have been only a ...

A governor's legacy is a terrible thing to waste but if the political know-it-alls in this town are correct, the current governor is well on his way to ruining his.During any governor's tenure, he or she makes thousands of decisions. Some good. Some bad. Some so-so. The unfair thing about a ...

A final plan for Chippewa Hills Pathway is now completed.It may not be perfect in everyone's eyes, but it is the result of discussion, debate and compromise and thus, in our opinion, it will be a successful plan.We credit a lot of people for making this happen, from Department of Natural ...

For a second, part of me wished I was a teenager again.Several months ago members of Alpena High School Robotics Team 5055 visited the Alpena Rotary Club and gave members a presentation about how they fared last year at world competition, as well as an update on what competition was sizing up ...

Donald Trump's new image consultant stepped into his office at Trump Tower."What is it now, Johnson?" growled Trump."Mr. Trump, before we get to the convention, I think it's time to address your biggest weakness, image-wise.""My hair?" replied The Donald. "I already told you, it's all real. Go ...

Every day, when Judy Trepeck goes to the mailbox, she wonders if she's going to find another bill she has to pay.That's been pretty much the norm since her stepfather died four months ago, and she stepped in to manage his financial affairs. She's working through her grief and a myriad of ...

I celebrated a birthday this week. Half of 90. A nice, solid number.The thing about birthdays, the thing that makes them kind of tricky, is this: They're supposed to be good.Not that I'm morally opposed to having a good day or anything. It's just that .... gosh, that's a lot of pressure. You ...