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Editorials and columns

Realpolitik of subsidies

The Joe Biden administration recently announced $8.5 billion in subsidies to build Intel’s new semiconductor plants. It sounds like a terrific deal, as subsidies often do if you only listen to what politicians say when they are writing big checks to big companies. It secures good-paying ...

Consider DPI purchase carefully

Anne Gentry, executive director of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority, floated an interesting possibility to News staff writer Steve Schulwitz when she said the city might want to consider closing the now-shuttered Decorative Panels International plant. The plant along the shores of ...

Schools face a ‘COVID cliff’

If you give two hoots about the quality of education for your children or grandkids, as they say in the biz, this ones for you. It’s difficult to use the phrase “silver lining” in the same sentence with the term “COVID-19,” but, if there was one, at least on the education front, it ...

Parking study would be wise

We agree with Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry, who told News staff writer Steve Schulwitz for a recent story that she believes the city ought to conduct a parking study to find out what the city needs in terms of parking spaces and whether any of those slots ...

Students make great leaders

It pleased us to read News staff writer Temi Fadayomi’s recent report on Students Leading Students chapters in Alpena, Alcona, Hillman, and Posen school districts. Students Leading Students has chapters all across Michigan. Through the group, high schoolers organize events and other ...

The ragged memories of a rock columnist

“No one really understands how simple and plain and predictable I am “Because all I ever wanted to do was to play guitar in a rock and roll band” — Everclear, “Short Blonde Hair” I was 12 years old, flipping through the channels when I landed on MTV and the video for ...