Opinion

Setting the historical record straight

Letters to the Editor July 25, 2026

I am writing in response to Dave Myers' column in the July 18th edition of The Alpena News. First, I want to say that I generally enjoy Dave's folksy writing style and him personally. But this column made my blood boil. His piece is argued from a Christian nationalist framework, which explicitly rejects the traditional separation of church and state. Rather than offering a unifying blueprint for a fractured nation at its 250th anniversary, his piece reinforces the very ideological divisions it laments—especially for those who are not of the Christian faith. Furthermore, he is wrong ...

Roads, docks, and trails keep Michigan’s outdoor economy moving

Editorials and columns July 25, 2026

At dusk, an RV parked near a Michigan lakeshore can tell the story of a family’s day: sand on the steps, life jackets hung, drying from the last boat ride, and bikes leaning against a tree. The memories seem effortless, but they are not. Behind that day lies a network of public roads, ...

When seniority becomes a substitute for statesmanship

Editorials and columns July 24, 2026

Every time questions arise about the advanced age of America's elected leaders, Washington responds with the same familiar refrain: Experience matters. Republicans say it. Democrats say it. Editorial writers repeat it. Longevity in office, we're told, produces wisdom, steadier judgment and ...

Why the debate over life-saving vehicles?

Editorials and columns July 24, 2026

Somewhere in Los Angeles this year, someone will get home who otherwise wouldn't have. You'll never learn her name. There will be no headline, no celebration, no council resolution -- only an unremarkable Tuesday that ends the way Tuesdays are supposed to end. The same nonstory will eventually ...

The cause and effect of economic development

Editorials and columns July 24, 2026

If one thing could be done to stimulate the economic vitality of our downtown, what would it be? Which projects come to mind? Could it be redevelopment of the DPI site? The restoration of a prominent downtown building? The introduction of a new employer to our community that would add new, ...

Beware the flamboyant candidates with no experience

Editorials and columns July 23, 2026

Four New Yorkers have been killed by Legionella bacteria in the last week, tragedies that were preventable if the city had performed its core, lifesaving duty to monitor and inspect air conditioning cooling towers. But New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is focused on creating a socialist ...