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Opinion

Let’s keep up the work on housing

Editorials and columns

We know now what we need to do. Kelly Murdock, owner and managing partner of real estate research firm Community Research Services, told the Alpena Municipal Council on Monday that the city needs to build at least 100 housing units to meet growing demand. A national housing shortage has hit ...

End of SNAP test a major win

Editorials and columns

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill into law eliminating the state’s asset test for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a move that we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy are lauding as a major win for Michigan ...

Township and city, stay at the bargaining table

Editorials and columns

Nearly a decade later, and they’re still finger-pointing and blaming instead of talking productively. Two-and-a-half years after announcing they’d begun negotiations toward the formation of a water-sewer authority to end a court battle begun in 2014, talks between Alpena and Alpena ...

Do we want experience in Senate?

Editorials and columns

The “Jeopardy” contestant looked up at the big board and said, “I’ll take “Lifelong Lessons” for $2,000.” Host Ken Jennings read the answer: “Paying your dues.” The elderly player hit the buzzer, smiled, and shot back: “What do you call starting at the bottom of the ...

Assault shouldn’t be part of the job

Editorials and columns

We are glad to see MyMichigan Health, the Midland-based owner of the Alpena hospital and several other health care facilities around the state, attempt to tackle the serious problem of assaults against health care workers. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says 75% of ...

The nonstop rhythm of newspapering

Editorials and columns

Newspapers are a 24-hour operation. In our shop, six days a week, we have people doing tasks to produce our products, which led me to consider 24 hours in our world: 8 a.m. — Our office staff rolls in for the day. Already, our maintenance supervisor has been working for two hours, ...