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Editorial

Approval of labor contract is step in right direction

The approval of a one-year labor contract between the university and Local UAW 2178, which represents the university’s Administrative Professional union, is a positive step toward supporting employees and maintaining a productive workplace. Following union ratification on Sept. 30, the agreement, effective Oct. 1, demonstrates the value of cooperation and compromise between university leadership and its employees. The contract includes a 2 percent increase in annual base wages and a one-time payment equal to 1 percent of base wages. While these increases may not resolve every ...

Give your e-waste a responsible second life

Electronic devices have become an essential part of everyday life, but disposing of them when they are no longer useful requires more thought than simply tossing them in the trash. Computers, televisions, phones and other electronics can contain harmful materials that do not belong in regular landfills. That is why local residents should take advantage of an upcoming e-waste collection in Harvey and give their unwanted electronics a safer, more responsible destination. The collection will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Ojibwa Casino, 105 Acre Trail, in Harvey. Supported ...

Tips to avoid scams during Medicare Open Enrollment

Older adults should be on the lookout this time of year for scams and high-pressure sales tactics during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, which starts Thursday and extends through Dec. 7, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advised. "The Medicare Open Enrollment period is an important time for Michigan older adults to review their health insurance and prescription drug coverage options," DIFS Director Anita Fox said in a news release. "Unfortunately, it also opens the door for bad actors who may ...

Upper Peninsula fire risk is high; be careful out there

Warm, dry weather and windy conditions are expected in the Upper Peninsula over the next few days, boosting the risk of a wildfire. "Grasses have dried out and leaves are starting to drop, which adds a layer of fuel that can feed and speed the spread of a wildfire," Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said in a news release. "Make sure to check for a burn permit before you burn any yard debris and be careful of heat or sparks from equipment and off-road vehicles." Unseasonably warm temperatures reaching the 70s and strong southerly ...

Helen Dymond search: Never say never

Let's be clear. Forty-five years is an extraordinarily long time to live with an unanswered question. Yet for the family, friends and community of Helen Dymond, the question has never gone away: What happened to her? Dymond disappeared in 1981 after leaving a party at the Tilden Township Club to walk home. She was never seen again. No one was arrested in connection with her disappearance, and despite the passage of decades, the case remains unresolved. That alone is reason enough to keep looking. But the recent search of property in Negaunee demonstrates something equally important: ...

Guest column

Michigan is one of roughly half of the states in the country that allows citizens to collect signatures for voters to consider approving a law on the November statewide ballot. A certain threshold of signatures is required, as well as approval from the state's board of canvassers. This year, voters will have a campaign finance law to consider — known as Prop 2 — that would prohibit many companies with government contracts, as well as state regulated utility companies, from making contributions to policymakers. The only other proposal facing voters is whether to hold a constitutional ...