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Michigan takes deeper look at higher education

Michigan’s Office of Higher Education will host a virtual summit at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, to review research priorities as the state tries to have 60% of working-age adults earn a postsecondary credential or skills certificate by 2030. According to the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, the state has made progress toward Sixty by 30 through investments in financial aid and student success. More than $740 million in Michigan Achievement Scholarships has supported over 110,000 students since 2023, while the share of undergraduates receiving ...

Trump has credibility problem with Iran

After six months of war with Iran, President Trump has a credibility problem. His blustering threats, alternating with claims of imminent peace and victory, are doubted by friends and foe. Will his new threat in late August on Truth Social of the “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY!” be different? By now the world will have to see it to believe it. No president has yet climbed the Iran sanctions ladder with China, moving from the isolated “teapot” refineries that buy Iran’s oil to the Chinese state-owned enterprises that support them. Nor has any ...

Americans, Canadians both lose in the escalating trade wars

The 50 percent tariffs announced on Aug. 24 by President Donald Trump on all cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel from Canada would crush manufacturers in the United States and raise prices in both countries. The silver lining is that Trump said these import taxes would not take effect until Jan. 1, leaving time for negotiators to disarm an economic land mine. A bilateral deal appeared close the week previous before talks broke down at the 11th hour. Neither Trump nor Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wanted to look as if he’s succumbing to bullying from the other, so the ...

Suicide prevention training builds life-saving skills

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to share resources, start conversations, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. The Marshfield Clinic is offering two free, online suicide prevention trainings this month for area residents — especially those who support farmers, first responders, military personnel and veterans. The events are part of a community outreach initiative organized by the Marshfield Clinic Veterans Care Coordinator and the Marshfield Clinic Military and Veterans Employee Resource Group, in collaboration with the AgriSafe Network, ...

Labor Day driving should involve strategy

The calendar tells us many children have gone back to school and the days are getting shorter but for many residents of Superiorland and beyond, there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up for good: Labor Day. Our highways and byways are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend coming up as millions of Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season's unofficial start: by driving somewhere. Why Labor Day? "Not everyone travels for Labor Day, not compared to July 4th or Thanksgiving — those ...

Guest opinion

The topic of new data centers is emerging as a major issue in the current election cycle, including most recently in the U.S. Senate campaign in Michigan. Many very legitimate concerns have been raised about the rush to construct these huge AI data centers, including environmental impacts from their enormous energy and water use; their impact on raising utility costs; local noise pollution; and even the potential threat of AI displacing existing jobs. My personal concern is especially based on the fact that their huge need for additional electricity generation could very well ruin our ...