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Editorial

Don’t sit on sidelines for crucial midterm elections

After what seems like endless campaigning — and a barrage of television ads and mailers, often downright nasty in the attacks aimed at the opposing candidate — the 2026 midterm elections mercifully have finally arrived. Polls in Michigan will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Both states will select new governors, as Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer is out due to term limits. Michigan will have a new U.S. senator and the Upper Peninsula a new 38th District state senator, with Ed McBroom of Waucedah Township also term-limited. There's Congressional seats on the ballot, in a year ...

Trump’s circuses hardly seem to impress American voters

It is no great revelation that Donald Trump is enriching himself as president. He raked in $2.2 billion in 2025, with his position and his personal interests frequently overlapping. Yet a poll from two weeks ago found that 34% of Republicans (and 66% of all American voters) think that he is using his position to make himself rich merits attention. Separately, voters in a Fox News poll around that same time put government corruption at the top of their list of concerns — just ahead of inflation and high prices. Mr. Trump pledged that people would be better off if they voted for ...

A warm coat can make all the difference in U.P. winter

As biting winds return and snow begins approach the Upper Peninsula, most of us know where to turn for our winter coats, hats, gloves and boots. But for some of our neighbors, preparing for another long, cold winter is not so simple. The cost of adequate winter clothing can be a significant burden for struggling families, and people without stable housing face even greater challenges when temperatures plunge. That is why the many efforts across the Upper Peninsula to collect and distribute winter coats deserve our support. From the Michigan State Police’s annual coat drive to the free ...

Keeping invasive pests out of Michigan starts with firewood

It should have come as absolutely no surprise to anyone paying the least amount of attention, a recent state decision to quarantine out-of-state firewood as one viable way to battle invasive species and plant diseases. But beginning Jan. 1, that's what's going to happen. From where we sit, it's a great idea and one that has significant scientific underpinnings. The new policy was announced by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Michigan Invasive Species Program. Firewood may look harmless, but it can harbor pests and pathogens that are difficult to ...

Historic choice puts community first

The election of Warner Hocker as president of the Marquette Federation of Women’s Clubs was a first for the organization. At its annual meeting Oct. 21, the federation unanimously elected Hocker as its first male president. His nomination by outgoing president Amy Cherrette speaks volumes about the confidence he has earned among the members. The decision also sends a positive message: While the federation honors its roots in women’s civic leadership, it recognizes that advancing its mission depends on commitment, character and a willingness to serve. As Cherrette noted, Hocker has a ...

Guest opinion

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services is encouraging Michiganders to prepare now for the upcoming Open Enrollment period. Nearly 497,000 Michigan residents are currently enrolled in health insurance through HealthCare.gov. With recent federal changes leading to higher health insurance costs, it is especially important for consumers to plan ahead, whether they intend to enroll in a new plan during Open Enrollment or reenroll in their existing coverage, DIFS advised. "With the November 1 start of Open Enrollment approaching, now is the best time for Michiganders to ...