Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Malarky or shenanigans?

Who knew the part-time workers called commissioners that try to make redistricting maps that align with their own political party were getting paid $39,825 each? Then, they gave themselves a raise to $55,755. The front-page article in the Daily News on March 25 under “In Brief” is titled: “State redistricting commission takes back 7% pay raise.” Then it goes on to say that the commission gave themselves a raise a year ago from $39,825 annually to $55,755, and more recently — about a month ago — they gave themselves another 7% raise, which brought them to nearly $60,000. ...

Wolverines’ victories tell another story

EDITOR: I would like to voice my opinion on some of Mr. Mansfield’s articles. I am a regular reader of his “From the Mound” articles in The Daily News. However, before I begin, I want you to know that I always hope that my good friend, Tom Izzo, and the Spartans have a successful basketball season, going deep into the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately that did not happen this year. I read the article published last fall about the Michigan football team and how they have underperformed. In it, Mr. Mansfield went to the extent of admitting that he would rather see the Ohio State ...

Some thoughts on time change

Why is the second weekend in March for Daylight Savings Time? A little early for the U.P. still dark at 6 a.m. but not too cold and a good amount of snow on the ground yet. A little later in the month of March maybe would be better. You can’t play golf in the snow, or can you?Who decides when Daylight Savings Time takes place? Central Standard Time would be nice all year around, don’t you think?

Discussions must agree on facts

So Russia has told the Russian press what they are permitted to publish. Any disobedience will result in prison sentences. The First Amendment to OUR Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law.....abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, etc.” This language is often understood to apply to any government entity, not only Congress. It does not speak at all to private companies. When one joins a social media platform, one must click to accept the “terms and conditions” of that privately owned company. One of those conditions is that they reserve the right to ...

Seeing too much US censorship

Why is it wrong for Russia to censor what they deem as misinformation, but the U.S. allows Facebook and other social media to censor whatever they deem as misinformation? Our country is almost equally divided on so many issues. What is wrong with a having a discussion and allowing people to form their own decisions? Freedom of speech is so important that it is our First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When one group feels compelled to censor free speech, it is because they are afraid of losing the debate.

A perspective on board pay

I read the recent article covering the most current Dickinson County Board meeting and was taken aback by one of the items reported. The topic was related to the discussion of, and voting on, board pay. The issue to me is not that the board considered raises, but the comments by one of the supporting board members, Commissioner Barbara Kramer. Commissioner Kramer rolled out the overused statement that the pay, considering when all the commitments are taken into account, might equate to $2 per hour. In working and consulting with boards in many jurisdictions, I have heard this repeated ...