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States stress need for vaccines as children return to schools

Editorials

As several area school districts start classes this week, there’s been some recent disquieting developments concerning childhood vaccinations. The Associated Press reported a week ago that U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements reached 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That’s an estimated 155,000 children nationally during the 2025-2026 school year, according to AP. It’s the fourth consecutive year ...

Almanac for Aug. 24, 2026

Columns

Today is Monday, Aug. 24, the 236th day of 2026. There are 129 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1992, Hurricane Andrew smashed into Florida; the storm resulted in 65 deaths and caused more than $26 billion in damage across Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas. Also on this date: In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces invaded Washington, D.C., setting fire to the still-under-construction Capitol and the White House, as well as other public buildings. In 1912, Congress passed a measure creating the Alaska Territory. In 1932, Amelia Earhart embarked on a 19-hour ...

Pope Leo calls for dialogue over conflict, encourages young Catholics

Columns

SAN MARINO (AP) — Pope Leo XIV used a visit to the tiny landlocked San Marino and a major Catholic gathering in the Italian city of Rimini on Saturday to issue one of his strongest appeals yet against war, polarization and social division, urging believers to foster dialogue and friendship ...

The deadly pursuit of fame

Columns

The tragic deaths of Hayden Panettiere and Jason Arday can be tied to the same phenomenon. It’s not new but has accelerated in today’s influencer culture: youth’s hunger for fame. Panettiere was an accomplished actress who, buried in depression and addiction, died from an apparent drug ...

Let voters decide Cambensy’s candidacy

Editorials

We are pleased that the Michigan Board of Canvassers has seen fit to approve the petitions submitted by Sara Cambensy to appear on the November ballot as an independent candidate for the state Senate. The decision Monday reflected a staff recommendation from the previous week. The state board, in effect, sent Cambensy’s candidacy for the 38th state Senate district to the voters to decide. In our opinion, that’s exactly who should decide. All of this can trace its roots — publicly, at least — to local resident Linda Donckers, who submitted a challenge to Cambensy’s candidacy ...

Almanac for Aug. 22, 2026

Columns

Today is Saturday, Aug. 22, the 234th day of 2026. There are 131 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1851, the schooner America outraced more than a dozen British vessels off the English coast to win a trophy that came to be known as the America’s Cup. Also on this date: In 1791, the Haitian Revolution began as enslaved people of Saint-Domingue rose up against French colonizers. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea, which remained under Japanese control until the end of World War II. In 1922, Irish revolutionary Michael Collins was shot to death, apparently by Irish Republican ...