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Tariffs vs. the working class

For decades, politicians have sold tariffs as a tonic for the working class. In reality, one particular group seems to benefit more than any other from trade wars: Washington influence peddlers. The United States collected some $288.5 billion in tariff revenue last year, up from $98.3 billion in 2024, thanks to a barrage of new levies imposed by the Trump administration. These tariffs, designed by elite lawyers in D.C. and implemented with highly technical and specialized language, presented a unique opportunity for lobbyists to charge large corporations exorbitant rates to seek relief ...

Study shows seat belt use rising in Michigan

Results of a recent study indicates Michigan appears to be moving in the right direction again in terms of seat belt use. In 2025, the state recorded its highest seat belt use rate since 2019, according to a grant-funded direct observation study by Michigan State University. The study, which took place in May and June across 200 Michigan locations, found the state’s seat belt use rate was 93.2%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from the previous year. By contrast, the 2024 rate of 92% marked a 20-year low. The previous three years showed rates of 92.4% in 2023; 92.9% in 2022; ...

Caution urged when buying and using home pesticides

Got a problem with pests in the home? Be careful about what you choose to use as a treatment, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development warn. The two departments recommend avoiding purchasing unregistered pesticides containing dichlorvos, including two in particular with the brand names “Sniper” and “Nopest.” Despite their potentially harmful health effects, Sniper and Nopest remain available for purchase via online marketplaces, where they are marketed as insecticides for home use, MDHHS and MDARD advised ...