Opinion

Almanac for May 19, 2026

Today is Tuesday, May 19, the 139th day of 2026. There are 226 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1920, 10 people were killed in a gunbattle between coal miners, who were led by a local police chief, and a group of private security guards hired to evict them for joining a union in Matewan, West Virginia. Also on this date: In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England's King Henry VIII, was beheaded at the Tower of London after being convicted of adultery. In 1883, William Cody held the first of his "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" shows in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1921, President ...

Trump’s desire for revenge could jeopardize GOP hold on Senate

President Donald Trump proved again Saturday that he can crush Republican dissenters by helping to defeat Sen. Bill Cassidy in a Louisiana primary. The question is to what end? Mr. Cassidy earned Mr. Trump’s eternal enmity when he was one of seven GOP Senators who voted to convict him after he was impeached a second time in 2021 after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. It was a vote of conscience for Mr. Cassidy, but fealty counts for more than principle in the Trump universe. Mr. Cassidy tried to earn back Mr. Trump’s support by overcoming the senator’s misgivings and voting to confirm ...

When killing becomes commonplace

"It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets." — Voltaire (1694-1778) Last week, when the Pentagon resumed its attacks on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, the media barely noticed. The ...

Editorial cartoon for May 18, 2026

Professional Trades Month highlights career options

As high school graduations begin in the region, it’s worth noting that May is Professional Trades Month, highlighting the career opportunities available in these much-needed positions. In 2024, 393,000 Michiganders were employed in professional trades occupations, a 14.4% increase from 2020, according to a news release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, or LEO. Many of these high-demand, high-wage careers do not require a four-year degree and have pathways that focus on credentials, certificates, on-the-job training and ...

Almanac for May 18, 2026

Today is Monday, May 18, the 138th day of 2026. There are 227 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1980, the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state erupted, leaving an estimated 57 people dead or missing. Also on this date: In 1863, the Siege of Vicksburg began during the Civil War, ending on July 4 with a Union victory that gave its forces control of the Mississippi River. In 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Plessy v. Ferguson, endorsed "separate but equal" racial segregation. (The decision was reversed in 1954 by Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.) In 1927, in ...