Opinion
AI and Our Human Values
Guest Opinion
By Isiah Smith, Jr. | July 18, 2026
Whenever I sit down to write, whether it’s an essay or a text to one of my grandchildren, AI tries to intervene. Auto-correction and suggested rewrites pop up so often that I sometimes forget what I intended to say. I may not be James Baldwin or Proust, but I’ve grown accustomed to my pace, style, and intelligence (or lack thereof). The concept of intelligence is central to our idea of who we … Read More >>
Trying Something New
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | July 18, 2026
It has become clear at least part of the Republican mid-term election strategy is to refer to self-described progressive Democrats, or self-described democratic socialists, as communists. The alleged communists have recently unseated incumbent Democratic members of Congress in primary elections in New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Denver. It’s not a huge gain by their movement but, buoyed by young, disaffected voters and angry traditional liberals, they are making progress. What do … Read More >>
Better Evaluations, Better Representatives
Guest Opinion
By Bill Steeves | July 18, 2026
If elected representatives provide entrusted leadership to our nation and constituents, maybe we should evaluate them as leaders, not politicians or legislators. Using selected leadership criteria to evaluate representatives, incumbent or fledging, could help determine their qualifications and worthiness for elected office. Fundamentally, leaders pursue missions, representatives follow their sworn oaths, no human grouping produces smarter or better leaders, and we voters can elect and reject those in or vying for office. … Read More >>
Ignoring History and Tradition
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | July 11, 2026
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently ruled on the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship clause. The surprise was not that it was upheld but that several justices thought otherwise. We’ll get to that later. At least four members of the current court describe themselves as literalists or originalists or constructionists—they can’t seem to decide on the right word. Basically, they believe the U.S. Constitution means exactly and literally what it … Read More >>
Forgive or Forget?
Guest Opinion
By Greg Holmes | July 11, 2026
Sadly, everyone has been hurt by the actions (or inaction) of others at some point in their lives. At times, this infliction of pain and trauma is intentional, but more often than not it is not meant to harm, yet the consequences are nonetheless hurtful. One complication that makes the hurtful actions of others very difficult is that the painful memories of a traumatic event are often long lasting. The primary reason … Read More >>
The Real Threat to Election Confidence? Ignoring the Process
Guest Opinion
By Justin Mendoza | July 4, 2026
Recently, Antrim County Clerk Victoria Bishop, a Republican, abused her power by improperly canceling voter registrations, including for voters who decided not to vote for a handful of years. This is a power that only municipal clerks have. She then failed to respond to the Michigan Bureau of Elections’s (BOE) requests for information, and the BOE responded by suspending her access to the voter file. Bishop’s access will remain suspended until she … Read More >>
The Real Us
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | July 4, 2026
Sports, we are told (perhaps too often), teach important lessons about life. Teamwork, responsibility, winning and losing, the benefits of effort... lots of lessons. Sometimes, though, what surrounds sports teaches us a different kind of lesson about ourselves. Every four years the world championship of football (soccer) is held in the form of the World Cup. Nations put together their best teams for this quadrennial extravaganza of extraordinary skill, a competition in … Read More >>
Skip the Drive-Through, Hit the Street
Guest Opinion
By Cathye Williams | June 27, 2026
Food truck season is upon us. Glorious glorious summer food. From Manistee to Marquette and plenty of places in between, we are dining alfresco, and washing it down with local offerings of beer, wine, soda, and cider. Whether they honed their skills at culinary school or their grandma’s kitchen, our Michigan street chefs bring a lot to the picnic table. I’m thankful for a country where so many foodways have found a … Read More >>
Wanna Bet?
Spectator
By Stephen Tuttle | June 27, 2026
If you’d like to make a wager on just about anything, you now have ample opportunity to do so. You can go to a local casino or just pick up your phone or computer, and risk-taking is right there at your fingertips. Gambling used to be the purview of casinos in Nevada or Atlantic City or your local, neighborhood bookie. Casino gambling required some genuine effort, as you had to actually get … Read More >>
The Overlooked Environmental Legal Tool Your Township May Already Have
Guest Opinion
By Lauren Teichner | June 20, 2026
Concerned about a proposed data center, shoreline development, tree clearing, or loss of rural character in your community? Here is something many Michigan residents—and even local officials—do not realize: your municipality may already have an overlooked legal tool that can help local officials respond to environmental concerns before projects proceed. It is called the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (MEPA), and while many people think of it primarily as a law used in … Read More >>
Loading More Stories...