New NMU President Deliberations, Michigan Tech Honored, Pot for Potholes, Great Opportunity for K-12 Students at NMU, & Good News for Michigan Workers

– INFORMED BREVITY –

New NMU President Deliberations

As we write this, the NMU Presidential Search Committee and the NMU Board of Trustees continue final deliberations on a new President. The search committee sent three names to the Board for consideration by the NMU community and finally by the Board of Trustees. We should know who he is (all the final candidates were male) by the end of this week.

The Search Committee chaired by Marquette attorney Tammy Seavoy has worked hard in the past couple of months to narrow down the list of nominees and to make sure that the NMU community had opportunities to meet the finalists. Congratulations and thank you to each member of the Search Committee for the time and hard work.

Michigan Tech University Honored

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has ranked Michigan Tech 4th out of 257 schools surveyed for campus individual right and expression at MTU. Congratulations to MTU for this honor.

Pot for Potholes

The Michigan Legislature and the Governor has put a new law in place that puts a wholesale 24 percent tax on marijuana. It is expected that this tax at the wholesale level will produce $420 million for roads.

The marijuana industry is taking all this to court.

A Great Opportunity for K-12 Students at NMU

NMU is hosting a Women in Construction Exploration Day on October 17th. It is for students in grades 9-12. The other good news here is that it is FREE. According to NMU “students will be led by female professionals in construction. Students will rotate through safe, supervised sessions in woodworking, leadership, trade opportunities, welding and more.” Contact NMU at 906 227-1000 for more information.

Speaking of Higher Education

There has been lots of talk nationally about the decline of public support for higher education and chatter about whether it is worth the cost and time to get a college degree.

It looks like the lowering of opinions about higher education is being somewhat reversed. 87 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Republicans say, according to a recent poll, that higher education has “some importance for success.” (Washington Post. 9.24.25).

Good News for Workers in Upper Peninsula and Statewide

A new state law passed and signed by the Governor will remove state taxes on tips and overtime. Advocates for this law say that it will help families deal with housing costs, child care, food and other household expenses. What do you think? Let us know and we will let our readers know.

Invest in Kids

Watch for a question on the November ballot that will raise taxes on individuals making $500,00 and couples earning $1 million a year. Advocates say the tax will raise $1.5 billion a year for schools. If it passes it will more good news for school districts.

Former Upper Peninsula Senator Dies

Senator Donald Koivisto died recently. He lived in the Western UP his whole life and represented the people of the UP in the 38th Senate District. He also served as the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. He always treated everyone who came before him with respect and dignity. He was a tireless advocate for the Upper Peninsula. RIP Donny.

Quotes

“In order for the wheel to turn, for life to be lived, impurities are needed: dissension, diversity, the grain of salt and mustard are needed. Fascism does not want them, forbids them, and that’s why you’re not a Fascist.” Primo Levi.

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.” Edward R. Murrow.

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