NMU Alumnus Nominated for Legislative Award, LSSU Issues Annual Banned Words List, Brock Tessman Lookalike, & Facts From Around the World

– INFORMED BREVITY –

From Around the Upper Peninsula

NMU alumnus State Representative Jason Morgan was nominated by one of Lansing’s most respected political newsletters as one of the top five House members for the House Member of the Year Award for 2024. A very impressive honor. Might he be a candidate for Lt. Governor in 2026?

Speaking of 2026 elections, who will we see from the Upper Peninsula running for statewide or regional office? Will the UP Senator Ed McBroom run for Secretary of State or Congress? Will the Governor’s UP Director, Jeremy Hosking of Palmer, run for the McBroom Senate Seat? Will Congressman Bergman get nominated by President Trump for a position in his administration, opening the Congressional seat to a real race in 2026?

We have written many times about the importance of a rural voice on the State Board of Education. Still no one from the Upper Peninsula or any rural area serves on that very important board. We were thinking of a couple names that might be good people to fill one of those slots in 2026.

Bridget LaPoint-Dunham of Baraga jumps out as an excellent leader to be nominated for the State Board of Education. She is the CEO of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and a member of the NMU Board of Trustees. Or might Dr. Linda Ludwig of Big Bay get the nod? Dr. Ludwig is a well respected educator with extensive K-12 and higher education experience. Both would be very valuable additions to the SBE. Who else might get the nod? Lots of very qualified folks all around the Upper Peninsula. Send us your thoughts, your names.

LSSU issued their 2024 list of “banished words and phrases”. The list includes: ‘dropped,’ ‘era,’ ‘cringe,’ and ‘skibidi.’ LSSU has been doing this for close to fifty years according to a recent press release. What are the words and phrases you would like to add? Send them to us and we will publish some of them.

This observation from NMU alumnus Loren A: Finland President Alexander Stubb and NMU President Brock Tessman look a lot alike. My observation when I looked at the picture is that Dr. Tessman smiles more and looks much younger. But when you look at it they could be brothers or very close relatives. Also if you are the President of a university in the Upper Peninsula it is not a bad idea to look like the President of Finland. Better than looking like the President of China or France!

Gallup Surveys recently said that just 44% of adults said the quality of US health care is excellent or good. “It is the smallest share since Gallup started the survey in 2001.” University of Minnesota School of Public Health survey found that rural communities have the least access to birthing care. What are your views on the quality of health care where you live and what is the status of birthing care in your community? Let us know your thoughts.

From Around the World:

The 119th US Congress convened the other day–this Congress will include 100 US military veterans, the largest number in eight years. It is an increase of 16 veterans. It will include Michigan’s US Senator Gary Peters and the UP’s Congressman Jack Bergman. That number might shrink by a few because they have been nominated for positions in the administration of President Elect Trump.

“Gen Z spends an average of 109 days per year looking at a screen. Eighty percent of our waking hours are spent consuming information, up from 40% in 1980”.  No Mercy. No Malice 12.20.24.

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm

“Do not deceive yourself. Of all deceivers fear most yourself.” Soren Kierkegaard.

“We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.” Max DePree.

Books Recommended By Our Readers

“Democracy Awakening. Notes on the State of America.” 2023. (Hat tip to Beth C.).

Did you discover a good book in 2024? Let us know what it is and we will shrew it with our readers.

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Keep your raves, laurels, rants and darts coming. Send them to us at david@ruralinsights.org. We love to read them.

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