The preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins with the following words: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”    The first amendment to the constitution protects a number of basic rights, i

The federal government is currently shut down because congressional Republicans refuse to negotiate with congressional Democrats on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government. Democrats are proposing two health-care related changes to the CR favored by Republicans. The first proposed change is extending the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which allow millions of low to moderate income Americans to afford health insurance. Elimination of these credits w

By Emma Goos Nearly a month has passed since the government shut down at midnight on October 1. In that time the warnings have become reality. Federal workers are now facing late rent, maxed out credit cards, and a government that refuses to guarantee they will ever see back pay. According to the latest reports, hundreds of thousands remain furloughed without a paycheck while others continue working with no certainty they will be compensated. This shutdown is not frozen in

Emma Goos, LMC student As a student at Lake Michigan College, I’ve seen what this school means to our community. It is more than classrooms and textbooks. It is a place where people start over, find direction, and build futures close to home. For many of us, LMC is the difference between being able to afford college or not going at all. It gives people in Southwest Michigan a chance to learn, grow, and stay in the community we love. This November, voters will be asked to rene

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash By Paul Orlando U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency under the Department of Homeland Security, was created in 2003 to enforce immigration laws and investigate cross-border crimes. While its stated mission is to protect national security and public safety, ICE has instead become one of the most controversial agencies in the country. Critics argue that its tactics routinely violate civil liberties, harm vulnerable f

By Emma Goos The government has shut down again. At midnight on October 1, 2025, Congress missed the deadline to pass a funding plan that keeps federal operations running. The result is hundreds of thousands of workers without pay, essential services delayed or cut, and families across the country left to absorb the consequences. It is a moment that should remind us of something simple and often forgotten: government exists to serve the people. When it fails to do that, it fa

As a proud member of the St. Joseph community,  I’m writing in strong support of the upcoming St. Joseph Public School $59.9 million bond proposal  on the November 4 ballot . Despite the rumors, this is a ZERO -mill increase  initiative—meaning it will not raise our current tax rate —but it will make a lasting difference in the quality of education and safety in our schools. Last year, the bond proposal that would have added so much value to the entire St. Joseph Public Schoo

In a time when civic unity and equal treatment under the law are more crucial than ever, the Berrien County Democratic Party is urging...

Throughout history authoritarian regimes have used dehumanization as a tactic, utilizing words like “vermin,” or “criminals and rapists”...