As I get older and approach nearly 50 years in journalism, I become more skeptical of elected and appointed public leaders working for our good.  The skepticism continues as I see what potentially could happen in my own backyard: The Great Lakes. We are home to 21% of the world’s fresh water and one of the biggest threats remains—the foreign oil and natural gas transport...

Northwest Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians found itself losing the first of what may be a long drawn out federal court battle to recognize Michigan’s largest reservations covering most of Emmet, and a portion of Charlevoix.  It’s been a costly legal battle where it appears the only real winners are the legal teams representing the tribe, local property owner associations, and governments...