| March 4, 2022 
 There is one thing Americans apparently agree on: our government is in crisis. Hostility and distrust between people who disagree politically is getting worse. The forces driving this polarization discourage elected leaders from working together and erode trust in democratic institutions. Recent polls found a majority of Americans believe the country is at risk of failing. One year after a violent attempt to overturn a presidential election, historians are drawing comparisons to conditions that preceded the Civil War. MLive asked a dozen researchers, elected officials and retired politicos how, in an ideal world, they would change today’s toxic atmosphere. Their suggestions include good government reforms and personal actions people can take to encourage bipartisanship and civility. READ MORE  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants Michigan to divest state pension plans and trust funds from Russian-based institutions in response to what she called “an illegal and destructive war against the people of Ukraine.” Whitmer sent a letter to State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks ordering her to pull out trust funds from Russian investments and the State of Michigan Investment Board to hold a special meeting to do the same for pension plans. The governor said Michigan is aligning with the federal government and international allies who are sanctioning Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. ►Michigan lawmaker wants state liquor commission to stop buying Russian spirits  For most of us, this weekend will almost be a total spring preview. Saturday looks fantastic if you are ready for a spring day. Saturday morning still starts chilly, but by afternoon, it should feel very spring-like. Sunday morning starts a lot warmer compared to Saturday. Sunday afternoon will be wet, but it will still be much warmer than normal for early March. Get ready to smile and enjoy your Saturday outside. Sunday will be a day where you’ll be wet but not freezing. ►Spring is here thanks to us meteorologists; Here’s what to expect  Visitors to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will now be required to pay an entrance fee for the park. The fee went into effect this week, marking the first time in the park’s 55-year history that it has required visitors to purchase a park pass. The park had proposed the fee change early last year, citing infrastructure strains due to a surge in visitors over the past decade. The 70,000-acre park in Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula saw a record-setting 1.3 million visitors in 2021. The new park pass fees, required for visitors ages 16 and up, are $5 for walk-in, bicycle-in or boat-in visitors, $10 for a seven-day motorcycle or vehicle pass, or $20 for an annual pass, valid for one year after purchase. ►20 natural wonders of Michigan to put on your travel bucket list  A shipwreck dating back to the 1890s has been discovered in Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) announced Thursday that the 172-foot schooner-barge Atlanta was found 35 miles off Deer Park in about 650 feet of water. The vessel sank on May 4, 1891 when it was in tow of the steamer Wilhelm with a load of coal. Both vessels got caught in a northwest gale, which snapped the tow line. With no sails, the Atlanta soon sank. The Atlanta is a “wonderfully preserved shipwreck,” according to the GLSHS because of its time spent in the frigid depths of Lake Superior. MLive All Digital Access
Start Today at $1 /first 3 months Get your local news 24/7 Connect with MLive
To ensure receipt of our emails, please add newsletters@update.mlive to your address book or safe sender list. | ||||||||||||||||||
