Elections are often black and white, red and blue.

“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea.” – Seth Godin

"Consequences" is a buzzword in many parenting manuals of our modern age. Letting a child experience the natural consequences of say, forgetting their gym shoes by sitting out of gym rather than the parent bringing the shoes to school, is a good lesson in responsibility, independence and anticipating consequences of their actions.

It’s a predominantly African-American city with a history of poverty, violent crime and racial tension, and it’s represented by a first-term congresswoman of color who celebrated her swearing-in by pledging “to impeach the mother(expletive)” in the White House.

Recreational marijuana use has been legal in Michigan since December of last year, and medical use has been legal since 2017. The past should be reconciled with the present. The records of people who are still suffering undue punishment for minor marijuana offenses should be expunged.

Take a camera and suspend it a few thousand feet over a section of river. Watch it wind and shimmer. Any section of any healthy river will do. Each river, while different in specifics, will always mirror a snake’s curving.

Even small planes require a lot of land and airspace.

If the Democratic presidential candidates who will be swarming all over Detroit the next two weeks are asking “What do black voters want?” they’re coming here with the wrong question.

The scare tactics surrounding my office’s lawsuit to decommission Line 5 have whipped people into a frenzy of misinformation and concern.

We’re slinging a lot of mud lately, friends. Social media posts about errant neighborhood cats turn into shouting matches where we call our neighbors lazy and accuse them of not caring about said cats. We’re commenting anonymously on articles about a Hispanic Heritage Fiesta coming to our fair city and saying a festival like this “craps on” the veterans war memorial — on purpose! There are Hispanic vets, too.

A while ago, I was reading in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament and I came upon an amazing little verse. It was Proverbs 12:25, and it goes like this: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

The will of the people is one of the most crucial tenets in American democracy, but apparently to many politicians in Michigan, and perhaps elsewhere, power and control seem to be more important concepts.

Last weekend as I was riding my bike, I noticed a power lawn mower with a “Free” sign. My lawn mower is the old push kind that no one seems to want to sharpen, so I’ve been looking for a new one.

While channel-surfing recently, I came across a TV program that caught my attention. The Military Channel was showing an episode about the sinking of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet during World War II, as part of its “Hero Ships” series.

President Donald Trump says that U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and three other freshman representatives, all women of color, should go back to where they’re from.

Detroit police have been using facial recognition software for more than a year under standard operating guidelines, but without a formal policy approved by the Board of Police Commissioners. That's not OK.

I've always found Justin Amash to be a perfect representative of the Libertarian movement — compelling on some levels, squirrely on others.

I am not a fan of President Trump. I find his character disgusting, especially his cheating on all three wives. I find his denial of climate change frightening. His racism and treatment of immigrant children are very disturbing. His deficits are adding to the national debt, leaving our children to pick up the tab. All his golfing trips to his resorts are charged to the public tab. His denouncements of the press as “fake news” and “the enemy of the people” are dangerous to our republic.

I’m originally from the Detroit area — born and raised. So, it comes as no surprise that I grew up watching Detroit sports and going to tons of games.

Although the area has received sufficient rain this spring and summer to keep wildfires at bay, history tells us that conditions can — and do — change very quickly.

The tributes to Lee Iacocca, who died last week, have been heartfelt and deserved. During his decades in Detroit, Iacocca fashioned some of the auto industry's proudest moments, from the creation of the Ford Mustang to the 1970s-era rescue of Chrysler from bankruptcy with government help.

Recently, I preached a sermon on Psalm 121. It happens to be one of my favorite psalms. Maybe you’ve heard it. It begins like this: “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

The arrogance of the Ilitch organization in ignoring its obligations to the city of Detroit is breathtaking.

In the race of life, one doesn't necessarily want to cross the finish line first.

You’ll have to forgive me if this piece is a little rougher than the others, but I wanted to wait to the last possible moment to write it before landing back in the United States. Therefore, I’m making my final edits on the plane with my daughter sleeping on my shoulder.

Youngstown, Ohio, is losing its daily newspaper at the end of August. The Vindicator has served Youngstown and its surrounding communities for 150 years — a birthday that was celebrated just days before the announced closing

By now it should be clear who I will not support in the upcoming election.

“I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Plastics. There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?” — Mr. McGuire giving advice to the new college graduate (Dustin Hoffman) in the movie “The Graduate” (1967).

You’ve probably heard this explanation for the recent water levels: “It’s a natural cycle.”

It's a little hard to believe, but the Fourth of July is here. It feels like we were just shoveling snow away from our front doors and preheating our cars in the morning, and now we are officially less than six months away from Christmas Day.

Tomorrow, people across our country will gather to celebrate Independence Day. Or, as my step-father who lives in England calls it, Treason Day.

Dear Readers, 

Not too many weeks ago, I reunified a little girl with her sponsor. I knelt down and held that child. I said goodbye and walked quickly away. I left the airport by a door I knew they wouldn’t use, found myself a bench that was hot from the sun, I sat down and cried.

With the arrival of summer comes the arrival of tourists to the Tri-Cities, which has long been known as a favorite vacation spot. The discovery of mineral springs in Grand Haven and Spring Lake in 1870 made the Tri-Cities a popular destination for those looking to experience the tranquility of not only the mineral waters, but the calming waters of Lake Michigan.

As lifelong Michiganders, we have dedicated ourselves to serving the people, families and communities of Michigan. As faith leaders, we believe that all people, regardless of who they are or where they come from, should be treated as children of God.

This week marks the first anniversary of the deadliest assault against journalists in U.S. history. On June 28, 2018, a gunman opened fire at the offices of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, killing five and injuring two.

I was having breakfast with a friend of mine the other day and he made the comment, “All that the politicians in Washington do is verbally abuse each other.”

With only four licensed marijuana testing facilities across Michigan, and licensed dispensaries running low on product, medical marijuana patients are struggling to access items they rely on to reduce pain and other symptoms. As the state seeks to streamline its marijuana operations, this shortfall demands attention.