In the later weeks of October, the Michigan Senate Democrats passed a partisan bill package that would overhaul Michigan’s energy policy. The plan would create mandates on energy companies, evidently hurting families and businesses. Other bills still being considered could strip local zoning controls over land use, removing local decision making.

While making a shift to more clean energy is a worthwhile endeavor, Senate Bills 271, 273 and 502 are efforts that will put families and businesses at risk, especially in times when many Michiganders are still adjusting to historic inflation. Instead of investing in energy diversification and reliable energy sources, this plan forces the shift to 100% clean energy by 2040, which could drastically increase energy costs and expose more flaws in our grid.

The bills were passed in the Senate on Oct. 26 and have been sent to the Michigan House of Representatives for consideration.

Despite no votes from Senate Republicans, Lansing Democrats have made sweeping changes to the way certain foods are taxed in the state of Michigan.

Public Acts 141 and 142 amend Michigan tax law to expand sales and use taxes on prepared food. The bills add definitions of the terms “food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller” and “food sold in an unheated state by weight or volume as a single item” as they relate to the definition of “prepared food” and the exemption of the sale or purchase of food or food ingredients. Under these new laws, items such as unsweetened iced tea will be taxed, but not sweet tea. Prepackaged candy is untaxed, but prepackaged chips and nuts are taxed.

These confusing and contradictory changes to Michigan tax laws lack any common sense. The rules are complicated and ultimately punish small businesses, making it difficult for mom-and-pop stores to comply.

All harvested deer must be reported within 72 hours or before transferring possession of the deer to another person, a processor or taxidermist. The easiest way to report a harvest is by downloading the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app.

A successful harvest can also be reported online. Visit Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport on a computer or mobile device to go directly to the reporting page, enter the kill tag license number and date of birth to begin the report.

For more information on harvest reporting, contact a local DNR customer service center or the main Wildlife Division line at 517-284-WILD (9453) during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is looking for help from horticultural experts and residents to help prevent the spread of the balsam woolly adelgid. These very small sap-feeding insects are known to attack true fir trees such as balsam, Fraser, and concolor fir. MDARD is currently working with local partner agencies to survey areas and address the balsam woolly adelgid. So far, these insects have been identified in Oceana, Kent and Missaukee counties.

Michigan is home to almost 1.9 million native balsam fir trees in both the Upper and Northern Lower Peninsula. Fraser and concolor, although not native, are popular trees planted around the state.

Symptoms of balsam woolly adelgid infestation include:

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are our nation’s highest honors given to teachers for K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Since the program was established by Congress in 1983, more than 5,200 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom.

Anyone — principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the public — may nominate an exceptional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teacher. Nominations for this year’s outstanding K-6 educators to receive the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are now open.

In early October, I was given the opportunity to tour and meet with the amazing team at Pound Buddies in Muskegon. Pound Buddies is an open admission dog shelter, meaning they take in all dogs that are lost, abandoned, neglected or abused.

Pound Buddies takes in these dogs no matter the age, health or breed of the pup. The team members at Pound Buddies are compassionate individuals who donate countless hours to help animals in need. Let’s do our part and make sure we are making conscious decisions before getting an animal. To learn more about Pound Buddies, please visit PoundBuddies.org.