First step to protect; Bums and trash

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials spent several days recently tracking down a report of a cougar being photographed in Schoolcraft County. After considerable time, manpower and money spent investigating the incident, state officials have branded the sighting by Merida Royster a hoax.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq's cities ... was the beginning of an end scheduled to be completed by 2012, when all American forces must leave that country.

Bernard Madoff got what he deserved. The 71-year-old financial swindler will never see another day as a free man after being sentenced ... to 150 years in federal prison.

Too many 'czars'; Regulate factory farms

BY NICK AGOSTINELLI: When all their other arguments for forcing consumers to buy fire sprinklers fail, sprinkler manufacturers and their allies turn to an emotional question, one intended to shame people into supporting mandatory sprinklers: "How much is a human life worth?" If the goal is saving lives and not selling sprinklers, the question to answer is, "What's the best way to save the largest number of lives in the most cost-effective manner?"

The issue: It's 48 hours or so and counting. The sidewalks, shops, hotels, motels and campgrounds are already starting to fill. It's Cherry Festival time again; Our view: The best way to get through festival week is to go with the flow and take advantage of the food, the entertainment and the events and, yes, the crowds.

BY SARAH LONGWELL: Recently the House Transportation Committee unveiled details of its six-year, $450 billion highway bill. Buried in the details are some generous handouts for special interests, including a provision to require a controversial sentencing requirement for low-level, first-time DUI offenders: ignition interlocks.

Will they come back? What's going on? No cap and trade