Good-bye spring. Hello heat and humidity.
That seems to be the theme for the weather so far this summer. Meanwhile, on Lowell’s First Look, education news and a local march dominated the top five for June.
Here are the most popular stories from June 2025, based on website views.
5. Sen. Albert Introduces Legislation to Change State Education Policies
In the No. 5 spot is this press release from Michigan State Senator Thomas Albert. It outlines legislation to retain third graders if they are not reading at a proficient level, reinstate an A-F grading scale for schools and allow teacher evaluations to be used to promote or remove teachers, among other things.
On Facebook, some people took exception to us publishing this press release. It was seen by some as pushing propaganda, although that certainly wasn’t our intent. We want you to be informed, but given our limited resources, we can’t do a deep dive into all the state issues that could affect Lowell. Publishing press releases from local elected officials is one way we try to make sure that what’s happening in Lansing isn’t a mystery to our readers.
I’m not interested in publicizing campaign materials under the guise of a press release, and it can be a struggle sometimes to determine whether to share the releases that land in our inbox. This one didn’t make the cut because it is basically a series of quotes with little meaningful information about the legislation mentioned. We also didn’t publish this one because it was almost exclusively negative commentary on the opposing party.
This education one – the one that made the top five – seemed newsworthy, though. If the legislation passes, it would represent a significant change in policy and one we think people should know about in advance – regardless of whether they love or hate the idea.
Still, your criticism is heard, and going forward, I will try to ensure there are some links at the end of political press releases for those who want to do more reading about the subject at hand. It’s an imperfect solution, but as a free news source, it’s the best we can do right now.
P.S. Maybe this would be a good time to mention that while our local news stories are free to read, they aren’t free to produce. You can support our work on Ko-Fi or by becoming a Facebook subscriber.
4. Lowell Area Schools Announces New LHS Principal
At the end of the school year, Lowell Area Schools announced that Steve Gough would be moving to a new administrative role overseeing curriculum. We now know who will be taking his place as principal of Lowell High School.
Dominic Lowe is coming to Lowell from East Kentwood High School where he served as principal of the freshman center. The letter from Superintendent Nate Fowler announcing Lowe’s hire was the fourth most-read story on Lowell’s First Look in June.
3. Letter to the Editor: No Kings Participants Were Not Outsiders
This letter to the editor takes the No. 3 spot on the June top five list. However, to understand its context, you’ll have to read the No. 2 article.
But the short version is this: the letter-writer participated in a march in Lowell and says that while at least one person seemed to be under the impression that participants were from out of town, that wasn’t the case.
2. “No Kings” Peaceful Protest Marches on Main Street, Draws About 400
To say people have differing opinions on President Donald Trump might be an understatement. Some applaud his approach to governance, saying his unconventional style is just what the country needs. Others say his actions teeter dangerously close to authoritarianism.
It is those in the latter category who took to the streets of Lowell in June to register their disapproval of the current administration. Their march was part of a larger “No Kings” movement that included protests around the country. The events were scheduled to coincide with Flag Day, which also happened to be Trump’s birthday and the day he selected for a military parade in recognition of the Army’s 250th anniversary.
Our article covering the Lowell event landed in the No. 2 spot for June.
1. Celebrating Dedication: Honoring the Lowell Area Schools 2025 Retirees
Taking the top spot for June is this article highlighting the 2025 retirees from Lowell Area Schools. We were able to connect with most of the retirees to provide their thoughts and reflections as they prepare to enter their next phase of life.
Whether they spent years or decades with the district, we extend our gratitude for a job well done and our best wishes for whatever the future might hold for them.
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