Rachel Brougham

Minneapolis

Writer, Columnist and Editor at Freelance

Writer, columnist. Former newspaper editor. Hot Young Widows Club member. Author of the memoir Widowland. MI ➡️ MN.

Articles

If the children are our future, we need to be there for them | Opinion

1 week ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Graduating students face similar challenges as previous generations despite growing up in a technologically advanced world. Support is crucial for young adults as they navigate college, the workforce, or military service. Adults should offer guidance and encouragement while allowing graduates to learn from their own experiences. I’m a sucker for graduation season. I loved covering graduations when I was at the Petoskey News-Review.
We need to talk about mental health openly, honestly | Opinion

2 weeks ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Mental health disorders affect a significant portion of the population, with anxiety disorders being the most prevalent. Stigma, discrimination, cost and limited access to health care prevent many individuals from seeking treatment for mental health issues. Resources and help are available for those struggling with mental health challenges. You wouldn’t know it by looking at me. Most people who know me well and spend time with me regularly likely wouldn’t even know.
It’s not always that easy, nor currently possible, to "Buy American” | Opinion

3 weeks ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Proposed tariffs could cost American families an average of $4,600 per year. Many American-branded products, including iconic toys and essential goods, rely on overseas manufacturing or components. Even seemingly "American" products, like flags, are often made overseas, highlighting the complexity of "buying American."If you’re skeptical about all this recent tariff talk, join the club.
Should you make an appointment to get your skin checked? | Opinion

4 weeks ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Regular skin checks are important for early detection and treatment of skin cancer, especially for those with risk factors like sun exposure and family history. Skin cancer is prevalent and treatable, with a high survival rate when detected early. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, emphasizing the need for regular checkups and preventative measures. I’ll be the first to admit that I was nervous. And it was just a little bit of nervousness, I had put this appointment off for years, decades even.
A $5,000 'baby bonus' wouldn't go very far these days | Letters

1 month ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Rachel BroughamCommunity ColumnistThe White House is considering a proposal to offer mothers a $5,000 bonus for each child born in an effort to increase birth rates. Birth rates in the U.S. are currently at historic lows. As a woman, imagine being handed $5,000 every time you had a baby. If you were on the fence about being a mom, would this bonus make you change your mind? If you’re already a parent, would it make you want to have another child, or two or three?
Organ donation truly is the gift of life | Opinion

1 month ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

Every organ donor can save up to eight lives, and enhance over 75 more. There is no cost to be a donor, and when a family loses a love one who is an organ donor, there is no cost passed down to the family. You can learn more about organ donation and how to sign up at donatelife.net. The night of April 10, 2018, hours after my husband Colin was killed in a cycling accident, my phone rang. It was about 10 p.m., and it was a number I didn’t recognize.
9 Ways to Rid Your Garden of Japanese Beetles

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Rachel Brougham

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›Photo: iStockJapanese beetles might be harmless to humans but that doesn’t mean you want them around. This invasive insect feeds on more than 300 plants and costs the United States more than $460 million a year to manage, according to Penn State Extension. They’ll eat through plant leaves and even flowers.
Ice storm brought out the best in the people of Northern Michigan | Opinion

1 month ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

For those living in Northern Michigan, the damage was staggering. And for those who don’t live in the region, the photos, videos and stories from their loved ones were heart-wrenching to see and hear. Trees damaged and destroyed. Thousands without power. Roads impassable. Gas hard to find. Stores closed or only able to accept cash.
Is anyone ever prepared to send a child off into the world? | Opinion

1 month ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

I knew he’d love it here. I sure did. The arcade is still there. That little Chinese takeout restaurant I frequented looks unchanged from the last time I ate there 25 years ago. The used record shop and that martini bar are gone, but the city has kept plenty of the familiar which is now mixed with the new-to-me. But it’s all new to my son.
We should view education as an investment, not a business | Opinion

2 months ago | petoskeynews.com | Rachel Brougham

As Americans, we are great at the blame game. And when it comes to education here in the United States, we love to point fingers. Low test scores? Blame teachers. Blame the principal, the administration, the support staff. Blame the state, the local school board, the federal government. And don’t forget to throw some blame at the parents of struggling students.