Traffic deaths in Michigan rose 5.3 percent in 2012, while motorcycle deaths  jumped 18 percent in the first year since Michigan allowed bikers to ride  without a helmet, statistics show.

The number of riders killed without a helmet went from five in 2011 — less  than 5 percent of all deaths — to 55, or just under 43 percent, in 2012, the  Michigan State Police reported Monday. In April, Michigan became the 31st state  to allow motorcycle riders the option of riding without a helmet if they met  certain criteria.      Detroit News

Even without modern-day temptations like fast food or cigarettes, people had clogged arteries some 4,000 years ago, according to the biggest-ever hunt for the condition in mummies.

Researchers say that suggests heart disease may be more a natural part of human aging rather than being directly tied to contemporary risk factors like smoking, eating fatty foods and not exercising.     ABC News

One should probably not react to this news by binging on fast food and vino. But it does suggest that there is a sobering reality about aging that is a challenge for all of us.

Threatened by long-term declining participation in shooting sports, the firearms industry has poured millions of dollars into a broad campaign to ensure its future by getting guns into the hands of more, and younger, children.

This is the first in a series of articles that will examine the gun industry’s influence and the wide availability of firearms in America.

The industry’s strategies include giving firearms, ammunition and cash to youth groups; weakening state restrictions on hunting by young children; marketing an affordable military-style rifle for “junior shooters” and sponsoring semiautomatic-handgun competitions for youths; and developing a target-shooting video game that promotes brand-name weapons, with links to the Web sites of their makers.         NYT

Many of Michigan’s roughly 680,000 military veterans don’t utilize the services and benefits they’ve earned — often because they don’t know about them or misunderstand the rules. Although Michigan has the nation’s 11th highest population of veterans, the state ranks dead last in federal money spent per person on services provided through the U.S. Veterans Administration — medical treatment, pensions, schooling, disability compensation, employment assistance.       Record-Eagle

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

Amid all the anxiety and handwringing over Obamacare, our state rather non-dramatically is setting up insurance exchanges.

The Michigan health insurance exchange required by federal law got a boost  from Washington Thursday with a $30.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of  Health and Human Services for planning and implementation.

The Michigan Affordable Insurance Exchange will be an online marketplace  where insurance firms compete to sell low-cost health insurance to consumers.  Gov. Rick Snyder hopes to form Michigan’s exchange in partnership with the U.S.  A blueprint for the plan is due to the U.S. Department of Health and Human  Services on Feb. 15.      Detroit News

It turns out that one meal out can pack the calories required for a whole day (or more).      Wonkblog

A new government survey suggests the number of people seeking emergency treatment after consuming energy drinks has doubled nationwide during the past four years, the same period in which the supercharged drink industry has surged in popularity in convenience stores, bars and on college campuses.    UpNorthLive

For the first time, Coca-Cola is launching a series of ads focusing on its past of providing drinks with fewer, or “zero” calories, and more “diet” options. But many health professionals say despite its fewer calories, it’s still soda.

“What happens when your insulin spikes, is it’s going to drop… and your body is going to be hungry.” said Certified Personal Trainer at the Grand Traverse Athletic Club. “So people that drink Coke (regular or diet) eat more than they normally would.”        UpNorthLive

Word on the street is that Elk Rapids Family Practice has been sold to the McLaren Hospital group in Petoskey. The clinic is closed this week, so I couldn’t reach anyone there for comment. Presumably it reopens next week as a McLaren clinic. Some questions have been raised about the clinic’s future relationship with Munson Hospital. We’ll see.

Note that the recorded message at the practice (264-8282) says that the reason for closing is to learn new software   nothing about the new owner.

Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation [TART] Trails, Inc. is pleased to announce the success of the Traverse City Track Club challenge match for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. Thanks to more than 120 donors the $25,000 match was met by the December 31^st, which secured an additional $5000 bonus from the Club. The challenge match spurred the support needed to begin constructing the next four-mile segment from the Dune Climb to Empire in 2013.   – Press Release

Complete Press Release