We are rapidly approaching the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. So with that in mind, I’m going to keep this column light.

Let’s talk about daylight saving time and then about an unexpected connection between the Lansing Lugnuts and the Trump trial.

First, daylight saving time: There is currently Legislation in the House and Senate to get rid of DST so that we don’t have to keep changing our clocks each spring and fall.

The reason to eliminate DST is not because of the minor annoyance of having to change clocks. It’s because the time switch does not, despite the myths, save a significant amount of energy. It is, however, costly to implement, and there is a statistically significant increase in heart attacks and car crashes when we lose an hour of sleep during the spring forward. And parents of young children know how difficult the change can be on their sleep schedules.

Hawaii and Arizona are currently the only two states that don’t participate in daylight saving time.

What do you think? Should Michigan join them by getting rid of DST? Or should we keep time-switching the way we do now?

And if we do stop changing our clocks, should we stick to standard time, or just permanently stay on daylight saving time so that it stays light, later?

Send me an email and let me know your thoughts – I’d like to know.

*****

On Wednesday of last week, I played in a charity softball game that pit House Republican lawmakers against our Democrat counterparts at the minor league Lugnuts’ stadium in Lansing. This was our second annual game, and this year it was to raise money for Ele’s Place, which helps grieving children.

The GOP won 11-2, making us undefeated.

(In case you’re wondering, I cranked one to the outfield for a triple, and then ran home on the next play. Not bad for a guy in his 70s.)

The stadium used to be called Oldsmobile Park until GM decided to drop the naming rights when the company went through bankruptcy proceedings. It’s now called Jackson Field after a local insurance company (which is confusing because the Lugnuts play in Lansing, not Jackson). But between those two names, it was called the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.

Here’s the connection to President Trump that I promised to share: Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and self-proclaimed “fixer” is an alumnus. He got his law degree from Cooley.

Impress your friends with that little bit of knowledge if you visit Lansing this summer to see a baseball game.