Editorials

A significant discussion is taking place at the state Legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month. Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites. We believe…

Just in time for next week’s Earth Day celebration, the Minnesota DNR has opened registration for summer 2024 “I Can!” programs in state parks and recreation areas. Getting outdoors and enjoying nature is the perfect way to observe Earth Day, which is Monday, April 22, and residents are encouraged to make the most of DNR programs. “At the DNR, we are passionate about empowering people to…

Cannabis is fully legal in the state for adults 21 and older and is taxed and regulated like alcohol. On April 20 cannabis suppliers and users will celebrate the legalization, culture, and its products, so now is a good time to educate young people about its use. Mostly, parents need to be aware of the positive impact they and educators can have on children and teens with drug education…

Law enforcement agencies and traffic safety partners are dedicating extra time in April to educate motorists and enforce the hands-free cell phone law while stopping other distracting behaviors. Distracted driving contributed to nearly 30,000 crashes in Minnesota from 2019-2023 (preliminary figures). The distracted driving extra enforcement and awareness campaign runs April 1-30 and focuses on…

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning consumers of ongoing imposters targeting people across the Midwest. The warning follows a recent cyberattack against the UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, Change Healthcare, the largest health care payment system in the United States. The attack destabilized the health care industry across the country, and opportunistic criminals are taking…

Tuesday, March 19, was National Agriculture Day with the theme, “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.” The celebration includes virtual and in-person events nationwide, and in Luverne, “Ag Day” became “Ag Week” at the Rock County Library. Library staff teamed up with Rock County Farm Bureau members and local ag businesses to celebrate agriculture. Monday was “Farm Show and Tell” as…

This week, March 10-16, is National Sunshine Week, which celebrates and brings awareness to free and open access to public information and an accountable government. And it sheds light on the importance of community journalists in keeping the public informed. Laws requiring open meetings and public data exist for everyone, but journalists are trained to navigate the sometimes complicated avenues…

The American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region is kicking off its annual Red Cross Month celebration to honor local community heroes who help ensure their neighbors never face crises alone. “We’re proud to honor the people in our community who step up to support one another when help can’t wait during emergencies,” said Leah Pockrandt, executive director of the Red Cross serving southwest…

World Teen Mental Wellness Day is observed across the globe on March 2 every year to raise awareness about challenges facing teens and how to improve their brain health. And in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District, students took charge of observing the day and carrying the message. (See this week’s news section for their story). During the month of February, they raised awareness, raised…

Is it possible you overlooked a rebate check that didn’t get cashed? If so, you may soon get a reissued check, so watch your mail and know what you’re looking for. Officials with the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced last week that they will begin reissuing over 128,000 one-time tax rebate checks that have gone uncashed and subsequently expired after their November and December issuance…

There can be pitfalls for anyone playing the dating game, but protecting sobriety can be particularly tricky in new relationships. With Valentine’s Day in the recent spotlight, it’s a good time to consider tips for success in relationships and sobriety, While dating can be an adventure, it’s important to never lose sight of sobriety goals. Generally, health professionals recommend that people…

The unofficial motto of U.S. Postal Service is, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Unfortunately, this motto is no longer observed at the U.S. Postal Service, as quality of mail delivery has steadily declined while postal rates are steadily increasing. The Star Herald last week published a Letter to…

We in Luverne have been proud of our local artist, Andrew Prekker, who submitted the winning proposal for Minnesota’s new state flag. Of more than 2,000 proposals, his was used as the base for the final flag design. It was a process that started more than four months ago with the goal of having the new flag and emblem in the State Capitol buildings by May 11, which is Statehood Day. Why did we…

January is Poverty Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to take stock of personal beliefs and biases. We in Rock County have a proud heritage of hard-working ancestors who withstood the hardships of wars and wilderness to build the communities and livelihoods we know today. And we’ve heard time and time again that anyone can succeed if they work hard enough. The subconscious message then is…

People in the communities of Rock County are known for their generosity — of time, talents, money and more. Another way to be generous is to give blood. It’s the one way to have the most impact in the sense it saves lives, literally. According to the American Red Cross, blood supplies have fallen to critically low levels, and many areas now face emergency blood shortages. In recent weeks, the…

It’s been a while since the Star Herald issued thumbs up and thumbs down for the good and bad in our community, and our news team put our heads together for a fresh list to consider. Thumbs up — to Luverne’s citywide Christmas tree pickup. It’s a much-appreciated perk for living in the city and another reason to “Luv Luverne.” Thumbs down — to another planned postage rate increase for…