Editorials
- June 18, 2019The construction of the Minnesota Veterans Home in 1991 marked a distinct turning point in the history of Luverne’s economic development. The multi-million dollar facility with its dozens of high-paying jobs was a big deal all on its own, and there are many progressive leaders from the day who can be credited for bringing it to town. But the development of several residential subdivisions that…
June 11, 2019Memorial Day through Labor Day marks the 100 deadliest days on Minnesota roads. Preliminary numbers show the 100-day stretch last year accounted for 124 of the 381 fatalities, making up 33 percent of all the traffic deaths in 2018. Preliminary numbers by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety show 107 fatalities on Minnesota roads in 2019 compared with 112 this time last year…- By Sen. Tina SmithJune 04, 2019If you don’t live in rural America, you may well have some preconceptions about what it’s like “out here” in the heartland. It’s true, the news hasn’t been good: the worst farm economy in a generation, never-ending wet weather that has kept farmers out of the field when they can least afford it, and tariffs that are ripping apart the trading relationships that Minnesota ag producers have spent…
- By Michael Walgrave, Rock County Land Management technicianMay 28, 2019Local Rock Beast The American bison is the national mammal of the United States and is native to Rock County. It is one of the heaviest land animals in the Americas with wild bulls weighing up to 2,800 pounds and semi-domestic bulls weighing up to 3,800 pounds. The Lakota Native Americans called the bison “tatanka,” which means “he who owns us.” There are other explanations for this title, but…
- May 14, 2019As the number of children in Minnesota’s foster care system has grown — from 11,500 in 2013 to 16,500 in 2018 — there is a greater need than ever for foster parents to provide temporary, critical care to children in crisis. The good news is many people who might not think they qualify to be foster parents are actually eligible, and now is a good time to consider the commitment during Foster Care…
- By John Wayne Barker, Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and RehabilitationMay 07, 2019Stable, solid, secure — these are words for anything that’s important. Unfortunately, the words do not apply to the support staff situation for people with disabilities in Minnesota. There are more than 8,000 vacancies for the direct support professionals (DSPs) who serve these individuals. It’s called a workforce crisis. Locally, day training programs are very aware of this situation. With low…
- April 30, 2019The tobacco industry is using e-cigarettes to draw new customers, and youth tobacco use in Minnesota has increased for the first time in 17 years. E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid usually has nicotine and flavoring in it, and other additives. Their rise in popularity among youth is partly attributed to the fact that they’re easy to…
By Rick Peterson, general managerApril 22, 2019I hope everyone had a nice Easter this past weekend. The weather was spectacular for a change so we were able to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The Petersons actually hosted two Easter family gatherings, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Why two gatherings, you ask? Family work schedules dictated the weekend get-together. As mentioned earlier, the weather allowed us the opportunity…- By Joe Martin and Troy DaniellApril 22, 2019At USDA, we celebrate Earth Day 2019 by offering a big thank you to farmers and ranchers here in Minnesota for all they do. Every day we see their efforts to conserve natural resources while producing food, fiber and fuel for people in their communities and around the world. They are doing what needs to be done to make sure we all enjoy the benefits of clean and plentiful water and healthy soils…
- April 16, 2019Tornado season is approaching; learn how to survive As weather gets warmer, it is a good time to review and prepare for the upcoming storm season. Tornadoes can be a threat in most of the Midwest, and there is no guaranteed safety if you are in one’s path. But preparedness increases chances of survival, and Farm Bureau offers several tips. Tornado safety preparation Have a plan in place to know…
April 09, 2019Distracted driving enforcement campaign aims to reduce tragedy Extra enforcement on Minnesota roads April 8–30 According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, distracted driving-related crashes have claimed an average of 45 lives per year over the past five years. Each of these tragedies has caused a lifetime of grief and pain for the families left behind, and the drivers responsible for…- 2020 Census impacts $150 billion in annual federal funds and state's level of federal representationApril 02, 2019Marking one year until Census Day 2020, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan joined the co-chairs of the Minnesota Complete Count Committee to kick off Minnesota’s “We Count” Census campaign on Monday, April 1. The campaign brings together a statewide coalition of counties, cities, nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy groups to support an accurate and fully inclusive 2020 Census count in…
- By Julie Tesch, president and CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and DevelopmentMarch 26, 2019Have you read a newspaper lately? Was it your local newspaper? Was it in print or online? I’m fortunate to have a daily, regional newspaper delivered to my door every day. I also have two neighboring community newspapers delivered weekly. Why do I spend this money? It is my connection to my community and local news. I can go online at any time and find out what is going on in pop culture and…
- By Joe Martin and Troy DaniellMarch 19, 2019Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of America. They grow food to feed us, fiber to clothe us, and fuel to run our homes and cars. Their hard work and dedication provide economic stability across the nation — stability that supports rural economies and creates much-needed jobs in local communities. No matter who we are, where we live, or what we do, we all have a reason every day to celebrate…
- By Jim Zachary, deputy national editor, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.March 12, 2019Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy For government to be of, by and for the people, it must be out in front of the people. The theme for Sunshine Week 2019 is simply, “It’s your right to know.” The reason it’s your right to know…
- By Sen. Amy KlobucharMarch 05, 2019When I first came to Congress, my No. 1 ask was to be on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. The reason was simple: I wanted to work on behalf of the communities and people of rural Minnesota It's no secret that Minnesota farmers have had a rough couple of years and are facing a lot of uncertainty. There are increasing questions about access to some of our biggest…
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