editorial

Memorial 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…

As 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…

Stable, 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…

The 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…

At 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…

Tornado 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…

Distracted 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…

Marking 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…

Farmers 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…

Sunshine 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…

When 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…

It’s no secret that farmers in Minnesota and across the country have been rocked by low crop and dairy prices, and a crippling trade war that has blocked billions of dollars in sales of U.S. farm products abroad.  So, the last thing our farm economy needs as we move into the new year is to have the federal government shut down. For me, job one in the new Congress is to end this wasteful and…

I strongly felt that I needed to respond in defense of the wonderful men and women who have volunteered and are serving on the Destination Branding Committee for Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow.  If you are a social media person (I admit that I am not), you probably have heard of the negative comments, hatred and hype that has been focused on the work that these volunteers are doing trying to…

Voting is both a right and a privilege, but it’s also an important responsibility of every eligible citizen. The primaries are only a few weeks away, and the 2018 election season is shaping up to be a pivotal moment of changing leadership in many levels of government, so it’s never been more important to research ballot options and the candidates you’ll support. For our local elections, we hope…

I’ve worked in schools for 30 years and every fall I am impressed and inspired by the energy of students when they come back to school. It’s an exciting time of year for the kids, for parents and for teachers. The theme for this school year is “Purpose, Passion, Pride … Making a Difference.” Educating students and building relationships to prepare young people for the world is our purpose and we…

Thousands of preschool through 12th-grade students entered schools throughout the area this week. It’s a fresh start. A clean slate. A new way to start over with a positive focus on the tasks at hand. Most importantly, the new school year is a chance for young people to learn to communicate and understand that, while issues seem overwhelming, there are ways to overcome them. This summer the…