Breaking News

Opinion

Choosing progress over perfection in city projects

Community Voices

“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” has been a phrase stated in government as a reminder that progress over perfection is important to the greater good of the community. In practice this mindset can help us as a city focus on our goals and ensure long-term success, whether it be for a planning tool, policy or a significant capital project. In particular, public construction projects are by far the most complex and challenging and often where we receive the most disagreement on whether the project is taking the right path forward. Some of the reasons we have extra scrutiny ...

Educators should take steps to ensure honesty in academics

Community Voices

The back to school season is always an adjustment; as students adjust to classrooms, a bell system, lunch lines and homework. Teachers are facing an adjustment in 2026. Artificial Intelligence technology has advanced to a point that it can complete homework assignments for students. They might be tempted to take shortcuts by using AI. There are good ways to counteract the AI factor. One is to have students write essays in class right away, in order to gauge their writing ability. If a homework assignment would far exceed their writing level, it would be obvious that they had AI ...

On the Porch

Local Columns

The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from The News Messenger of Lyon ...

The old ballgame

Local Columns

I enjoy a baseball game. So... ... Take me out to the ballgame...take me out with the crowd... We recently had the opportunity to attend a St. Paul Saints baseball game with two of our sons. It was my first time at the Saints’ ballfield, and it was fantastic. ...buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, I don't care if I never get back... But I would like to go back to before the game. We wanted to have something to eat before the game, and we ended up at the Lost Fox Restaurant. We ordered our food items. Ours was a shared plate of hummus and crackers which was very tasty. Of ...

A certain futures market

Local Columns

Your opener is coming up soon. I don’t care if you’re a waterfowler, a pheasant hunter or have that coveted firearms deer tag for this autumn, opening day is approaching faster than a set of mallards with cupped wings descending on your decoy setup. Which is why now is the time to prepare ...