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Keep it civil at school board meetings, with teachers

Mask requirements. Critical Race Theory. “Don’t say Gay.” There was a time not too long ago when controversial topics at a school board meeting were limited to a favorite teacher/administrator/coach not having a contract renewed, dress codes or a an allegedly biased coach. Those were the days. Nationwide, school board meetings have transformed into political arenas, featuring emotionally charged combatants displaying levels of rage you’d associate with Roman gladiators. As expected, school boards are thusly reacting by enacting various measures that ultimately ...

A victory today comes with consequences for the future

The leaking to the press of a draft ruling to overturn the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion has caused a seismic ripple across the nation. It has also tainted the so-called sacredness of the Supreme Court. An angry Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. lambasted the leak as a betrayal. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the draft ruling “an abomination.” U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., cheered the prospects of Roe v. Wade’s demise. “If the leaked opinion is accurate, then today is a landmark day for the sanctity of human life,” he said. The Supreme Court ...

New approach for ninth graders gets passing grade — so far

Education funding always draws plenty of debate in government legislatures across the nation and in Congress. Some politicians argue not enough money is spent on our students. Others say too much is spent and funds are directed at the wrong places. “Money isn’t pixie dust,” declared a Texas assistant solicitor general involved in a 2016 lawsuit case in Texas. “Funding is no guarantee of better student outcomes.” A common problem with increased funding in education, rarely do taxpayers hear about positive results connected to spending. That changed this week. On Monday, ...

Farmers tired of waiting for drought relief aid

While front line workers and business owners in Minnesota can express a sigh of relief, farmers are still waiting. On Friday, Gov. Tim Walz signed into law legislation providing direct payments to frontline workers and replenishing the unemployment trust fund, providing tax relief for small businesses. Meanwhile, negotiations between the two houses of the Legislature continue over the drought relief package. The hangup is over DNR funding proposed in a House version of the bill for seedlings and shade trees lost in the drought. The other part of the relief package is $10 million in ...

Long overdue deal in Legislature

On Tuesday, the Minnesota House passed a bill to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund and get bonuses to frontline workers. It was hailed as a breakthrough in the Legislature after months of stalemate. That breakthrough resulted in Thursday’s announcement that House and Senate leaders struck a deal to go forward with a plan that includes $2.7 million to replenish the trust fund and pay back a debt to the federal government for jobless aid. It also features $500 million in bonuses for workers who took risks during the pandemic. A total of 667,000 workers will ...

Don’t chance it — stop for children getting off buses

One May day in 2019, a Minneapolis girl, 11 was hit by car after getting off a school bus. A 60-year-old man was arrested. Witnesses said he was traveling in his vehicle at a high-speed when he attempted to go around the stopped bus. The accident left the girl fighting for her life and facing several surgeries. There was conflicting information in the case whether or not the bus driver lowered the bus stop arm at the time of the incident. However, drivers must use extreme caution when approaching a parked school bus to avoid such horrific tragedies. Ever so often our court reporters ...