Incredible blessing to be an American

July 8, 2026

To the Editor: For 77 years I have felt blessed and grateful for being born in America. I have had a wonderful life. As America now embarks on it’s next 250 years, I would ask just two questions of my friends, family and fellow Americans. What country has done more good for the world than America? What country would you prefer to live in other than America? As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, opportunity and American success, we understand that America’s history has been imperfect. However, our nation’s willingness to change and sacrifice for what is right has been ...

Read the Declaration of Independence

July 1, 2026

To the editor: The 250th Birthday of America this Saturday, is prompting citizens to learn more about the Declaration of Independence and this Republic we are blessed to live in, and what each person can do to protect the freedoms that came from a divine source. Some individuals will be uncomfortable mentioning any type of religion, but the historical records overwhelming assert that the majority of the founders believed in an afterlife, along with a judgment that each of us will face. Consider the Liberty Bell, that has cast into it: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto ...

Trump’s big spending

June 24, 2026

To the editor: (President Donald Trump’s) birthday party a resounding success, concluding with participants loudly insulting former First Lady Michelle Obama in typical Trump classless fashion. Sixty million dollars including $700,000 just to restore grass after. Reflecting pool upgrades complete, and pool is now back to pre-upgrade water quality, initial estimate was $1.8 million, final bill ….$14.2 million. Restoring previously removed information on national park sites regarding slavery and climate by court order. There is no dollar amount affixed to this project yet. ...

Understanding the future of AI

June 17, 2026

To the editor: AI, friend or foe? Probably both, but I tend to lean more toward foe. I just read in the 4 June issue of AAAS ‘Science’ that there is now a narrowing window for being able to understand AI’s inner workings because: 1. AI systems are now designed and refined by AI through recursive cycles that out pace human understanding. 2. AI to AI interactions are highly connected and complex and becoming increasingly hard for humans to interpret. 3. AI is building increasingly detailed models of human behavior and psychology. So as our understanding of AI ‘decreases’, ...

Efficiency of fools

June 16, 2026

To the editor: Efficiency — Doing more or with less? Cut waste. Make it better faster. The leading cry of many administrations. In the extreme, it’s dangerous and rigged to benefit a few while we and the future pay a deadly price. DODE performed a lobotomy on a patient who had a broken arm, celebrating destruction in the guise of efficiency with a century of repercussions in lost trust, productivity, safety and taxes. .Efficiency apart from quality and sustainability is a bait and switch. Did the government firing thousands of people and rehiring some unqualified persons result ...

Questioning E85 pricing at gas pump

June 2, 2026

To the editor: Gas has gone up in price about $2 per gallon. Crude oil has gone up from $60 per barrel to about $110 per barrel and E85 has gone up $1.75 per gallon, but corn has stayed to around $4 per bushel. Corn grown locally and processed to ethanol in Marshall and Luverne has not gone up in price. There is no transportation cost so why the price gouging. Russ Pilegaard Ruthton