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Letters to the Editor

It’s open enrollment season – here’s what to know

Fall brings cooler weather and football games, and it’s also the annual time to ensure you have the health insurance coverage you need for 2026. Open enrollment on the federal Marketplace at healthcare.gov — as well as Minnesota’s marketplace MNsure at mnsure.org — runs through Dec. 15 for first-of-the-year coverage. Jan. 15 is the final date to make changes or to set up coverage that begins Feb. 1. Employers have their own open enrollment season for signing up for health insurance at work, but commonly this happens in the fall as well. Health insurance is an investment ...

Rooftops of memory

To the editor: I remember Katrina. I remember families waving shirts from rooftops, praying for helicopters that never came. I remember looters—not for greed, but for bread. For baby formula. For dignity. And I remember how the government that delayed rescue rushed prosecution. Today, in 2025, we are back on the rooftops. For the first time in American history, a president’s administration attempted to allow food stamps to lapse during a government shutdown. Over 42 million Americans — children, seniors, working families — stood to lose access to SNAP benefits. Not ...

Let’s quit rewarding ‘bad behavior’

To the editor: Back in 2023, the “historic” DFL Minnesota Legislature enacted a K-12 education bill that included a $2.2 billion hike in spending on schools. Currently, the district already spends approximately $16,538 per pupil. The bill that passed the Legislature indexed the per pupil formula to the rate of inflation in future years-capped at 3% —with a boost of 4% the following fiscal year and 2% after that. Rep. Cheryl Youakim touted that the DFL was able to deliver on its campaign promise of “fully funding education”. But, even with the claim that education was ...

Students encouraged to be actively involved in activities

The following letter to the editor is the response from Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Jeremy Williams to the writer’s letter that published on Oct. 30. To the editor: Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your interest in our students and school programs. At Marshall Public Schools, we encourage all students to be actively involved in school and extracurricular activities. The photo you are referring to includes all our students in a football program in grades 9-12 with their coaches, not just our varsity team. Research consistently shows ...

How about cutting back on football team?

To the editor: I saw an awesome photo in the Marshall Independent of the Marshall Tiger Football Team. I was, however, flummoxed by the astounding number of players. I think I counted 68. There were what seemed like 15-20 coaches and assistants. Is it the District’s DEI program that necessitates the equity and inclusion of so many students, many of whom didn’t appear physically competitive to play the sport. Sixty eight players to fill 22 positions and play 8 conference games? Shoes, helmets, two or three sets of jerseys, pads, insurance? I recall Coach Pete had two assistants and ...

Open letter to U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach

To the editor: Some questions: The Big Beautiful Bill sacrificed affordable healthcare on the altar of tax cuts for the wealthy. Why did you support this? As an attorney, what is your opinion of the Trump administration destroying Caribbean boats and sailors in violation of national and international law? As a Catholic, why aren’t you following the guidance of the Vatican and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding immigrants? As an opponent of Obamacare, what is your detailed plan to replace it? Please broadcast your responses so individual constituents will not ...