Breaking News

Community Voices

The role that the words yes and no play in sexual relationships is rarely given much thought, unless it is part of a police case or court proceeding. The main word here is consent. Situations involving non-consensual sex or sexual harassment should be a concern for everyone. Consent is actually a major part of any and all sexual interactions, no matter what the nature, status, or type of relationship that exists between two people. Over time, sexual activity has become a recreational activity. In the past, it was more of a path to reproduction, but modern methods of birth control ...

What’s the future of natural gas? 

We all expect the lights to turn on when we flip the switch. But today, many of us also expect to video call into a work meeting or check in with friends and family, cook dinner on electric stoves, and charge our cars, tools and devices. Electricity powers nearly every part of our lives, shaping how we live, learn, work, and travel. And demand for it is growing faster than ever. Across the Upper Midwest, forecasts show that electricity use could nearly double by 2050, as homes, businesses, and entire industries adopt more electric technologies in our everyday lives. Meeting that ...

Enjoying summertime celebrations

Call us wild and crazy, but my wife and I enjoy attending small-town summertime celebrations. The most recent such event was Arlington Days, held — brace yourself! — in Arlington. There are approximately a hundred municipalities and locales named Arlington in the United States, so we chose the Arlington that’s located about 15 miles from our house. We might be wild and crazy, but not to extent that we would travel the nearly 1,500 miles to the hamlet of Arlington, Oregon (population: 620.) No small-town celebration is complete without a bevy of booths where vendors can promote ...

Who do they come for next?

First, my deepest apologies to Martin Niemöller, a much nobler pastor than I’ll ever be. But because of his inspiration, I share … First, they came for those whom they deemed “illegals.” And I protested but a little, but not loudly. … Shame on me. Then, they came for people who are transgender. And I protested not at all because I already felt too much burden on my shoulders. … My silence pains me to no end. Then, most recently, they came for the homeless in a presidential executive order that seeks to punish, and possibly forcibly commit, those who are ...

Does your well water have nitrate?

If your family drinks from a private well, there’s one stop you can’t afford to miss at this year’s Farmfest: the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s free nitrate water testing booth. Bring a sample of your well water to booth #517S, and we’ll test it for nitrate — on the spot, in under five minutes. No paperwork. No cost. No catch. The MDA and its partners offer water testing clinics across the state to increase public awareness of nitrate contamination in rural drinking water. Results from the testing are for the private well owner’s use. Well owners may remain ...

Protecting Minnesota’s safety net means cracking down on fraud

Fraud in state programs isn’t a victimless crime. It affects every Minnesotan who pays taxes and everyone who depends on these programs. When money meant for seniors, people with disabilities, and families in need is stolen, the people hurt most are the ones these programs were designed to help. Minnesota s Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said our state could be facing up to one billion dollars in fraud. That kind of money could cover school district deficits a couple times over. It s more than the $750 million bonding bill we passed this year to repair roads and bridges. ...