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Minnesota politicians face belt-tightening decisions

Editorials

The State of Minnesota’s November Budget and Economic Forecast was released last week. According to the Minnesota Management and Budget, the budget for fiscal year 2026-27 includes a $2.465 billion surplus. However, in 2028-29, the state is projected to have a $2.96 billion deficit. Depending on who you talk to, there’s plenty of optimism. There is also warnings of doom and gloom. And of course, finger pointing. “Despite the president’s tariff and destabilization of health care costs, Minnesota’s annual budget forecast has improved in both the short and long term thanks to ...

Challenging the ‘single story’ of Somali immigrants

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: When President Trump labeled Somali immigrants “garbage,” he weaponized presidential power to diminish an entire community. As novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned in her TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story,” power lies not only in the ability to tell another person’s story, but to make it the definitive story of that person. Yes, some Somali Americans in Minnesota have been implicated in financial fraud. That fact should be reported, but it should never become the sole lens through which we view an entire community— thousands of Somali families ...

Hurtful words are a bold time for people of faith to act

Community Voices

As a pastor who lives in a state that is home to as many as 84,000 people who are of Somalia descent, hearing our president call them “garbage” goes beyond disheartening. In fact, it’s immoral and can in no certain terms be likened to how Jesus lived his life, nor what he preached to his followers. In the 1st century, or now. … And it’s important as people of faith for us to say so. This controversy has raged for more than a week now. But for people who proclaim to be followers of Jesus, there is no basis for this hateful speech in Christianity, nor in general civil ...

It’s the seriousness of the charge

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: That was the battle cry of the Democrats whenever a non-Democrat was “allegedly” accused of a misspeak, misstep or impropriety not so long ago. That’s all it took to cause a person accused of anti-Democrat policy to be removed from a committee, censured and/or be forced to resign from office. Those found guilty of committing some impropriety was justified, however, many innocent people were forced out due to the political pressure applied by Democrats and their accomplices in the media. However, when President Trump calls the Minnesota governor a “retard” ...

Very young kids dealing with trauma

Community Voices

What bad things could possibly happen to children in their first five years of life? What dramatic experiences could possibly happen to a child between birth and 5 years old? It turns out that there are many situations that can expose young children to trauma. Early victimization that can negatively impact how a child develops is more common than many people realize. Psychologists know that these very young children are more vulnerable to things like injury or even traumatic death then they will be later in life. It has been assumed that preschoolers, toddlers, and infants ...

Trump faces karma

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: “Sedition” — (President Trump’s) newest tool against reasonability and accountability. (Trump) has recently pulled a rabbit out of his hat by insinuating that some members of Congress have committed “seditious” behavior by openly reminding members of the military that refusing to obey and carry out illegal orders is their right and duty according to the terms of their oath and the terms of the UCMJ, “Uniform Code of Military Justice”. Ironically, (Trump) himself has been found to have been involved in planning, encouraging, and even facilitating ...