It’s hard to turn down a gift of $6 million. But that’s what happened because Minnesota’s political leaders couldn’t agree on a compromise spending bill. The bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature included measures they knew the DFL governor and legislators wouldn’t support. The omnibus spending bill also contained noncontroversial items such as the formal request for Minnesota’s share of
Visit our website, social media for the latest news
Sometimes the news can’t wait. And readers can’t wait until Friday to get it. That’s why for the past few months we’ve been publishing more news on our website, www.thenewsleaders.com. Daily updates online include significant local news from Sartell, St. Stephen and St. Joseph that readers need to know right away such as actions by local government, election returns and
The Al-Gore-rhythm versus Trump
On the latest season of the brilliant show “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” there’s a moment when roommate Titus is explaining how computers know what you’re searching for to Kimmy. “You know how Al Gore invented the internet? Well, he also invented a rhythm for it. It’s a powerful rhythm. It’s called the Al-Gore-rhythm.” Perhaps that’s how Donald Trump thinks search engines
Applying lean thinking practices can work both professionally, personally
During the last year or so, my dad has been reading through a lot of books for work. They’ve had various titles, but they all mentioned lean thinking or the lean workplace. Though I was always interested in learning about the subject, during senior year I never managed to pick one up. During the summer though, with college on the
Reader urges vote for Perske
Dennis Molitor Sartell As a long time Sartell resident and as a neighbor of Minnesota Senate candidate Joe Perske, I want to share my deep admiration for him as we all consider our voting decisions, on whom we want to represent us in St. Paul stating next January. Like many concerned citizens, I have always followed the performance of my
Government shouldn’t try to censor social media
Misconceptions about free speech and the First Amendment are getting tangled up in the growing controversy over the role of social media companies in public debate. Don’t let confusion about free speech, companies’ business decisions and technology lead to government regulation. Let’s start with the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
In search of votes, Read meets voters one-on-one
Jim Read has walked many miles since last winter and, at least figuratively, it’s mostly been uphill. He’s running as a Democrat for a seat in the state House of Representatives in the deeply red District 13A. He intends to knock on the doors of at least two-thirds of the district’s 13,000 households with registered voters by election day. So
Imagine Aretha singing with the angels
When I first heard it on the radio one day in 1968, it’s as if I were hearing the sky rip wide open. All my hairs were tingling. Goosebumps. “You better think, think, think about what you’re trying to do to me . . . ’’ What a voice! I’d never heard anything like it. It was a powerful, rollicking,