The short history of equality for female athletes was showcased recently at Stearns History Museum’s History Maker Gala. The event honored local women who pioneered equality and athletic opportunity for girls and women. For today’s female high school and college athletes, it must be hard to imagine a world where their “athletic” opportunities were limited intramural teams, powder-puff football and
Mary Lou, now 90, is unforgettable
Happy Belated Birthday, Mary Lou Westra! Of the many, many thousands of people I’ve interviewed and written about in my four decades of reporting, there are several standouts. Though there have been so many favorites, three of them often spring to mind. One was singer Tammy Wynette, whom I interviewed sometime in the mid-1980s in her luxury RV between her
Mueller Report deserves proper resolution
In April, after almost two years of investigation, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russian interference in the 2016 election was released. After the release, further argument has been underway between Republicans and Democrats about whether President Donald Trump was vindicated or implicated by the conclusions, respectively. Wherever the country goes from here, any actions based on the report should
Time to move on from retelling Wetterling story
Sometimes you just have to say “It’s time to move on.” The plan for a film to examine the Jacob Wetterling abduction is one of those times. For three years, the producers have filmed key players in the 1989 abduction, including Jacob’s family. Now they have launched a fundraising campaign to support the next stage of production. They started a
Thumbs up for ‘hands-free’ law
Following protracted negotiations between the Minnesota House and Senate, a new law banning the use of cell phones in cars except for if they are being used “hands-free” was voted on recently. Passed by large numbers of both Democrats and Republicans, it was signed into law by Governor Walz, and will now take effect in August. So what does this
Along with news, daily email flood brings scams, spam, quirky claims
The U.S. Mail once arrived in a stuffed sack worthy of Santa on Christmas Eve. When I started in journalism five decades ago, the daily mail bag delivered news tips, letters from readers and press releases that often provided background information and ideas for stories. When the big bag landed in the newsroom, a clerk would sort each piece, putting
T’was a dangerous practical joke
Like my dad, there’s nothing I enjoy better than a good, harmless practical joke. Except my latest one wasn’t harmless; it almost got me killed. It all started when neighbor Marty asked me to watch her soap opera, “The Young and the Restless” – a show she’s watched for years. She couldn’t watch it that day because she had a
Urban explorers risk injury, arrest for social media fame
Two popular hobbies – one pursued in the real, physical world and one practiced in the virtual, digital world – converged in Watab Township last week. For years, adventurers have found excitement as urban explorers – roaming through abandoned buildings, caves and tunnels. Media attention and technology popularized and glamorized the activity fueling increased interest. Recent television shows such as