Donald Trump’s recent speech in Tampa got me thinking about Piggly Wiggly. Trump again argued for requiring voters to show a photo ID to guard against voter fraud – one of the many myths Trump likes to rant about. Photo IDs are required for many transactions, even buying groceries, Trump trumpeted. “You know, if you go out and you want
Trump’s groceries gaffe makes point
At a campaign rally in Florida, President Trump made a claim that you need an ID to buy groceries, but not to vote. While you do not need an ID to buy groceries in most cases, in our country you are not required to have an ID to vote in almost any cases. With the widespread distrust in our voting
And all I got was this lousy T-shirt
Summer is beginning its wind-down, and I scream at the fading light. I love summer so much so that perhaps I am in love with summer, but that’s a different column. Instead, I wish to ruminate some fine local summer vacation activities my family and I have enjoyed this year. My family and I haven’t taken a proper vacation in
Dollars, demographics point to soccer success
We had gathered for a picnic, enjoying grilled hot dogs and hamburgers before heading to Target Field to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday by watching a Twins game. But instead of gathering in the backyard around the grill, most of the group, white guys in their 50s and 60s, huddled around a TV indoors on a beautiful Minnesota Sunday morning, watching
Justices should be referees, not players on a partisan team
During the last few weeks, the country has been living through another momentous, and contentious nomination to the Supreme Court. On July 9, President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to succeed the retiring Anthony Kennedy. Almost immediately, the battle lines were drawn and we as a nation will bear witness to another exhausting
Toxins deadly as flames for firefighters
Lifesaving firefighters are risking their own lives – not necessarily because of flames and smoke but because of carcinogens. In the years after the terrorist attacks in New York City in 2001, doctors began noticing an alarming increase in cancers among the many firefighters on the scene that horrific day. We have since learned it’s not just the NYC firefighters;
Back on the trail, Pawlenty campaigns by asking questions
Not all political campaigning happens at rallies for thousands of supporters or in summer festival parades. Sometimes, politicians seek votes in very small informal groups. Recently, I followed Tim Pawlenty and Michelle Fischbach on two St. Cloud visits focused on jobs and workforce development. Pawlenty served two terms as governor, from 2003 to 2011. He bypassed the state Republican convention
World Cup finding its way into Americans’ hearts
Every four years, one of the largest sporting events in the world takes place, with billions of fans from around the world watching. Many teams, though starting with high hopes, are faced with some of the toughest competition the globe has to offer, leaving only one champion. No, this isn’t the Olympics, but the FIFA World Cup, the world’s most