When the Minnesota Legislature convened this week, legislators focused on how state government will deal with a $1.5-billion budget surplus. Democrats will demand increased funding for programs such as education and health care and Republicans will urge a tax cut. A Democrat sits in the governor’s office and Democrats control the House, but the Republicans hold a one-seat majority in

The secret ballot may not be so secret if Minnesota’s presidential preference primary goes ahead as planned. The presidential primary law requires separate ballots for each political party, requires that all voters disclose to election officials the party ballot they choose and makes that data public record. The primary will take place on the first Tuesday in March 2020. The

Don’t talk to strangers. That advice is widely given, especially to children. Don’t talk to strangers because they pose a threat to your safety. Don’t make eye contact. March forward. Avoid the homeless people on the street corner. Don’t exchange glances with politicians looking for votes or with folks ringing bells next to kettles. No commitment. Don’t talk to strangers.

Minnesotans voted in record numbers on Nov. 6, again leading the nation with the highest voter turnout – almost 64 percent. Stearns County’s turnout reached 70 percent compared with the national average turnout of about 50 percent. That is the highest percentage of voter participation in Minnesota for a midterm election since 2002 and the raw turnout of 2,593,922 was

It’s time to turn the page. The election is over. A record number of voters have spoken. Even nature sent a symbolic message that a new season is here as voters woke up on the morning after the election to find fall replaced by sharp winter winds and snow. The message is clear. Voters told candidates that in races from