Gerrymandering is not exactly a household word. It ought to be; it undermines our democracy. The cartoon character, Pogo, had it right years ago when he said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Volume I of the Mueller Report details the alarming extent of Russian interference in our electoral process. The meddling has yet to be addressed
School test scores provide a tool to close performance gaps
For those of you who like to keep score, the latest test results for Minnesota’s schools were released last week. Called the Minnesota Report Card from the state Department of Education, the scores measure the performance of the state’s 890,000 students based on five indicators – achievement and progress on state reading and math tests over time, progress toward English
CBD oil leads into larger debate
In storefronts and on signs around Minnesota lately, you may be seeing a lot more green. No, it’s not Christmas yet, but a large number of CBD oil products are being advertised. As the wave of cannabis legalization has swept across the United States, some of its products, and debate, has made its way to our state. So what is
Keep politicians’ feet to the fire on gun control
Juliana Howard, St. Joseph Thank you for opinions expressed on the Opinion Page this week. Along with local stories about Bible School and bikers, we read some provocative words on gun control. Facts are facts and need to be put before us. Your use of statistics in Our View make it very clear where the majority of voters stand. And
Guns do kill people; oh wait, they don’t
Will Yu, Sartell First off, I am no NRA member, no extremist, nor ignorant, I just feel obligated to argue what was written by Dennis Dalman. According to Lawrence Hunter (chairman of Revolution PAC) on the Second Amendment, he stated, “The Founders understood that the right to own and bear laws is as fundamental and as essential to maintaining liberty
Photographer Crouser captures a traditional lifestyle with traditional tools
Making a photograph these days takes nothing more than clicking a smartphone button. No need to worry about f/stops, shutter speeds or lens selection. Not to mention developing film and using an enlarger to make a print. Of course the high technology that allows every person to make a photo does not guarantee the person pushing the button is truly
Republicans need to be part of the gun safety solution
89, 89, 77, 67, 65. What do these numbers have in common? They represent the percentage of Americans who favor various gun-safety measures. But from St. Paul to Washington, D.C., none of them have become law. 89: The percent of people who favor universal background checks on sales. 89: The percent of people who favor extreme protection orders, better known
Some schools die of old age, others burst with students
What’s the life expectancy of a new high school? How long into the future will it adequately serve students? With two new high schools opening in Central Minnesota this fall, students, parents and teachers will experience the unique beginning of new places to learn. The Sartell-St. Stephen school district opens a new school on Pinecone Road. It replaces a relatively