editorial
- October 02, 2024Wednesday night’s candidate forum, livestreamed from our Star Media studio, was a milestone for our Star Herald We knew it could be done, but we didn’t know if we could do it. We wanted to do it. So we practiced doing it, and we practiced again and again. We wrote a script, read it out loud, rewrote it, read it again, and rewrote it again. We solicited candidate questions from the community…
- September 25, 2024We at the Star Herald understand elections can be confusing, and we know there are many competing voices trying to influence votes. That’s why we publish candidate questionnaires in the paper and online for voters to read, and that’s why we host candidate forums for voters to learn from conversations live and recorded in podcasts. Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian is being challenged by Isaac DeBoer…
- September 11, 2024September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness of an urgently important crisis. The goal this month is to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information with people affected by suicide. Ultimately, we want to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. How can you help?…
- September 04, 2024When Luverne voters cast ballots in the general election this fall, they will have choices in local leadership. Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian is being challenged by Isaac DeBoer for the privilege and responsibility of guiding city government. Two open seats on the Luverne City Council will be contested on the general election ballot. Josh Gangestad is challenging longtime council member Dan Nath…
- August 28, 2024As students prepare for the start of the fall school year, the American Red Cross offers essential safety tips to help ensure a smooth, safe start to the school year. Whether walking, biking or taking the bus, consider these practical tips for safety. Teach your younger students key safety skills: Ensure they know their phone number, address, and how to reach you or another trusted adult at…
- August 21, 2024Government “by the people” depends on voters having the information needed to select leaders who will serve their interests. At the Star Herald we’re working hard to inform our readers about their election choices. We published candidate profiles ahead of last week’s primary election, and we’ll offer similar profiles ahead of the general election. Our Rock County voters will have choices in…
- August 14, 2024Minnesota students who use e-cigarettes, also called vaping, are finding them-selves increasingly trapped in nicotine dependence, according to new data from the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey. About 7 in 10 students who vape want to quit, and nearly two-thirds have tried to quit, with some trying to quit 10 or more times. Nicotine dependence has implications for youth mental health. Youth and…
- August 07, 2024Words can send a powerful message, and this is especially true during an election season. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 13, and it’s a good time to reiterate the message we editorialized on earlier this year: Be respectful, no matter how strongly you feel about a candidate or issue. In June we launched the “Respect Campaign,” which is a series of advertisements and messages reminding…
- By Sara Wahl, Southwest Crisis Center executive directorJuly 31, 2024For some people, growing older isn’t celebrated with much excitement and energy. At the Southwest Crisis Center, however, we are excited to say that this year, we turn 40! Our agency has been providing victim-centered services for 40 years in southwest Minnesota. As we look back over the last 40 years, we see all that has changed both within our organization and in how we as a society and…
- By Karen Tolkkinen, Star Tribune columnistJuly 24, 2024Rock County is now considered part of the Sioux Falls, S.D., Metropolitan Statistical Area. What it means is the U.S. Office of Management and Budget has determined that based on 2020 census data, Sioux Falls, population 202,000, and Rock County, population 10,000, have a high degree of economic and social integration. Columnist Karen Tolkkinen shared her thoughts in a July 19 column in the…
- By Heather Johnson, founder of Luverne's 'Be a george' initiativeJuly 10, 2024In case you missed Lori's lovely article in the paper a couple of weeks ago, or if you need a reminder, “Be a george” Week is coming July 14-20. Next week will be your opportunity to do something for someone else for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do. If you knew George Bonnema, you know he was always doing something for others … often without them even asking. In case you…
- July 03, 2024It’s been a rough start to the summer of 2024, as many in Rock County have suffered the effects of devastating flooding. Some of us are reeling from crop losses, water-damaged homes and other flood-related disaster, and the realities of extreme weather are coming into focus. While it’s easy to get discouraged, the July 4 holiday is a good time to recenter life perspectives. Despite our recent…
- June 26, 2024Words can send a powerful message, and this is especially true during an election season. But sometimes words — thoughts and ideas — are shared in a way that can be hurtful or damaging. Sometimes the truth is detrimental to somebody, and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share truths. But deliberately harming someone out of spite is counterproductive, and it seems social media and its anonymous…
- June 12, 2024The origins of Flag Day can be traced to a resolution adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, following a report by the special committee assigned to suggest the flag’s design. It recommended that the flag of the United States shall be of 13 stripes of alternate red and white, with a union of 13 stars of white in a blue field, representing the new constellation. Both President…
- May 29, 2024May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Minnesota, and safety messaging can seem repetitive: Wear a helmet. Ride sober. Don’t speed. Some riders listen, some unfortunately don’t. Three motorcyclists have already been killed on Minnesota roads this year, and fatalities have increased in recent years. Helmet use, speed and impairment are often contributors, but ultimately the skill of the…
- By Tikki Brown, assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human ServicesMay 15, 2024Have you ever wanted to make a difference in someone’s life while filling a critical need in your community? If you have the capacity to open your heart to help, combined with a desire to create a safe and stable environment for children in crisis, foster care is a choice that can change their lives – and yours. The goal is always for children to remain safely with their own families, but when…
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