editorial
- October 29, 2025The Star Herald this week has collected an assortment of mentions for our “thumbs up and thumbs down” editorial, so it’s time to share them here. Thumbs up — to mild October weather and the now glorious fall color. It’s been an unseasonably warm fall, and the cooler nights are now producing more color on trees and shrubs. You don’t have to travel east or north to enjoy the vibrant autumn scenery…
- By By Rev. Tim Olsen, Luverne, on behalf of Rev. Jessica Moerman and Lindsay Garcia, with the Evangelical Environmental NetworkOctober 22, 2025We’re now into our fourth week of a federal government shutdown since Congress failed to approve a resolution for government funding. In preparation for this shutdown, the White House Office of Management and Budget instructed agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans, adding potentially permanent layoffs to the long list of negative shutdown consequences. Congress’s inability to pass…
- October 15, 2025Have you seen the purple ribbons displayed around Luverne? For survivors of domestic violence, the color purple is meant to be a symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor and dedication to ending violence. The purple ribbons are for these individuals and a reminder to all of us that domestic violence is a real and dangerous threat. Rock County is a vibrant healthy community, but we, like every…
- October 08, 2025This week, Oct. 5-11, is National Fire Prevention Week, and the theme of the 2025 campaign is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” The national organization and our local firefighters are working this week to educate the public about using these batteries safely. Specifically, the message focuses on the importance of buying, charging and recycling lithium-ion…
- October 01, 2025Local journalism is the heartbeat of informed communities. It brings stories to light that state and national outlets don’t cover in our communities — stories about school board decisions, city council debates, town celebrations and local heroes. In a world increasingly shaped by global headlines and social media noise, the Star Herald keeps our readers grounded in civic engagement,…
By the National Alliance on Mental IllnessSeptember 10, 2025September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, spread hope and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. During September (and year-round) the focus is on bringing discussion about suicide out of the darkness and into the open. The goal is to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the tools, resources and…- By Tom GetmanSeptember 03, 2025Recently friends from across the country and the world expressed concern about what life is like in the District of Columbia, which is occupied by out-of-state soldiers. We are asking, “Why does an authoritarian national leader now feel a need to govern us with misinformation-laced theatrics and an unconstitutional military force in place of our very capable local elected officials?” It has a…
- August 27, 2025Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it’s extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. As students return to school, the National Safety Council offers the following tips for children to safely travel to and from school: Walkers: Review family walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child. ●Walk on the sidewalk if one…
- August 13, 2025Aug. 6 marked the 60th Anniversary of the passage of the federal Voting Rights Act, which most historians would put on their top 10 list of most consequential acts ever passed by the U.S. Congress. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon reached out last week to observe the date and to encourage Minnesotans to continue their long history of strong voter turnout. He said the legislation stands…
- August 06, 2025The Star Herald has received a number of suggestions for “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” mentions in recent weeks. They include: Thumbs down — to train delays at intersections in town. The community appreciates that our railroad is vibrant and contributing to the local economy, but frequent and lengthy delays in the middle of town are not only an inconvenience to motorists, they can be a public…
- By Guest editorial by Al Cross, retired newspaper editorJuly 30, 2025When I attended a recent annual conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors in Sioux Falls, I planned a side trip to Luverne – for reasons that started out esoteric but turned out to be quite meaningful. I was interested in Luverne and its newspaper because Ken Burns and Tom Hanks had told me a lot about them, in Burns’ 2007 documentary, “The War.” It focused on the…
- July 02, 2025‘… these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES …’ Friday is the Fourth of July, a national holiday that observes Independence Day — the day our forefathers adopted the Declaration of Independence from oppressors in Great Britain. Following are the words (in their original old English) from document approved July 4, 1776: WHEN in the Course of human…
- June 25, 2025Nearly six million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease. The sixth-leading cause of death and the only leading disease without a prevention, treatment or cure, Alzheimer’s kills more Americans every year than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. This June, during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, join the Alzheimer’s Association to help raise awareness…
- By By Thomas GetmanJune 18, 2025Washington, D.C., where my wife, Karen, and I have had a home for 48 years, is deeply shaken by the political assassinations in our beloved Minnesota. So many people here live and work in circles of friendships with (and have traditional aspirations about) Minnesotans. The Beatitudes teach, among other things, that “blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice.” Rep. Melissa…
- June 11, 2025National Flag Day is June 14, the anniversary of the flag’s adoption in 1777. The American Legion Post 123 will present an informational program on flag etiquette in honor of Flag Day at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 13, at the Plaza on Main. The presentation will be appropriate for adults and children. There will be a drawing for new American flags and the Legion will accept and properly dispose…
- June 04, 2025The Star Herald hasn’t issued a “Thumbs” editorial in a while, and that’s partly because we haven’t heard from our readers. So … Thumbs down — to our readers for neglecting to share their “thumbs” up and down editorial ideas. Please send them to editor@star-herald.com Thumbs up — to our readers and community sources in general for keeping us informed of news and feature story ideas in Rock…
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