editorial
- By Tom GetmanJanuary 14, 2026Two colleagues who help me stand with hope in times of grievous moments point me to the light and opportunity in darkness times. One of them is here in my DC neighborhood, Councilman David Allen. The other resides in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Peggy said, “It’s no secret Minnesota has experienced unspeakable tragedy this week [in Renee Good’s murder]. We have seen so much violence and…
- January 07, 2026According to the Mental Health America, January is national Mental Wellness Month. So, we’re sharing the organization’s 10 resiliency tools to promote wellness and help you feel stronger and more hopeful. •Connect with others – Humans are social by nature: We crave feeling supported, valued, and connected. •Stay positive – Trying to be optimistic doesn’t mean ignoring the uglier sides of life.…
- December 30, 2025Happy New Year, Star Herald readers. We in the newsroom find satisfaction in reviewing and highlighting the top stories of the year in our final December edition. We feel it showcases our progressive local leadership and our resilient community residents. It also shows we at the Star Herald take our work seriously throughout the year as we document local happenings, big and small, good or bad…
- December 23, 2025Christians believe “God so loved the world that he gave his only son” to take away the sins of the world (John 3:16), and as such, Christmas is a celebration of the arrival of Jesus as told in the Bible’s second chapter of Luke: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. … And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to…
- By Rev. Steve Voris, LuverneDecember 17, 2025Children can be cruel to each other, and examples at the Wolf Middle School were not hard to find. Ralph was an easy target of bullying. Being raised by a single mom with two younger sisters, Ralph frequently went without to make sure his sisters were taken care of. That was especially apparent when it was time to buy school clothes. Ralph insisted his clothing was fine and the majority of…
- December 09, 2025December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month which calls attention to a winter depression condition now known as Seasonal Depression. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI, the condition is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression in late fall and winter, alternating with periods of normal mood the rest of the year. This month, NAMI encourages people to…
- November 25, 2025This week, the Star Herald offers a thumbs up, thumbs down, editorial comprised entirely of thumbs up. That’s not to say there’s nothing to complain about, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it’s best to focus on what’s going right in Rock County. Thumbs up — To the bumper crops hauled in by our local farmers. Just when we think our dirt can’t do any better than the year before, new genetics…
- 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…
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