guest editorial
- By the Minnesota Secretary of State's OfficeApril 01, 2026Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were joined by three Secretaries of State for a recent virtual press briefing to discuss the potential impacts of the SAVE America Act on elections. Secretary Steve Simon (Minnesota), Secretary Steve Hobbs (Washington), and Secretary Stephanie Thomas (Connecticut) discussed the impacts to voters, election administrators, and…
- By Tom Getman, guest editorialFebruary 11, 2026Over the past months I presumed insights from Washington were helpful for you friends back home. Now I must admit that in the presence of heavy clouds of the climatic and political winter of 2026 it is family and friends in Minnesota who are sources of salvatory wisdom and light in the persistent darkness. With appropriate pride I point to pastoral, political and personal leaders from home…
- By Linda Wenzel, A.C.E. of SWMNFebruary 04, 2026As America’s senior population grows, families are increasingly facing difficult decisions about health care, finances, and final wishes — often during moments of crisis. Experts say much of that stress can be avoided with proper planning and a small set of essential legal documents. For caregivers, understanding and helping organize these documents can make the difference between chaos and…
- By Tom GetmanDecember 03, 2025November was Indigenous Peoples’ Month, a time to recognize and respect the history, spirituality and culture of those on whose territory we reside. We not only have recounted the traumatic history of our pre-colonial “first (Sioux and Piscataway) residents’’ but have begun to deepen our awareness and alter our own Pipestone, “Indian” and Pilgrim stories and are finding new ways to seek healing…
- By Thomas Getman, Guest EditorialJuly 16, 2025Congress recently passed one of the biggest peacetime military funding increases for the military “to protect the country and make us better.” This burgeoning war fund takes inequitably from Americans and the world’s poor by cutting Medicaid, foreign assistance and food aid. It also affects farmers’ capacity to raise and sell crops and is estimated to cost 17 million lives. As Jewish scholar…
- By Amy Klobuchar, U.S. SenatorMay 28, 2025
- By Nikki FrakesMay 14, 2025A Minnesota native deeply moved by nature, I must have been in high school when I had the unforgettable opportunity to work with renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg. On a frigid winter night, we ventured into the untouched wilderness near Ely, Minnesota. The cold was biting and the silence — vast and consuming. An audio technician placed microphones on the frozen lake, and…
- By Rev. Tim Olsen, LuverneApril 02, 2025Last summer Rock County was impacted once again by an extreme weather event in the form of heavy rains that flooded fields, basements and public places. My wife and I have lived in Luverne for more than 20 years. In that time we have witnessed at least three “100-year floods” with the most formidable being the Father’s Day flood of 2014. Our autumns are trending warmer and drier, and we have…
- By Thomas GetmanMarch 26, 2025I’m sincerely grateful —even proud — each week when I open the digital Star Herald, and I look forward to later lingering over the print edition. It amazes me to see the large sports section with the many fine athletes and their accomplishments both at LHS and HBC. Sports experiences at LHS provided larger-than-life influence on me and many others. The coaching mentors undergird the ethics and…
- By Eric Sage, executive director, Rock County Opportunities, LuverneDecember 11, 2024This year Rock County Opportunities (RCO) is facing a new challenge that affects not only work opportunities for our clients, but local seniors who have benefited from a service that helps them remain independent, living in their own home. RCO recently received a notification from one of our long-standing partners that the funding to provide free laundry and cleaning services for seniors will…
- November 13, 2024Even a joyous holiday season can be stressful, and many turn to alcohol as a stress reliever. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly nine in 10 Americans say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and family conflict cause them stress during this time of year. Unfortunately nearly two in five adults who experience stress during the holiday…
- By The League of Women Voters, MinneapolisOctober 23, 2024As voters seek information on candidates, they are inundated with misinformation (false or inaccurate information) and disinformation (false information deliberately intended to harm and mislead). Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon calls disinformation “the conscious spread of knowingly false information” which shouldn’t be confused with political “disagreement.” When weaponized, Simon…
- By Marcel Gemme, Substance Abuse Prevention EducationSeptember 17, 2024During National Suicide Prevention Month in September, it’s important to recognize the connection between substance use and suicide. Drug and alcohol addiction significantly increases the risk of suicidal ideation, attempts and death, and they are generally the most implicated substances in suicide risk. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior is elevated with acute alcohol intoxication and…
- By Caroline Marion, LuverneMay 22, 2024May is Lyme Awareness Month, and with a wet spring we can expect a big crop of ticks. Many people say, “I’ve never been bitten by a tick.” Well, one may not even be aware of a tick bite. When deer ticks are in the nymph state, they are the size of a pinhead. Sometimes they feed and fall off before you notice them. Twenty years ago I was bitten by a deer tick infected with the bacteria that…
- By Mark Jacobson, Peer Support SpecialistMay 01, 2024May is Mental Health Month, and talking about mental health can go a long way in improving mental wellness for those around us. Here are five reasons to talk about mental health: To reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. One of the biggest obstacles to mental health treatment is the stigma that surrounds it. Stigma can lead to shame, fear and discrimination, which can prevent people from…
- By Jody Boulay, community outreach coordinator for Drug Rehab ServicesFebruary 14, 2024There can be pitfalls for anyone playing the dating game, but protecting sobriety can be particularly tricky in new relationships. With Valentine’s Day in the recent spotlight, it’s a good time to consider tips for success in relationships and sobriety, While dating can be an adventure, it’s important to never lose sight of sobriety goals. Generally, health professionals recommend that people…
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