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- 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 Sarah Stultz, Managing Editor, Albert Lea TribuneApril 24, 2024A significant discussion is taking place at the state Legislature in reaction to the recent announcement that eight community newspapers will close at the end of the month. Under a proposal in the Senate Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF 3567), school districts would no longer be required to publish their proceedings in newspapers and could instead move them to their own websites. We believe…
- By Sara Wahl, Southwest Crisis Center executive directorOctober 11, 2023Domestic violence affects millions of individuals, families and children — of every race, religion, culture and status every year. It’s not just punches and black eyes — it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and isolation. It’s stealing a paycheck, keeping tabs online, non-stop texting, constant use of the silent treatment, or calling someone stupid so often they…
- By Eric Sage, executive director, Rock County Opportunities, LuverneMay 16, 2023I have been asked a lot lately what I think about the growing movement across the country and here in Minnesota to end subminimum wages for people with disabilities in the next five years. It's comforting that Minnesota has a Task Force on Eliminating Subminimum Wages to help develop a plan if this bill does pass. However, I’m nervous about removing options for individuals with disabilities…
- September 06, 2022Dear Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan and members of the Minnesota House and Senate: As associations representing the state’s local partners – its school districts, counties, cities, and townships, encompassing all citizens of our state – we are aware of the significant challenges and needs local leaders face amid an uncertain economy and the ongoing effects of the pandemic. During the 2022…
- By Pat Baustian, mayor, city of LuverneJuly 12, 2022I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the Luverne alumni who made the trek back to their hometown for the Luverne Cardinal Pride All School Reunion. For some of you it’s probably been a few years since you’ve visited. We hope you’ll find that your hometown school and community are in grand shape. We hope that you are all excited about everything that the Cardinal Pride Committee has put…
- By By Suree Sompamitwong, Southwest Crisis Center’s Rock and Nobles regional advocateApril 26, 2022Though sexual assault and child abuse happens every day, now is a particular time to remember those impacted by it. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), every 68 seconds someone in America is sexually assaulted. Furthermore, one in 10 children will experience some sort of abuse as a child. Locally,…
- By Bill Weber, Luverne, District 22 SenatorFebruary 22, 2022This year’s legislative session will be about getting Minnesota back on the right track. My priorities will be to tackle the tax infrastructure, the state's education system, and public safety. Surplus With a $7.7 billion surplus in the Minnesota state budget, there are a lot of opinions about what to do with all this extra money. Before I discuss what we should and should not do with the…
- By Jodi Harpstead, commissioner of Minnesota Department of Human ServicesNovember 23, 2021All children need safe, loving, permanent families. But right now, too many Minnesota children aren’t getting the basic building blocks of support, stability and love that families can offer. During uncertain times, the safety that families provide is more important than ever. Foster children face their own upheavals, not only dealing with the turmoil of the world around us, but also with day-to-…
- By Pat Baustian, mayor, city of LuverneAugust 18, 2020A citizen contacted me last week about a concern that several downtown retailers were not wearing masks in their stores and were not asking patrons to wear masks when shopping in their store. The citizen was concerned for personal health reasons, but the information concerned me on a much broader level. The city of Luverne — its council and its staff members — worked quickly and furiously to…
- By Craig Oftedahl, Luverne Public Schools SuperintendentMay 05, 2020Thank you, Luverne teachers! During the past six weeks, I have been reminded many times why I became an educator. It has been and always will be about the students for me. As a teacher, coach, principal, athletic director, and now as a superintendent, I always wanted students to have better opportunities than I had as a student and participant of extra-curricular activities. …
- By Tom GetmanOctober 22, 2019As I suggested last week, there is a bright side dawning in this dehumanizing time. There is increasing sense in our land, spurred by the political crisis, about what defines and characterizes honorable public service, a free compassionate society and faithful witness to the Good Shepherd. Shepherds, in the spirit of Jesus, take risks for the lost, lonely, endangered lambs … even those who may…
- By Tom GetmanOctober 15, 2019You in Luverne likely feel like I do here in Washington. In the midst of the hostile even bigoted political debates and civil disequilibrium, I confess the need for instruction to maintain my faith and peace. The Parable of the Good Shepherd (in Luke 15) reminds us what the sacrificing-servant-church, service clubs, NGOs and families can be in this period of resurgent racism, the ravages of rapid…
- May 14, 2019As the number of children in Minnesota’s foster care system has grown — from 11,500 in 2013 to 16,500 in 2018 — there is a greater need than ever for foster parents to provide temporary, critical care to children in crisis. The good news is many people who might not think they qualify to be foster parents are actually eligible, and now is a good time to consider the commitment during Foster Care…
- By Becky Rahm, LuverneOctober 09, 2017Over the course of my teaching career, educational content and methods have evolved a lot, but unfortunately the Luverne Middle School/High School building has not kept up with the many changes. It is clear that the current middle school classrooms in particular are no longer adequate for the 21st-century teacher and student. Students must learn skills like collaboration, problem solving and…
- By Craig Oftedahl, Luverne Public Schools SuperintendentSeptember 19, 2017I’ve worked in schools for 30 years and every fall I am impressed and inspired by the energy of students when they come back to school. It’s an exciting time of year for the kids, for parents and for teachers. The theme for this school year is “Purpose, Passion, Pride … Making a Difference.” Educating students and building relationships to prepare young people for the world is our purpose and we…
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