Opinions

Want to help design a new state flag and seal?

Minnesotans can now officially submit their ideas for the next state flag and seal.The State Emblems Redesign Commission is accepting public submissions on its website: www.mnhs.org/serc. All entries must be original and follow the guidelines outlined by the State Emblems Redesign Commission....

College costs must be brought under control

In her column elsewhere on this page Sen. Carla Nelson addresses the dilemma facing college graduates who are seeing their student loan payments resume after being frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone agrees that the soaring cost of a college education places an enormous financial burden...

As student loan payments resume, borrowers should be aware of options

Student loan payments resumed in October after being frozen for three years due to the pandemic, meaning most borrowers will need to start making monthly payments on their student loans again. More than 800,000 Minnesotans had outstanding student loan debt as of June 30, owing a cumulative $27.1...

Finstad, Craig Introduce USDA Express Loan Act

Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) introduced the USDA Express Loan Act, legislation which would establish a new Express Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), allowing lenders to receive expedited approval for Farm Service Agency (FSA)...

There is a lot going on in the area

Congratulations are in order to the city of Kasson for being one of six small towns in the 20-county area served by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund’s (SMIF) Rural Entrepreneurial Ventures (REV) program. The three-year program provides resources to help rural communities as they strive for...

A gift to our Dodge County friends

Some exciting things are happening with the Dodge County Independent, and I’d like to share some of them with you this week. This week we’re going out to an expanded audience as nearly every household in Dodge County and western Olmsted County will be receiving the newspaper. In the newspaper...

Creating a sense of belonging in southern Minnesota

Creating a sense of belonging in rural Minnesota can enhance the overall quality of life for everyone who lives there. By embracing different perspectives, cultures and ideas, rural Minnesota can build stronger, more thriving communities. At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we...

I Was Thinking... The Great Food Debate

Dears ago, the participants of a conference were debating what made Christianity unique. The participants debated back and forth. Just then C.S. Lewis came into the room and sat down. “What is everyone arguing about?” He asked. When he learned that they were debating the uniqueness of...

What makes Christianity unique?

Special Session urgently needed to return SROs to schools

Friends and neighbors, With the start of the new school year, serious questions linger about yet another new law passed by the legislature. Just this fall, a number of police chiefs across Minnesota raised concerns about a new vague and poorly vetted law affecting School Resource Officers (SROs)....