Opinions

Do you want lead in your drinking water?

Raise your hand if you want lead in your water. No hands? We thought so. Congress Moves to Repeal Lead Limits Imposed by Biden-Era Rules. Congress is attempting to repeal the Biden administration’s groundbreaking rules that require all the country’s very old lead pipes to be replaced over the next...

School districts continue to suffer from unfunded mandates

The total amount of funding designated for public education during the last legislative session was regarded as historic. It may have been historic based on the amount, BUT it was not allocated to school districts to use for their own specific needs. Substantial funding was provided for free...

Congress needs to reject resolution to revoke Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

An Open Letter to All Members of Congress. I urge you to reject HJ. Res. 44 to revoke the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements adopted in October 2024. The historic Lead and Copper Rule Improvements strengthen protections against lead in drinking water by requiring full lead service line replacement...

Shame and Blame

Please remember Insurrection Day, January 6, 2021. We now have someone who has pardoned those who attacked the Capitol with brutal force, causing harm to those who tried to save our democracy. Trump watched the fiasco for 187 minutes and did nothing to stop it. Five officers died, 140 were beat up...

Big ag book reveals the nail in coffin for small farms

While reading Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America by Blooming Prairie native Sonja Trom Eayrs, I reflected on my hometown of Hayfield, where I grew up in the 50s and 60s. Sonja Trom Eayrs’ book provides an insider’s perspective on how corporate farming practices have...

Minnesota House back in action

After nearly four weeks of delays, the Minnesota House is finally back in action following an agreement that allows Republicans to maintain the speakership and control of House committees for the first five weeks of session. This agreement is a major victory that ensures we can move forward on the...

Building a future of belonging

What does it mean to belong to a place? At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we know that having a sense of belonging is not merely a sentiment; it is a foundational element that drives economic growth, enhances social cohesion and nurtures a resilient and vibrant region. We have...

Legislative priorities for this session

As we begin a new legislative session, I want to thank you for your trust in me to serve as your representative and voice. It is truly an honor to work on behalf of our neighbors, communities, and the hardworking people, families, and businesses in our district. I am committed to representing your...

Contact Finstad about Social Security payments

Granted, there are people in southeast Minnesota who would not miss their Social Security payments if the payments stopped coming. However, there are people who live entirely on Social Security. And those people include folks who voted for Donald Trump. If you’re one of those folks, did you vote...

Data request once again sheds light on what’s happening at K-M

A recent data request made by this newspaper is once again shedding light on what has been happening behind the scenes at the Kasson-Mantorville Schools. About a month ago, this newspaper made a data request for school board members’ emails, along with emails for various teachers in the school...