Once again Earth Day is upon us. This year’s event is Saturday, April 22.
Earth Day has been around for 52 years now. Many of us still remember that first Earth Day back in 1970.

People my age enjoy the fellowship of others that share our developmental stage in life and often will sit around having coffee and discuss the state of the world. Since most of us have seven or more decades of experience to draw on, we usually have opinions on the way things “ought to be.”

Winter has melted away rather quickly in southeast Minnesota and I am struck again this year at how intense the feeling of newness is in this season. I think that is one of the things that God blesses us with, the ability to see things as new that we have gone through time and time again. I think Holy Week is like that, too. We have gone through this ritual as Christians year after year, and yet somehow, it always feels new.

Two stories in this week’s Dodge County Independent show the strength that the Kasson-Mantorville School District has in developing leaders in education.

It was another busy week up at your Minnesota State Capitol! I have been immersed in discussions with my colleagues regarding the rollout of many of our committee budget bills. These bills must be carefully considered as they dictate our policy and budget for the next biennium.
TIME CHANGE: My in-district office hours changed to 9-10 a.m. Please RSVP to reserve your spot.
State Grant Fiscal Safeguards

There is currently a bill moving through the Minnesota State Legislature that would provide funds to Kasson allowing the city to make flood hazard mitigation and public water infrastructure improvements. The bill, Senate File 436, was introduced by Sen. Carla Nelson who represents Dodge County and a portion of Olmsted County, including Byron, in the Legislature.