Opinion - The Timberjay

Expensive audits

It’s the auditing season for small cities in our region and, if this year is like others we have covered over the past three-plus decades, taxpayers will learn very little from a time-consuming … more

4/3/24

Constitutional amendment

Lawmakers in St. Paul should resist a proposal for a combined government reform amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would open the way to a full-time Legislature. The measure, as the … more

3/27/24

AI is getting too smart for our own good

You’re all probably channeling Ronald Regan’s classic debate line “There you go again” as you realize I’m writing once again about artificial intelligence, but I just … more

David Colburn | 3/27/24

American theocracy

The America that our founders framed in our Constitution guaranteed religious freedom, yet that’s a tradition that is under threat in this country like never before. As we reported last week, a … more

3/20/24

What are your body rhythms telling you?

I promised in my previous column to write in more detail about the rhythms of the body as utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. Oriental … more

Betty Firth | 3/20/24

Too much regulation

When it comes to free enterprise in the U.S. there is always a balancing act between the rights of Americans to engage in private contracts for work performed and the need for regulation to protect … more

3/13/24

Old recipes and a pinch of this and that

These past few days I have been sifting through recipes for an upcoming spring family gathering at an eccentric aunt’s. I got the notion to bake up some of our favorites and bring them for … more

Scarlet Stone | 3/13/24

Election interference

The U.S. Supreme Court, as has become its pattern in recent years, acted recklessly last week when it announced it would hear former president Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from all … more

3/6/24

The joy of keeping it simple

This morning began as would any other. A little stiffness in my knees as my feet touched the floor. Strands of hair criss crossing my cheeks, the sign of a restless night’s sleep. I felt a … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 3/6/24

The big lies

How do we achieve accountability for politicians who tell big lies? We’re not talking about the little white lies that people tell every day without much thought. We’re talking about the … more

2/28/24

The death of major college sports as we’ve known it

Well over a hundred years ago, alarms were being sounded about the deleterious effects of sports on the world of higher education. Football, played without pads or helmets in the early days, was … more

David Colburn | 2/28/24

The Fairness Doctrine

One of the foundational principles of a democratic form of government is the idea that the free exchange of ideas is essential. A democratic nation, in other words, can’t long survive with an … more

2/21/24

The mystery of the rhythms of sleep

“Sleeping is the most mysterious thing we do,” according to Bill Bryson, author of “The Body; A Guide for Occupants.” That was a new thought for me. I had thought of sleep as … more

Betty Firth | 2/21/24

Trump’s minions

Republicans in Congress, including our Eighth District Rep. Pete Stauber, have helpfully clarified any illusions that may have existed about their loyalties to this country. It’s Trump first, … more

2/14/24

Summers with books, Brach’s candy, and boys

From an early age, I became aware that I was more of a doer than a reader. As a child, growing up at our summer cabin on the Cook end of Lake Vermilion, I have vivid memories of my family sitting … more

Scarlet Stone | 2/14/24

Time is your only real possession

“Time keeps on tickin’ tickin’ tickin’ into the future….” Steve Miller Band. “There’s never enough time.” “Make time.” “Only … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 2/7/24

Making a difference

Our report this week on the tax study conducted by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy provided an enlightening reality check to which rural Minnesotans should pay attention (see story on … more

2/7/24

History has lessons about today’s dangerous leaders

Bad things happen when good people become complacent and forget that they need to stand up and stop the evils happening on their doorstep. These are two true stories. Ignore them at your peril. The … more

Catie Clark | 2/1/24

The rise of the digital voice clones – are you next?

Instead of having to read his insightful articles, how would you like to have Marshall Helmberger read them to you? To make that happen now, Marshall would have to record himself reading each article … more

David Colburn | 2/1/24

Ambulance impasse

Representatives from Greenwood Township and the city of Tower should stop talking past one another and sit down to discuss what is really at issue in their ongoing impasse over financial support for … more

2/1/24

Let’s talk....why not?

From an early age, I recognized that my family was better off than some others and was aware of inequality between groups of people, as well. I questioned why that was and why we weren’t doing … more

Betty Firth | 1/24/24

Judicial power grab?

The conservative activists on the U.S. Supreme Court appear eager to take an axe to one of the most important and widely-cited legal precedents in American jurisprudence using a case involving … more

1/24/24

Investigation needed

A newly-released report from the federal Fish and Wildlife Service (see related story page B4) , or FWS, suggests that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources misused millions of federal grant … more

1/17/24

GOP claims are historically wrong and needlessly divisive

While I knew that the minority caucus in each legislative chamber disapproved of the new official state flag because of shared concerns about process, the claims in a recent press release from … more

Aaron Wittnebel | 1/17/24

Stauber’s cowardice

During his five years as Minnesota’s Eighth District Congressman, no one could possibly mistake Pete Stauber as a leader. He is a follower, a minion, who does what he’s told, and that sad … more

1/10/24