Diverse thoughts about gifts and giving have been dancing around in my head during this season of giving. Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, the Solstice, Kwanzaa, or some hybrid combination, … more

At a time when we regularly offer our wishes for peace on Earth, it’s worth considering whether our priorities as a country truly match our hopes for the season. For a country that likes to … more

Since the announcement of another mass shooting, this time at a high school in Oxford, Mich., a sickening feeling persists in the pit of my stomach. Details have slowly come out. We know that a … more

Minnesotans who refuse to get vaccinated aren’t just harming themselves. They’re threatening the public health generally, are slowing economic recovery, and are raising the cost of health … more

“I’m such an idiot,” I said to myself as I realized I made an obvious mistake with my bread machine. Over in the corner I heard my two-year-old daughter, Dot, fumble out the … more

The United States could well be on the precipice of a dramatic reshaping of its laws and regulations, by the six partisan judges who now control the Supreme Court. And we’re not talking about … more

One of the things I love about small town journalism is the fact that when there’s an idea I want to tackle where I need some assistance, there’s always one of our faithful readers who … more

The Biden administration is offering decidedly mixed signals on the issue of climate change. Even as the evidence mounts on the increasingly dire effects of the ongoing change in the Earth’s … more

Four years ago, I wrote a column about listening and received several appreciative comments about it. However, I’ve noticed there’s still a lot of not listening going on in the world out … more

To understand the quandary America faces over race, consider the fictional analogy of an annual 200-meter footrace between a white guy and a black guy. Because of a rule in place for generations, the … more