By Don Heinzman, Guest Columnist Thanks to the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesota 10th graders will be able to take college-level accredited courses while in high school, starting next school year. This dual-credit program is a win-win for 10th graders who now will be able to earn high school and college credits, with the Read more »
By Don Heinzman, Guest Columnist Apparently there is bipartisan legislative support to pass a sales tax on online purchases made in Minnesota to online sellers located outside the state, like Amazon. This makes so much sense because it would bring in a badly needed extra $5 million this year and more next year. Critics will say Read more »
By Jay Spillum, Guest Columnist The Little Falls Community Schools Board of Education has contracted with School Exec Connect, a superintendent search firm, to assist with the search for a new superintendent. Board members want you to be informed of the process we will be following as we conduct the search for a new superintendent. Additionally, Read more »
By Don Heinzman, Guest Columnist Four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline at the pump has become a political issue, but that’s not the real cost. The price of every gallon of gasoline in Minnesota includes federal and state gas taxes of 46.4 cents. This includes a state tax of 28 cents per gallon and a federal gas tax of 18.4 Read more »
By Don Heinzman, Guest columnist At a time when more people than ever are using their community libraries, the funding is gradually being reduced. A good library is essential in a community now more than ever when people cannot afford to buy books and more people are using its computers, downloading E-books and checking out audio Read more »
By Ron Hinnenkamp, Guest Columnist The Morrison County Food Shelf in Little Falls, like every other food shelf in Minnesota, is participating in the annual March Food Shelf Campaign. The campaign, initiated by the Minneapolis Council of Churches, was designed to restock food shelves after being depleted following the busy holiday season. Each year the Minneapolis Read more »
By David C. Olson, Guest Columnist Minnesota businesses have traditionally distinguished themselves with their ability to compete in the global marketplace. A highly trained workforce drives our success. The bad news: That excellence faces a shaky future due to an unsatisfactory disparity in K-12 student performance. Minnesota has among the widest achievement gaps in the country Read more »
By Don Heinzman, Guest Columnist How teachers with tenure should be evaluated and laid off in a school system are hot topics at the Minnesota Legislature. Republicans, who are in the majority in both houses, seem to favor a measure that would use test scores and teacher effectiveness along with seniority in terminating teachers. Now, seniority Read more »
By Don Heinzman, Guest Columnist A survey of area school superintendents revealed that all educational opportunities for each Minnesota student are not equal. Joe Nathan, director of the Center for School Change at Macalester College and an education columnist for ECM Publishers and Sun Newspapers, contacted superintendents to see what their priorities were for this new Read more »
By Sen. Al Franken, Guest Columnist We just marked the end of 2011 – a year lots of people are more than happy to put behind them. There is no doubt that 2012 is going to be tough, but as we go forward, I think there are reasons to be optimistic, especially in Minnesota. That’s why Read more »
By Amy Rigelman, Guest Columnist “I first met Adam when I was 16. He was a senior and was very popular and involved in many sports. I had never had a boyfriend before, and I was excited that a popular boy was interested in me. “In the beginning, we hung out all the time and I Read more »
By Abra Fisk Guest Columnist It’s at this time of the year that many of us in Central Minnesota are looking for something bright and inspiring to take us away from the dreariness of winter, and for me, this story fits that theme perfectly. This past fall, I had the privilege and pleasure of Read more »
By Rep. Mike LeMieur, Guest Columnist This week marked the beginning of the 2012 legislative session. This year’s agenda will focus on government reform focused on creating a competitive business climate, high performing education and a smaller, cost-effective government. Calling it Reform 2.0, we’ve traveled to dozens of cities for public meetings with business owners, local Read more »
By Kate Festler, Guest Columnist At the end of World War II, our free, morally strong, wealthy nation became the envy of the world. Our soldiers sacrificed their lives and our people endured loss and hardship so that others could be free. Because our people lived by the golden rule, they became greatly respected by all. Read more »
By Eric J. Magnuson, Guest Columnist Whether and how to expand legalized gambling in Minnesota is a significant social and political issue. It is not, however, an issue of constitutional magnitude. Gambling generally is not prohibited by the Minnesota Constitution, and legislative authorization of expanded gaming at horse-racing tracks, or “racinos,” is completely consistent with the Read more »
