Commentary
Union education staff are fighting for students and workers
As summer draws to a close and students across the country prepare to head back to school, there’s a renewed sense of excitement and hope sweeping across our nation and here in Minnesota. Whether we are Black, white, or brown, Native or newcomer, the increased attention on Minnesota is giving us a chance to show […]
Labor then and now: 90 years after the Minneapolis Teamsters’ strikes
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the 1934 Minneapolis Teamsters’ strikes. These strikes changed the course of history and the lives of tens of thousands of working people. They transformed Minneapolis from one of the country’s most notorious anti-union citadels into a “union town” and inspired labor organization from Fargo to Omaha and Duluth […]
Minnesota Sex Offender Program marks 30 years of failure and injustice
As Minnesota marks 30 years of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program this week, let’s think of its true impact: a waste of vast resources under the guise of public safety. MSOP supposedly provides residential treatment after prison for those convicted of sex crimes deemed too dangerous to release into the public, but it is actually […]
Civic engagement is a critical but often overlooked component of community well-being
This August, Minnesota marks a significant milestone as Gov. Tim Walz declares it Civic Health Month, making the state the fourth to honor this crucial initiative. This designation shines a spotlight on an often overlooked aspect of our health: civic engagement. If you’ve been in your doctor’s office recently, you might have encountered a new […]
Why it matters that Gov. Tim Walz was a geography teacher
By now, many Americans outside of Minnesota have heard that our governor and Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz was a geography teacher. The question is whether most know what geography is and why this aspect of his resume is important. The unfortunate reality is that most Americans have only a cursory understanding of geography […]
People in prison should be allowed to vote
The Minnesota Supreme Court deserves commendation for its recent decision upholding the state law restoring voting rights to convicted felons at the end of their incarceration. The unanimous decision in the case entitled Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Hunt validated an Anoka County District Court ruling earlier this year — and a parallel one by the […]
Evaluating various attacks on Walz
Since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate, the second-term governor has faced renewed scrutiny over his life and career. Most of the stories have appeared in some form or another in various Minnesota media over the years, but we’ve been exposed to a flood of coverage in both local and […]
Walz’s record on transportation and planning: successes, but work to do
Attention fellow planning and transportation nerds: Gov. Tim Walz’s new national prominence means he could have a big impact on federal transportation, housing and land use policies. We know he loves maps. But what’s his record on key transportation and planning issues? A look at his record reveals progress, but critical gaps remain before we achieve […]
Medicare drug price negotiations will lower costs, save lives
Last week, the Biden-Harris administration celebrated a huge milestone in making health care more affordable. For the first time, Medicare is allowed to use their purchasing power to negotiate drug prices. The first round of negotiated drug prices will lower costs for ten of the costliest and most popular medications that treat conditions like diabetes, […]
The GOP’s losing message: America and Minnesota are terrible, no good places
Republicans are back on their heels now that they’re the ones supporting a candidate who seems to be losing his mind, insofar as there was anything there to begin with. They’re settling on a curious argument for people claiming to be patriots: America sucks. What with the childless cat ladies running things. (Former President Donald […]
Gov. Tim Walz has proven he’s a champion for reproductive rights
For nearly three decades, my life’s work has been advancing reproductive freedom. I have my mother to thank: a first wave women’s health nurse practitioner out of the old school. While working with college students and as a volunteer clinician at Planned Parenthood in Connecticut, my mother always put her patients first. Over the years, […]
How to chart a cleaner energy future for Minnesota? Electrification.
Minnesota is on the cusp of a clean energy revolution. We have made considerable progress in shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy in our electric sector. Now, we face a choice in our homes and buildings. Currently, about two-thirds of Minnesota homes are heated by natural gas, and gas usage continues to rise, threatening our climate […]