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‘Not Real News’ trumps real news

It’s a disheartening sign of the times when The Associated Press, the gold standard of reporting real news for the better part of two centuries, is compelled to publish a regular feature called “Not Real News.” This is what the digital medium has wrought: a dystopian hellscape of savage liars and propagandists where anybody can say anything, and any number of people will believe them. It’s incredible, literally, what ridiculous and utter nonsense is being passed off as news, and with the latest version of culture war being waged, an alarming number of people fall victim. Most ...

You think you want taxes cut? Think bigger.

We’ve seen it in recent months here in Minnesota and several times the past four decades in the federal government — politicians pandering for tax cuts. Time and time again, these tax cuts always result only in enriching the wealthiest people and corporations. And guess what? They are the ones who pay for those politicians. Imagine that. Enough of that cutting-taxes-puts-money-back-into-“regular”-people’s-pockets hooey. You want to know what would do that for working-class families and small businesses, something that Congress can do tomorrow, something that would keep small ...

Be prepared in case of weather emergency

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, and the Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service are promoting information to the public about how to be safe in severe weather and what people can do to be prepared in case of an emergency. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of 29 tornadoes per year, but in 2021 the state experienced 64, including 22 on Dec. 15 alone. The year 2010 had the most tornadoes on record with 113. In both of these years, tornadoes brought devastation to Freeborn County. We encourage ...

Morbidly rich are different — they don’t pay taxes

It’s one week until tax day. For most Americans it’s time to pay the piper for the income they’ve well-earned making a living for basic expenses like housing and food. Except for the ultrawealthy. Megabillionaires and their ilk pay...nothing. There are many ways to evade taxes, but last year ProPublica revealed the go-to tactic, which is so simple, you don’t have to be a certified public accountant to understand it. The first step for them is to buy an asset. Something big. Something worth enough in value to cover a rich family’s personal expenses for the year — $50 ...

Surveys say Americans support national parks

It comes as no surprise that West Virginians support their parks — particularly now that the New River Gorge just celebrated its first anniversary as the nation’s newest national park. Last week, the National Parks Conservation Association released the results of a survey done to determine just what West Virginians think of having a national park in the state. The poll found that a vast majority of West Virginians support continued funding and improvements for the National Parks Service, which manages the parks. “From the thundering waterfalls at New River Gorge to the ...

Help children heal, lead healthy lives is everybody’s goal

It is a shame we must consider the trauma that children in Connecticut must face when they witness violence. This includes slayings, domestic violence and, yes, verbal assaults, It is a shame because children should not have to be exposed to violence as they learn to navigate the already complicated world we live in. Such exposure to violence increases the risks of substance abuse, mental health problems and criminal behavior into adulthood, according to mental health and criminal justice experts, The Courant’s Jesse Leavenworth has reported. But New Britain State’s Attorney ...