Editorials

Snow means revisiting some winter etiquette we haven't seen for a couple years. So these tips bear repeating. • Please don't relocate your snow into and across any roadway. It's illegal, it's a traffic hazard and it makes your neighbors crazy. With temps all over the map, today's...

The last year brought many changes to the area. Some were good and some were not so good. A quick overview will show some of the highlights of 2012. In the last year, we saw many positive strides in Park Rapids, with a downtown celebrating a full summer without construction. The...

Too much salt isn't good for you. And it's not good for our lakes either. Remember that this winter season if you plan to put salt on the icy spots on your sidewalk or driveway. In a news release issued this week, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) noted that when...

Student loan debt is a growing problem in Minnesota and across the country, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. College enrollment has been growing, as those who can't find jobs go back to school, and student debt now affects nearly 1 in 5 U.S. households. The...

Election Day will be here before we know it. We all need to make sure we vote to make sure our voice is heard. To save time on Election Day, check to see if you are registered to vote now. People can still register to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov.

Great things are happening in the city of Park Rapids. Look around. You can't miss it. It started years ago when an idea was brought to the table for a downtown revitalization initiative.

Vehicle drivers now have a privacy concern every time they drive in west central Minnesota, in the Twin Cities or across Minnesota -- specifically, is your vehicle license being photographically recorded and how long it is being retained by law enforcement there? New technology...

It's funny and touching when Lake Wobegone's creator says, "all the children are above average" in the fictional town. But when test scores come back with that finding in the real world, people wonder if there's something wrong with the test. Likewise when the scores say all the...

Money. Everybody wants more of it but nobody wants to talk openly about it -- especially with their aging parents. But financial matters are a topic that needs to be broached. The clearer understanding adult children have of their parents' finances, the better.

The DNR is stepping up efforts to make boaters aware of the state's aquatic invasive species laws.

We applaud efforts to keep state parks open if another state shutdown occurs. Bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that say state parks must remain open, even if a biennial budget hasn't been enacted. If a state budget hasn't been adopted, money from the state parks...

With March declared as Minnesota FoodShare month, make sure to step up giving this month if you're able. Donations received by food shelves in March are the basis for funding for the entire year through Minnesota FoodShare. You can start your giving by attending this year's Chili...

He "is described as a gentleman and statesman by those on both sides of the aisle," the Mankato Free Press editorialized in December when Republican state Sen. Dave Senjem became Senate majority leader. "And if he leads in ways that reflect how his character and leadership style...

The flow of money into 2012 political campaigns is intensifying like a spring flood on the Red River. The amounts already spent by Republicans vying for a chance to challenge President Barack Obama are staggering. But more staggering, and far less transparent, are the huge sums being...