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Letters: It’s sad we need SROs at all

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Violent, disrespectful behaviorIt is sad when our School Resource Officers feel threatened for doing what is necessary to keep our children safe in school. It is sad our elected leaders failed to listen to the law enforcement community when the bill was being debated. It is sad student behavior has become more violent and disrespectful over the years.This violent, disrespectful behavior is likely the direct result of the lack of morals and values being taught and enforced at home. Elected leaders and school leadership have allowed this behavior by blaming those trying to protect the innocent and not holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.It is sad SROs are needed at all.Steve Holupchinski, North St. Paul Capture CO2 from sludge burnersIncreasingly severe wildfires, droughts, and floods show the need to rapidly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas we put into the atmosphere. One approach is “carbon sequestration,” capturing CO2 from point sour...

Other voices: Age is not the biggest problem for America’s senior politicians. It’s partisanship.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Despite all the quiet chatter about America’s aging political leadership, a slow but growing burn as we move into a new political season, it is our view that age is a crude and mostly worthless determination of fitness for office. Older people typically come with vast amounts of experience, a better sense of their own selves and a more measured view on life.Competence is what matters.The reality, of course, is that people age differently: There are 100-year-olds more capable than 80-year-olds, and 90-year-olds with minds more usually associated with those who are decades younger. And, it must be said, there are those for whom aging proceeds so rapidly, they would be incapable of handling a demanding job such as president of the United States when many of their peers would have no such difficulty.America, of course, cannot have this necessary conversation because it is so riven by partisanship.Over the last few weeks, the age issue has repeatedly come up in relation to Presiden...

Lift your spirits with these five great St. Paul happy hours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Restaurants are still not fully recovered from the pandemic, but a sure sign that they’re on their way is that happy hour is back, baby.Plenty of places have specials on drinks, but we are more interested in those with food specials as well. There’s almost nothing more fun than knocking off a little early and getting together with friends over a drink and a nosh.Here are five places we checked out recently that definitely left us happier than when we arrived.What’s your favorite spot for happy hour? This is research I’m glad to continue.Red RabbitPizza rolls at Red Rabbit on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)Red Rabbit has always had an amazing happy hour.It’s easy to make a meal out of the food offerings, and the drinks are inexpensive and good. Just $6 will get you a beer or glass of wine, and for $7, you can get a basic cocktail from their happy hour list — the paloma and vodka martinis were hits with my friends.As for food, I’m a huge fan of thei...

Melinda Henneberger: You can support our democracy, or you can support the party of Donald J. Trump

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Maybe evangelicals forgot to tell their favorite libertine that it’s only in heaven that “the last shall be first, and the first last.” But at some point, the party of Donald J. Trump stopped believing that it’s up to voters to decide who gets to govern.I say this as folks who only call themselves conservative — coups d’état are never that — strategize about how to impeach Joe Biden for fun and profit. They have no high or low crimes or misdemeanors to cite. But they do have a reason, which as the light of their world wrote on Truth Social is “THEY DID IT TO US!”In Wisconsin, the former Grand Old Party is, according to The New York Times “coalescing around the prospect of impeaching a newly seated liberal justice on the state’s Supreme Court, whose victory in a costly, high-stakes election this spring swung the court in Democrats’ favor.”Justice Janet Protasiewicz has not yet heard a single case, but the p...

Obituary: Former Stillwater Township Board Chairman David Johnson served nearly 40 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

David Johnson went to his first Stillwater Township board meeting in the fall of 1980 to complain about the state of the township’s roads.He ended up getting elected.Former Stillwater Township Board Chairman David Johnson died Aug. 31, 2023, of melanoma. He was 75. (Courtesy of the Johnson family)Johnson went on to serve on the township board for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2018 at the age of 70. He died Aug. 31 at his house in Stillwater Township, a month and a half after being diagnosed with a fast-growing and aggressive form of melanoma. He was 75.Johnson, the longtime board chairman, was “a true statesman and a gentleman,” said town board member Sheila-Marie Untiedt.“He has always brought experience and respect to his service, but also grace and kindness,” she said. “He often started a discussion with, ‘Let me give you a little background history on that’ and proceeded to explain three-plus decades of history, outcomes and, sometimes, intrigue.”Res...

Hamid Kashani: Marking the anniversary of a murder in Iran by rallying for justice in Minnesota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

One year ago around this time, the streets of Iran erupted in massive protests all around the country.Not unlike the George Floyd murder, the killing of a young girl at the hand of the “Islamic morality” police plunged the country into a major social unrest. The difference, however, was how the security forces in Iran violently attacked the peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds, amongst them many children, injuring thousands and arresting tens of thousands. Months later as the protest movement continued to rampage throughout the country, the regime in fear of its downfall and to terrorize the population resorted to executing some of the arrested protestors under bunked-up charges.While here in Minnesota and elsewhere around the country we saw the violence and destruction that rocked the country, we also witnessed certain levels of restraint by the law enforcement against the protestors.  We are blessed to live in this free country of ours, where most public servants are aware of ...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Friend Wants To Police My Facebook Page

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Maureen and it's about taking selfies with friends. Here's her email: Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I'm having an issue with a good friend of mine and it's threatening our relationship. My friend, we'll call her Ann, and I were together for the first time in a while. I was so happy to see her, and we had a great time catching up. At the end of our lunch, we took a selfie together. I wanted everyone to see us, so I posted it on Facebook, tagging her. When she saw it, she said she hated the way it looked and asked me to take it down. I had such a good time with her, and I want everyone to know how special she is to me. Do I have to take down the photo? Can't I just keep it up and remove the tag? What do you think? Don't you think she's being petty? Help me out. Thanks.MaureenWell, I understand how Maureen feels, but if she really loves her friend as much as she's sa...

5 things to know this Thursday, September 14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy almost Friday! According to Meteorologists Jill Szwed and Matt Mackie, we can expect a preview of the fall today, with comfortable temperatures in the afternoon and slightly crisp ones tonight. Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! On Wednesday, two people admitted to killing a 21-year-old man inside a Richmondville home in 2022. Meanwhile, a Cannabis Control Board hearing in Albany this week made it clear that the delay in the cannabis rollout has caused financial hardships for some business owners and farmers. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Guilty pleas in fatal Richmondville shootingTwo people have admitted to killing a 21-year-old man inside a Richmondville home in 2022.2. Cannabis rollout delays causing financial woes to farmers and retailersA Cannabis Control Board hearing in Albany this week made it clear that the delay in the cannabis rollout has ca...

Ask Amy: Long-ago affair continues to play on a loop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Dear Amy: Twenty years ago, I had an affair that ended my eight-year marriage (after 15 years together).I am extremely remorseful and even though I have apologized to my ex (and he has forgiven me), I can’t seem to forgive myself.The phrase “once a cheater always a cheater” just plays on an endless loop in my head.I hate myself for betraying a man who was nothing but kind toward me.I honestly feel like if I forgive myself, it’s like saying that what I did was OK.I also feel like a huge hypocrite when conversations with friends turn to infidelity. My closest friends know what I did, but not everyone, so I feel like if I chime in on that topic about how wrong I think it is (because now I know better!) I am just lying to everyone.I feel obligated to disclose what a horrible person I was and not play some charade as if I would never do something like that.If I somehow do manage to forgive myself isn’t this just me saying to everyone that what I did was OK, when it’s not?Will I ever get ...

MEPs back plans to boost use of renewable energy 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:32 GMT

Parliament on Tuesday (12 September) voted to boost the deployment of renewable energy, in line with the Green Deal and REPowerEU plans, Plenary session, ITRE .The update of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), already agreed upon between MEPs and Council, raises the share of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030. Member states should strive to achieve 45%.The legislation will also speed up procedures to grant permits for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar panels or wind turbines, or to adapt existing ones. National authorities should take no longer than 12 months to approve new renewable energy installations, if located in so-called "renewables go-to areas". Outside such areas, the process should not exceed 24 months.In the transport sector, renewables deployment should lead to a 14.5% reduction by 2030 in greenhouse gas emissions, by using a greater share of advanced biofuels and a more ambitious quota for renewable fuels of non-biological...