Opinion

The first two annual events deserve our attention! They are featured in your Community Reporter and exemplify what makes our community special--people who do so much, and homes and gardens that are so much.

In Minnesota, our achievement gap is one of the largest in the nation. A recent national study on graduation rates reinforced this.

Music is taking a beating. Fewer financial resources flow to school music programs. The Minnesota Orchestra musicians remain locked-out. Record sales are horrible. While these three distinct situations shouldn’t be confused, music is inseparable from public policy because music is inseparable from human existence. But, as a public policy matter, the question boils down to funding. Funding, in turn, follows public priorities. We put our money behind what’s important to us. School music funding is, increasingly, on the chopping block.

I’ve been grousing about the lack of sharp local, political satire and comment on Minnesota television and radio.  I’ve looked for it on YouTube, surfed our Comcast channels and radio dial — n