Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/lee-egerstrom/page/7/)
The heaviest snowfall in two winters and the cold air that followed the weekend storm have Minnesotans warming up and starting their day with a good cup of coffee. If they choose their coffee beans carefully, the morning ritual should warm their hearts as well.
Away from the distractions that dominated the past elections, Wall Street watchers and Main Street advocates have wondered when, and how, enormous stashes of corporate and personal wealth will be put to use.
Harvest data suggests Minnesota was America’s Eden during the past growing season. Weather data suggests that status may be short lived. Minnesota might be joining other Central Plains states in a prolonged drought cycle remindful of the 1930s’ Dust Bowl days.
When heading out to grocery stores, butcher shops and bakeries this week in preparation for Thanksgiving, be thankful we’ve adapted our national day of thanks’ menus to use abundant and relatively inexpensive Minnesota-produced food products.
One international observer visiting Minnesota awoke both relieved and bewildered following the election. She was relieved President Obama won re-elected and is not likely to radicalize American foreign policy, and bewildered why voters and candidates waste so much time and money on seemingly inconsequential matters. Continue Reading
While most national attention is focused on the “Frankenstorm” that pounded the East Coast this Halloween, Minnesota farmers appear to have wrapped up a good to great harvest for most crops this season.
Clear signs of a slow but real economic recovery came this past week. Continue Reading
About three lifetimes ago, while teaching journalism as an alternative English course at Minnesota Reformatory for Men at St. Cloud, my hands-down best and brightest student was a murderer.
He approached me sheepishly at the end of the school term and asked if he could use me as a reference “if I ever get out of here.”
Minnesota is in the 12th year of a “Lost Decade,” according to the story jobs numbers tell, notes Kevin Ristau, education director for the St. Paul-based Jobs Now Coalition. At first glance, the numbers are deceiving, with a gain of 51,000 jobs in the 18 months since January 2011. Minnesota has now gained about 100 more jobs than the 50,900 jobs lost from 2001-2010.If we only look at the 2007-2009 Great Recession, our jobs gains look like a genuine recovery is underway. To do that, however, ignores the jobs drain in the previous decade. Continue Reading
