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Cooking with gas

There used to be a saying that indicated approval of someone’s successful efforts — “Now you’re cooking with GAS!” We suppose it was a reference to the old wood-fired cook stoves, which were much more difficult to use than the new-fangled gas-fired ranges and ovens. But today, “You’re cooking with GAS!?” might be an exclamation of horror by those who are concerned about our carbon footprint and global warming. A study, published in Thursday’s journal Environmental Science & Technology, indicates that gas stoves contribute significantly more to greenhouse gases because ...

Et. Cetera

Program provides local work experience The Minnesota Valley Action Council/Martin County Summer Internship program is looking for area college students interested in earning some work experience back home. The program will match young adults with a business they’re interested in. This is a win-win for both parties as the students get experience and local businesses get help for the summer which could result in a full-time employee down the road. If you know of an area student who would be interested, have them contact Tammie Hested at MVAC. City council works on communication This ...

Breyer’s retirement won’t change court

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring sometime this year, according to numerous sources, giving President Joe Biden his first chance to nominate a replacement with a majority, however slim, in the Senate to confirm his choice. A year from now, he might have a tougher time as the Republicans are considered favorites to take back control of the Senate in the November elections. Biden has vowed to place the first Black woman on the court, and the speculation on who that might be has already started. Biden’s nomination, whoever it is, won’t change the solid 6-3 ...

The case for more education spending

Gov. Tim Walz revealed another part of his spending plans for the coming budget season. He knows one thing is true — if you are going to propose billions of dollars in spending, it’s best to propose spending it on schools, education and our kids’ future. Walz’s spending proposal, which he announced Tuesday, would come to $5.1 billion over three years, and includes expanding access to child care, funding for pre-K for 6,000 children, and $183 million for free meals for kids, according to the Associated Press. These are issues it is hard to argue with. The need for decent, ...

Telescope a marvel before first picture

The James Webb Space Telescope, launched a month ago, has reached its destination, a million miles away from earth. That is a marvel of engineering and planning, even before it has taken its first look into the farthest reaches of the universe. Just think of what NASA’s engineers have done so far. They have designed and built a space telescope that had to be folded up for launch, then carefully had to unfold its protective sun shield over several days, then unfold and lock into place the gold-covered mirrors that will collect more light than the Hubble space telescope. With that ...

Accessibility in the courtroom

Opening statements are scheduled today in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers who were involved in the killing of George Floyd. The interest in this trial is just as ramped up as it was for Derek Chauvin, the former officer convicted of killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes while he gasped his life out. Tou Thao, J. Kueng and Thomas Lane were on the scene of the incident. Two helped hold Floyd down, while the third kept the concerned crowd at bay. Like Chauvin’s trial, COVID-19 concerns are keeping crowds from filling the courtroom, ...