Opinion - The Timberjay

Questions raised

For the past few years, former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson and many others have been asking questions about the state of Minnesota’s apparent willingness to issue permits for copper-nickel … more

9/6/23

The moon speaks different names to different people

Call me a spoil sport, a curmudgeon, a sour puss, a grump, call me whatever you’d like, but I really do get annoyed, and have for years, at the media’s seeming love affair with, of all … more

David Colburn | 8/17/22

Why I don’t want to cover 9/11 tributes

In 2019, the editor of a local newspaper asked me to cover the local 9/11 tribute parade of local police and fire trucks. I refused. Now that I have your attention because of that outrageous … more

Catie Clark | 9/6/23

Voyageurs National Park

In a perfect world the National Park Service and the businesses that serve users of Voyageurs National Park would work as partners with the goal of making the experience of park users the best that … more

4/17/24

It’s time for leadership and vision

People around the world are concerned and confused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has confounded peace seekers for years. I have joined them in wondering why a just, peaceful solution is … more

Betty Firth | 4/17/24

The immigration challenge

The United States is facing an unusual convergence of trends that threaten to upend our economy and the nation’s ability to fund its priorities, particularly payroll-funded programs like Social … more

11/15/23

“Greatest nation” debates aren’t helpful

Is the United States the greatest nation in the world? It’s a natural question to ask, given our penchant for displays of patriotism and our debates about American exceptionalism. But I … more

Lee Hamilton | 11/15/23

Facts and law

There’s an old axiom in the legal world: If the facts are on your side, pound the facts. If the law is on your side, pound the law. And when neither the facts nor the law is on your side, pound … more

4/5/23

Easing into the life of a weekly editor

It’s always enlightening to examine the nuances of a new place after moving across the country. After a third of a year at the Timberjay, I took a look at my experiences so far with returning … more

Catie Clark | 4/5/23

Figments of accounting

For years, conventional wisdom in Tower had it that the city’s ambulance service was highly profitable. For years, at least on paper, it appeared that the service was regularly generating … more

1/25/23

The AI revolution sweeps ahead of our understanding

If Ronald Reagan was alive to read my column this week, he’d undoubtedly shake his head and smile and utter his famous debate phrase, “There you go again.”I have to admit that … more

David Colburn | 1/25/23

Making a difference

Our report this week on the tax study conducted by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy provided an enlightening reality check to which rural Minnesotans should pay attention (see story on … more

2/7/24

Time is your only real possession

“Time keeps on tickin’ tickin’ tickin’ into the future….” Steve Miller Band. “There’s never enough time.” “Make time.” “Only … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 2/7/24

The January 6 Committee reminds us of what Congress can do

Watching the hearings held by the Jan. 6 committee as it delves into the events at the Capitol last year and what lay behind them, I’ve been struck by what you might think of as the … more

Lee Hamilton | 8/24/22

When “pushing through” proves better than “backing out”

In late March, I received my first ever Evite. It was announcing the 2023 Mihos family reunion to be held June 11 at the home of my cousin in Metamora, Mich., just outside of Flint. That surprise … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 6/21/23

Late summer adventures and road trips

It’s 6 p.m. on a Monday evening and I’ve been sitting on the couch following a dinner of barbecued country ribs with green beans and red potatoes that I fixed in my Ninja Foodi. I always … more

Scarlet Stone | 9/13/23

Look a little closer at fast fashion brands

Until recently, online retailers Wish and Alibaba were two of the most popular spaces to find ultra-cheap household goods, clothing, makeup, and last-minute Christmas and birthday gifts. These … more

Jen Shuster-Dahlin | 9/13/23

The four freedoms

America can seem a discontented nation at times. Perhaps it is built into our DNA, since this is a country that was built by the those who weren’t content in the places they were born. This is … more

11/20/23

Write from your heart, and by hand

This week we might pay more attention to what we’re grateful for. I have an odd one. I’m grateful that I was was taught cursive writing in elementary school by teachers who insisted on … more

Betty Firth | 11/20/23

Read any good book lately?

A rather startling and I have to say, appalling statistic, came to my attention this last week: in a typical year, 57 percent of Americans do not read a single book. The average American spent … more

Betty Firth | 6/15/22

A stolen birthright

Our story last week on the latest research on the prevalence of chemicals known collectively as PFAS in freshwater fish should have brought a tear to the eye of every Minnesotan. Catching and eating … more

2/1/23

The new normal

The past several weeks have offered residents of the North Country and much of the rest of the northern U.S. a reminder that no one can escape the effects of a warming climate. Twenty years ago, the … more

6/30/23

Trump’s minions

Republicans in Congress, including our Eighth District Rep. Pete Stauber, have helpfully clarified any illusions that may have existed about their loyalties to this country. It’s Trump first, … more

2/14/24

Where John Muir and Dorothy Molter meet

As many of my closest confidants know, recently I have been living a lifestyle that I affectionately refer to as “My Dorothy Molter Moment”. Three years ago, I assumed the task of … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 8/31/22

Our complicity in feeding the media beast

Last week the world had a front row seat to a drama playing out in the murky depths of the frigid North Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of a media landscape all too eager to capitalize on consumers’ … more

David Colburn | 6/30/23