Opinion - The Timberjay

How many gun deaths will it take?

America, we need to talk. When did we get to this point where so many people are fighting for anyone to have the ability to possess any type of gun — at the expense of the lives of … more

9/18/25

The wild rice debate and the future of the BWCAW

I don’t know how many times I have heard at presentations concerning potential mining in the BWCAW watershed: “we have the best environmental regulations.” That is usually … more

9/18/25

Misleading statement on Greenwood EMRs

At the Sept. 9 Greenwood town board meeting, Supervisor Bradach claimed that my recent letters to the editor on the decreased response level by the township’s EMRs were bashing our current … more

9/18/25

Will the Supreme Court abide by politics or the Constitution?

President Trump is appealing a court ruling that his tariffs are illegal. Trump has been using tariffs to raise revenues, but also for political purposes. Trump has been imposing tariffs on … more

9/18/25

Online hate

Back in June, we urged voters to play their proper role in tamping down the rising tide of political violence, by voting out politicians who cling to power by furthering division in America. At the … more

9/18/25

Autumn pleasures plus home improvement projects in Soudan

It is a late Saturday afternoon on Sept. 13 and the leaves on the trees are changing color fast and the golden light of warm autumn evenings is here. It’s a favorite time of year for me and … more

Scarlet Stone | 9/18/25

Sulfate standard

The hyperbole came fast and furious at times during the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s public hearing in Virginia last week on Keetac’s water discharge permits and the … more

9/11/25

Maybe this is why Trump thinks he needs a war department

When Donald Trump slapped a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian steel and aluminum, the American media did what it always does: called a panel of economists, invited two guys named Doug to debate supply … more

David Colburn | 9/11/25

Creating the conditions for all of us to thrive

Maslow’s psychology of human potential offers a sensible template for new economic principles and practice. Instead of tracking and enabling hoarding of wealth for a few, we begin with tracking … more

9/4/25

Adopt nuclear power to mitigate climate change

As an activist in the environmental movement since 1970, I must acknowledge a big mistake. It was understandable and well-intentioned, but a blunder nevertheless. I refer to the vehement opposition … more

9/4/25

Poor air quality won’t be solved through logging

In Minnesota, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. But what excuse can we make for poor air quality? Our air quality has seldom been this bad. Just a few weeks ago, we had one of … more

9/4/25

Greenwood is looking forward

As a member of our Greenwood community, I am disappointed again by the distorted comments of JoAnn Bassing in last week’s paper. She mistakenly believes you and I are gullible enough to fall … more

9/4/25

Ely would benefit from a retirement community

According to a recent editorial in an Ely newspaper, “Our economy needs some help…. We need to bring people here to spend money.” Recent changes in the dynamics … more

9/4/25

John Roberts’ betrayal

If an accurate history of America’s descent into authoritarianism is ultimately written, it will pinpoint Chief Justice John Roberts and the court he has led for the past two decades as the … more

9/4/25

A banana box and a boyhood jackpot

This past week, I’ve been reflecting on just how fortunate I am to have had the childhood I did – one that could have turned out very differently. I wasn’t born in a log cabin … more

David Colburn | 9/4/25

Unsung heroes

In the annals of unsung heroes, the people who undertake the Sisyphean task of maintaining the portages and campsites throughout the 1.1-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness must be at … more

8/28/25

Inspiration is all around us

Last weekend, as my mind was reeling from the latest insane, irresponsible, unethical, selfish, greedy, illegal, ridiculous, unpresidential thing that Donald Trump perpetrated, I felt a wave of … more

Betty Firth | 8/28/25

Lawmakers find common ground when it comes to outdoor education

Sen. Grant Hauschild Growing up, my favorite place in the world was my grandparent’s lake cabin in central Minnesota, and now I’m raising my own kids here in Northern Minnesota with the … more

8/28/25

Crisis in Gaza

In response to Frank Sherman’s letter last week, in which he defended his wife Valerie Myntti from my earlier criticism, it is nice to know that husband and wife are in synch. Once again, the … more

8/21/25

Tariffs are increasing costs for everyday consumers

“I know better than anybody what’s good for the market and what’s good for the U.S.A.” Just another lie from Donald Trump. Trump maintains that foreign suppliers … more

8/21/25

Get off the couch

Since last November’s electoral defeat, Democratic leaders have engaged in plenty of navel-gazing as they struggle to find a way to appear relevant to an increasing number of Americans, … more

8/21/25

Continuing an important debate

Mr. Lande’s letter in last week’s Timberjay took issue with mine of the prior week. He points out that Hamas was democratically elected by Gaza Palestinians. In 2005, Israel unilaterally … more

8/21/25

Why I keep telling you about AI (artificial intelligence)

I know. Another column from me about artificial intelligence. You’re probably thinking, “Didn’t we just do this?” And yes, if you’ve been reading along, we did. But … more

David Colburn | 8/21/25

Foreign invaders

This summer’s abundant rainfall has revealed in more dramatic fashion than before a reality that has been increasingly difficult to avoid in recent years — foreign invasive plant species, … more

8/14/25

And the rich get richer

Kristi Noem’s delay in addressing the flood crisis in Texas apparently was due to her newly established rule whereby any expense over $100,000 had to meet her written approval. This resulted in … more

8/14/25