Opinion - The Timberjay

Political violence

Minnesotans were left in shock this past Saturday morning as they received news of the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman, the DFL’s top leader in the Minnesota House, and the attempted … more

6/18/25

Keeping the keel down through troubling times

Have you ever awakened with a touch of the blues, even on a morning with clear blue skies and air cleaner than you’ve seen all week? Has the smoke from forest fires burning out of control … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 6/18/25

This session, we had the Iron Range’s back

From Hoyt Lakes and Tower to Babbitt and Ely, Iron Rangers know what it means to stand together when times get tough. This year at the Minnesota Legislature, I made sure that spirit was reflected in … more

Grant Hauschild | 6/18/25

Are those on the left finally waking up?

First of all, I thank God that President Carter lived long enough to pass the “worst president in modern times” award to Obama so he can erase that logo from his Presidential … more

6/12/25

A better future for our iron ore

Mesabi Metallics will power up a new mine and taconite production plant over at Nashwauk in February of 2026. This modern, state-of-the-art facility will begin by producing premium “Direct … more

6/12/25

Beware of Hauschild’s giveaway to big data

Grant Hauschild’s recent letter to the Timberjay defending his big data center taxpayer giveaway caught my eye. In part, that is because I have a friend in the state of Virginia who told … more

6/12/25

Twin Metals would produce no acid drainage

After reading David A. Lien’s recent letter to the editor, I feel the need to respond. Most of the letter deals with the possibility of a mine causing vast amounts of sulfuric acid in the Rainy … more

6/12/25

Trump is wrong about Canada

President Trump said, “We get nothing from Canada.” Wrong, very wrong. Canada is responsible for 61 percent of all oil imported into the United States. It sold us 4.3 million … more

6/12/25

Weakening America

For President Donald Trump, Saturday’s big military parade is clearly akin to keeping up with the Joneses. He’s seen the military parades usually associated with the world’s … more

6/12/25

Summer projects blooming in my yard

It’s a quiet Saturday night in Soudan, except for the car horn that keeps sounding off somewhere across town by the Soudan Store. It’s one of those summery June evenings when the sky is … more

Scarlet Stone | 6/12/25

Our smoky future

Here we go again? That’s the very real concern as the area experienced several days with unhealthy levels of wildfire smoke this past week. Already this year, the North Country has experienced … more

6/5/25

It’s time to unmask ourselves and get real

You know that kid who was always looking out the window at school, daydreaming, startled by the teacher’s suggestion that perhaps they should be paying attention, as if it was an unexpected … more

Betty Firth | 6/5/25

Our health care

Should the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by the U.S. House last week and supported by Eighth District congressman Pete Stauber ultimately become law, the quality health care … more

5/29/25

Celebrating a graduation against all odds

Aside from actually teaching, there’s nothing I love more from my years in education than graduations. The pomp and circumstance of that consequential right of passage never fails to inspire, … more

David Colburn | 5/29/25

In Trump’s America, there is a get-out-of-jail free card

If only I wasn’t in the news business. A recent poll found that those who aren’t following the news these days remain the most content with the current state of America. It’s those … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/29/25

My latest adventures, or how about a wild goose chase

Lately, I’ve been sidetracked by furniture replacement adventures. In the process, I have ended up on a couple of wild goose chases. I like to shop on Facebook’s Marketplace to find good, … more

Scarlet Stone | 5/22/25

Climate change

The heavy smoke that made breathing a chore for many in northern St. Louis County this past week is just the latest reminder that our future is clouded by the changing climate. We know that our … more

5/22/25

Hauschild needs to protect the Boundary Waters

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is under attack by foreign mining companies and special interests. It is time for office holders like Sen. Grant Hauschild to stand up for what is … more

5/15/25

Trump’s infractions are endless

Occasionally, a Congressional member, Republican or Democrat, will admit publicly that they are afraid to speak up because of fear of retaliation threats from the Trump administration. Their … more

5/15/25

Making life harder

Through all the noise and chaos of the first 100 days of the Trump administration, a single, relatively small bit of news caught our eye last week. The administration’s widely reported plan to … more

5/15/25

The fight for justice and inclusion starts close to home

Throughout history, our society has wrestled with attitudes that exclude many people from its promises and privileges. In the 1860s, we fought a Civil War to confront one of our most egregious … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 5/15/25

Holding face to face conversations across the Northland

Over the last few weeks, I wrapped up my Northland Strong Town Hall tour, holding open conversations in every corner of Northeast Minnesota — from Hermantown, International Falls, and Grand … more

Sen. Grant Hauschild | 5/15/25

Finding that special spot where steam melts into light

We start the fire before the sun rises, when the sky is white. There are flurries on the wind. It’s cold enough for mittens. The fire crackles, and the clear maple sap begins to steam. If I … more

Jean Gendreau | 5/15/25

Fishing, drunk driving, and divorce in Minnesota: Is it related?

The first English book on fishing is Prioress Julianna Berners’ volume “A Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle.” Published posthumously in 1496, the book is a manual on fishing with … more

Catie Clark | 5/8/25

Sulfate regulations

There is justified public skepticism over the specifics and the timing of a proposal by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to create what is known as a multi-discharger variance, or MDV, in order … more

5/8/25